TEXT: Hebrews 3

SUBJECT: Exposition of Hebrews #3: Christ Over Moses

This morning brings us to the third sermon in our study of Hebrews, the theme of which is Christ over all. In the first two chapters, He was compared favorably to the prophets and to the angels. Now, He is held up to a third figure, the most revered name in Judaism.

The chapter begins with a directive. It is addressed to the "holy brethren". Members of the Divine family, they are. To this high status they came--not by birth or by effort or by accident--but by the "heavenly calling". From heaven they were called; to heaven they would go. In short, they are Christians.

What does he us them to do? He wants us to "consider". The word means "to direct one's whole mind to an object, to immerse oneself in it". It reminds us of the Psalmist who "meditated day and night". Shallow thinking is inadequate; a passing thought, a divided attention just won't do. Not when it comes to "considering" this matter. Why not? Because of its surpassing greatness. What we're to consider--you see--is "the apostle and high priest of our confession, Christ Jesus".

An Apostle is "one who is sent". Did the Lord Jesus come on His own? Or was He sent? He leaves no doubt: "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me" (John 8:42). Others affirmed the same. John the Baptist, for example, spoke of Him as: "...He whom God has sent" (John 3:34). And the Apostle John concurred: "This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son into the world..." (I John 4:10).

He is also "the high priest". Under the Old Covenant, the high priests interceded on behalf of God's people. This they did by sacrifices and prayers. When accepted by God, their work resulted in the forgiveness of sin and the cancelling of judgment. But their work wasn't perfect; it wasn't meant to be. For, what they did partially and for a time only, Christ did "once for all". By His atoning death and present session at God's Right Hand, He provides a full and final salvation for His people.

Do we believe that Christ is our "Apostle and high priest"? The writer assumes that we do. Thus, he calls Him "the apostle and high priest of our confession..." That is, all believers publicly profess Him as both. The early Christians didn't "see eye-to-eye" on every doctrine. But, to a man, they confessed the Lord Jesus as their "Apostle and High Priest".

This is what the writer wants us to do: "Consider the Apostle and high priest of our confession, Christ Jesus". He is not alone. Paul wants the same: "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth".

David aspired to nothing else:

"One thing I have desired of the LORD;

And that I will seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the LORD

All the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the LORD,

And to inquire in His temple".

This is the command: "Think about Christ". In vv.2-6, we're told why. The Lord Jesus is compared to Moses. And emerges triumphant.

He is not inferior to Moses, v.2. "Christ Jesus was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses was also faithful in all his house". The Hebrews had an illustrious pedigree. The great men in their descent are legion: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. David, Solomon, and Hezekiah. Elijah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. Joseph, Daniel, and Mordecai. Other lists could be added, no less noble. But one man stands out: Moses. And rightly so. "...there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face" (Deuteronomy 34:10). So great was Moses that the best way he could describe the Coming Messiah was to liken Him to himself! "The LORD your God shall raise up for you a Prophet like me..." (Deuteronomy 18:15). The proudest Rabbi never equated himself with the Lawgiver.

But the writer of Hebrews does just that with the Lord Jesus. To us, this is an understatement. But remember this: Hebrews was not written to us directly. The first readers must have been shocked! "What manner of man is this?" Equal to Moses?

No He is not. Vv.3-4 make Him superior to Moses. "For this one has been counted worthy of more glory that Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more glory than the house". For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God".

The word "house" doesn't refer to a building where you live, but to a household or a family. In the ancient world, the family was rarely "nuclear", but usually extended and included servants. The comparison, therefore is this: The patriarch of a family is worthy of more honor than any other member. Who is the first member of God's family: Moses or Christ? The Lord Jesus, of course. Therefore, He is greater than Moses.

Just to make sure we haven't missed the point, a parenthetical statement is added: "For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God". "God built all things" says v.4 Jesus built the house, says v.3. Jesus, therefore, is God. Moses was a great man; make no mistake about it. But he never claimed Divinity; He forbade idolatry. Therefore, not even He can be put above the Lord Jesus Christ! Why? Because Moses is a member of God's house. But Jesus is God!

The Lord Jesus is not inferior to Moses; He is superior. But, in what way? Vv.5-6a tell us: "And Moses, indeed, was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house..."

Both Moses and Christ were members of the family. But the former was a servant, the latter a Son. Naturally, the "servant" (Moses) served the Son. How? By testifying to Him. The Lord Jesus did not look forward to the appearing of Moses, but Moses keenly anticipated the coming of Christ. Moses is the promise; the Lord Jesus is its fulfilment. Moses was "in the house"; Christ was "over the house".

The word, "house", excites the writer's imagination--and takes him off the subject for a bit, vv.6b-17. He reminds us of what God's house is: not the Temple, not the Tabernacle, not the church building, but "whose house we are..." The Lord's people make up His house. And who are "His people"? Not those who give up Christ and return to Judaism (or anything else), but only those who "hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm to the end". In short, those who continue pinning their faith and hope in Jesus Christ.

To encourage us to do so, he reminds us of the people of God under Moses, vv.7-11. The Holy Spirit warned them against unbelief. But to no effect. Therefore, they did not "enter My rest". They never inherited the promises that might have been theirs!

Neither shall we, if we turn from Christ. How do we avoid apostasy? vv.12-15. How do we avoid drifting away from Christ? He offers three pieces of advice.

In vv.16ff., we find the sort of people who are in this grave danger. They are a people who have known God to some degree or other. "For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses?"

But they acted against the knowledge they had. How? Not by living imperfectly. Or struggling with doubts. Or losing their temper now and then. But by "unbelief". A fixed and final rejection of Jesus Christ.

The result of their unbelief? "Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?"

If, therefore, you would not duplicate the experience of Israel; and if you would "hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end", you must: "keep on considering the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus".

There is no substitute for the study of Christ! The Law, the church, secondary doctrines, social issues, and the like can be thought about. And should be. But they must never be the centerpiece of our sacred meditation. That belongs to Christ. And Christ alone. The fear of hell won't keep you from apostasy. Neither will the joy of heaven. A knowledge of the Law won't. Nor the right administration of the sacraments. Nothing will bind you to God but the pondering of Christ. Christ as God; Christ as Man; Christ crucified; Christ risen; "Christ in you, the hope of glory".

Moses was a great man; Christ is greater. Remove any trust you have in the former, in the knowledge of his law, and the keeping thereof. And place all of your confidence in "the Mediator of a better Covenant"--Jesus Christ.

"What the Law could not do...God did by sending His Son, born of a virgin, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons".