Hebrews 3
Hebrews 3:1-2
[3] Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling,
Ÿ Who were the intended audience?
Ÿ This is not intended for non believers.
Ÿ This is directed to the Jews (not gentiles) that now believe in Jesus.
Hebrews 3:1-2 cont.
fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. [2] He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.
Ÿ Apostle? Def: A person sent.
Ÿ High priest: Def: Supreme religious leader of the Israelites.
Ÿ This is well after the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Ÿ What happened at the temple entrance when Jesus died?
(This is the area that separated man from God.)
Ÿ The curtain tore in half from top to bottom.
Ÿ About 60 feet tall and 4 inches thick.
Ÿ Jesus removed all the obstacles that separated us from God.
All but one. Our sin that was covered by Him.
Ÿ Now we have direct access to God through Jesus when we accept Him as SAVIOR.
Ÿ Moses was God's chosen spiritual leader of the house of Israel.
Ÿ God gave Moses the LAW. (Ten commandments) Plus.
Ÿ Moses was faithful to God.
Ÿ
Hebrews 3:3-6
[3] Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. [4] For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. [5] “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. [6] But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.
Ÿ God the Father gave Jesus the Son, the WORD which opened the way to God without the LAW.
Ÿ Jesus was faithful to God his Father.
Ÿ This is now the second reference to Moses' FAITHFULNESS.
Ÿ What is FAITHFULNESS?
Ÿ If we consider or define faithfulness in earthly terms, we will always be disappointed. Man's ability to be faithful is circumstantial.
Ÿ God's faithfulness is a trait of who He is. (character) In simple terms; God is not able to be "unfaithfull". He is not a liar!
Ÿ This is known as perfection! God is perfect.
Ÿ ***
Ÿ Example: The builder of a house. WHO designed/built the house?
Ÿ What has more honor? House or builder?
Ÿ God is even in control or in charge of the builder and the house.
Ÿ Moses was under the direction of God but he was NOT God.
Ÿ Moses did not build the HOUSE.
Ÿ He actually made reference to Jesus. Deuteronomy 18:15 -17
Ÿ Moses gave the LAW to the people but Jesus gives the salvation which the LAW couldn't.
Ÿ Now we have the answer to the question. Who is greater. Moses or Jesus?
Ÿ Moses was over Israel. Jesus is over God's house. THE CHURCH.
Ÿ NOTE: Reference to "confidence and hope".
Hebrews 3:7-11
[7] So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, [8] do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, [9] where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. [10] That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' [11] So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest .’
Ÿ Israel/the Jews, was looking for an earthly leader or savior.
Ÿ Now, the writer, is basically telling them that the same "disbelief" that prevented the majority of their ancestors from entering the Promised Land, is just like not trusting this prophet/ son of God for the only true eternal salvation.
Ÿ He also tells of the consequences of disbelief.
Hebrews 3:12-19
[12] See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. [13] But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. [14] We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. [15] As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” [16] Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? [17] And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? [18] And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? [19] So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
Ÿ This is a great example of evangelism.
Ÿ Without "FAITH" it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God. Hebrews 11:16
Ÿ How are we doing at meeting the direction given by Jesus?
Ÿ Remember: God expects us to tell people about the salvation which only comes through Jesus.
Ÿ We may be the only opportunity for someone to know Jesus and what He did to: Get us in to the Promised Land. HEAVEN.