Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai
INTRODUCTION
Throwback to chapter one and the first few verses of chapter two. The writer of the book of Hebrews was making comparisons between Jesus (Son of God) and the angels. The purpose was to establish Jesus’ superiority over the angels. Having considered Jesus’ excellence and supremacy over; as well as His relation to angels and to mankind, the author moves in today’s study to draw some parallels between Jesus and Moses.
Why was this necessary?
The Jewish tradition considers Moses to be the greatest prophet who ever lived. He wrote the first five books of the Bible and was the one who led the Israelites out of Egypt and handed them the Ten Commandments from God; and acted as a mediator between them and God. Moses was Israel’s National Hero. He was without a doubt very important to the Jews. And so, the writer wanted to bring them to an important realization by offering a perspective of Moses in his proper relation to Jesus.
Verse 1 - Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our Confession.
“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, [thoughtfully and attentively] consider the Apostle and High Priest whom we confessed [as ours when we accepted Him as Saviour], namely, Jesus;"
Consider [thoughtfully and attentively]. To consider something requires time and effort. It doesn’t happen automatically. So the writer calls his audience to thoughtfully and attentively consider Jesus as the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. What is the meaning and importance of these two offices?
The Apostle of our faith brings God down to us (John 14:9b “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” and Col.1:15 “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation”
The High Priest brings us up to God. Heb. 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin”
Jesus is the One who supremely represents us before the Father, and who represents the Father to us.
Verse 2 - Both Jesus and Moses Were Faithful
"He (Jesus) was faithful to Him who appointed Him [Apostle and High Priest], as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.” Emphasis mine
Moses was a deliverer. He led Israel out of Egypt but could not get Egypt out of them. (Numbers 14:4). But when Jesus sets anyone free that person is free indeed (John 8:36)
Both Moses and Jesus were “faithful” to God, but only Jesus was altogether obedient and never sinned or disobeyed. (See Num.20:8-12 & Heb. 4:15)
Moses was a faithful servant, but he was not a Son in the way Jesus is.
Verses 3-4 - Jesus Worthy of Greater Glory
“Yet Jesus has been considered worthy of much greater glory and honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.”
Moses received much glory from God. This is seen in his shining face after spending time with God (Exodus 34:29-35), in his justification before Miriam and Aaron (Numbers 12:6-8), and before the sons of Korah (Numbers 16).
But Jesus received far more glory from the Father, at His baptism (Matthew 3:16-17), at His transfiguration (Mark 9:7), and at His resurrection (Acts 2:26-27 and Acts 2:31-33).
A builder is more valuable than a building any day.
Verses 5-6 - Moses the Servant, Jesus the Son
“Now Moses was faithful in [the administration of] all God’s house, [but only] as a ministering servant, [his ministry serving] as a testimony of the things which were to be spoken afterward [the revelation to come in Christ]; 6 but Christ is faithful as a Son over His [Father’s] house. And we are His house if we hold fast our confidence and sense of triumph in our hope [in Christ].”
The MSG version says
“Moses did a good job in God’s house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house. Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we’re the house!”
We must keep in mind here that this letter was addressed to the Hebrew brethren, converted from the Jewish to the Christian faith. They had grown up with only the Old Testament as their Bible. To them, Moses had been an exceptionally important man; a National Hero. But now they must understand and accept that the “great” Moses was only a servant in the house of God, governing and edifying God’s Church of the old dispensation, and that Jesus Christ was actually the Author of the Jewish salvation from slavery as well as the Saviour of the world and the Builder of the real house – Christian Church.
And that is why the author of this letter now stresses: “Moses truly was faithful in all His [God’s] house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken afterward. But Christ was faithful as a Son over his own house; whose house we are”
Whose house we are; if we hold fast: 1 Peter 2:4-5 says we are being built up a spiritual house. God has a work to build through His people, even as one might build a house.
We are a part of Jesus’ household if we hold fast. The writer to the Hebrews was encouraging those who felt like turning back, helping them to hold fast by explaining the benefits of continuing on with Jesus
CONCLUSION
The Jews so idolized Moses, they forgot who he was and what he pointed to. The Jews were obviously carried away; lost in the cloud of the regard they had for Moses and forgetting that his entire purpose was a shadow of Christ’s. Also, in relation to the Passover and the Law Moses was a shadow, Jesus was the real thing
The author, and today’s study carefully points out that Christ is Lord and superior to Moses to realign their focus on the main thing, Christ as Lord. No doubt Moses is to be reverenced, but he is merely a commissioned messenger; Christ is the Message.
Many times you and I fall into the same category; when we over emphasize and "idolize" spiritual leaders today. Our joy and attention should not be based on our membership of a denomination or association with a man of God, but should be all about Jesus. As the writer of Hebrews realigns the thinking of the Jews back in first century Christianity, today we should do the same.
