This week’s New Testament reading in the Book of Common Prayer’s lectionary continues in the Book of Hebrews. The first two chapters showed us how Jesus is superior to the angels. Today, as we start the third chapter, we will look at how Jesus is superior to Moses. This epistle was written primarily to believers of Jewish background who were considering returning to the Jewish faith. The author, who is unknown, is showing that Jesus is superior to anyone who had come before Him. Let’s look at our passage today, and see what he has to say about Jesus and Moses.
Moses, along with King David, was the Jewish people’s greatest hero. He had led the people out from slavery in Egypt, received the Law on Mt. Sinai, and led the people through the wilderness for 40 years to the border of the Promised Land. As our author shows, Jesus is greater than Moses (vs 1-3). Jesus is God in the flesh. He existed before Moses. He created Moses, and empowered him to do all he did. Moses led the people of Israel out of Egyptian slavery. Jesus leads us out of sin’s slavery. The deliverance Jesus offers is eternal.
Our author was not putting Moses down. He acknowledged that Moses was a faithful servant (vs 5). Jesus, though, was the faithful Son (vs 6). Moses was a witness to what would be spoken by God in the future (vs 5). Jesus was the message itself. He is the full revelation of God to the world, (Hebrews 1:3). Moses was faithful in God’s house (vs 2). Jesus was the builder of the house, and the Son over God’s house (vs 6). The “house” refers to a family of people rather than a building or dwelling. Moses was only a part of God’s household of faith, whereas Jesus was the Creator of that household. He was the fulfillment of all Moses witnessed to. Jesus is greater than Moses, and equal to God.
If we are believers in the Lord Jesus, we are a part of that house, built by God (vs 4). We are God’s workmanship, the masterpiece He has, though we are still under construction and might not look like much yet. Step by step, day by day, He is working in us and building us (Ephesians 2:10).
In verse 1, our author exhorts us to consider attentively, perceive, observe, and to pay attention to the Lord Jesus. Jesus is an apostle, meaning “one who is sent”. He is also our high priest. We come to God through Him. As stated throughout this passage, He is the ruler of God’s house, whom we should obey.
We need to have a commitment to remain faithful to God through everything (vs 6). Those to whom this epistle was written, were faltering in their faith when hardships came, and were tempted to turn back to their former Jewish faith. We need to know God is sovereign, and able to work all things for our good, regardless of the situation (Romans 8:28). Without enduring faithfulness, we could easily be blown away by temptation, false teaching, and persecution. Verse six is not speaking of how to be saved, or remaining saved. This is more of a proof of real faith. The ones who returned to the rituals of the Levitical system proves they were never truly members of God’s household.
We can easily get lost in this life, and find ourselves on the wrong path. Often that path will lead us into sin and danger. We need to fix our thoughts on Jesus, and follow Him every step of the way, each day.
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