Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Observation
- The writer considered his reader as holy brothers.
- The writer called those who had a heavenly call, holy brothers
- The writer had a heavenly call.
- Jesus is the apostle and high priest of our confession.
- We are to think about the place Jesus holds.
- Jesus was faithful to God.
- God appointed Jesus.
- God appointed Moses.
- Moses was faithful to God.
- Moses was faithful in all of God’s house.
- We are God’s house.
- Jesus is more worthy of glory than Moses.
- Jesus has more glory than Moses.
- The builder of a house has more glory than the house itself.
- Jesus built His house.
- Someone builds every house.
- God builds everything.
- Moses was a servant.
- Moses was faithful as a servant.
- Moses testified to things that were to be spoken of later.
- Christ is the Son of God.
- Christ is faithful as a son.
- We are God’s house if we steadfastly hold onto the hope of Christ.
- We are God’s house if we boast in our hope.
Interpretation
The writer to the Hebrews tells us to think about Jesus and who he is. He has just explained that He was God come down from heaven as a human. But what kind of human is He? If we are to know Jesus, we must seek to understand what sort of being he is. If we do not seek to understand who Christ is, we simply grasp a hold of an empty shadow of Him.
In the last chapter the writer showed that Christ set aside His glory and humiliated Himself to become a man. He suffered. He was tempted just as we are. Now the writer to the Hebrew tells us Jesus is the apostle and the high priest of our confession. These were the offices held by Moses and Aaron Yet these offices belong to Jesus. They were given to Him by the Father. And Jesus was faithful in executing those offices. This is also demonstrated elsewhere in scripture. Christ said He taught nothing that the Father has not told Him. Christ said the doctrine He taught was not His own, but the Father’s. “Jesus answered them, ‘My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.’” (John 7:16;) and again “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has Himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” (John 12:49-50) In another place Jesus says, “…whoever receives me receives Him who sent me.” (Luke 9:48.)
The writer shows similarities between Moses and Jesus. They were both apostles or prophets and priests. Both were faithful. He has also demonstrated differences. Moses was faithful as a servant. Moses was committed to a doctrine in which he and others were to submit to Christ. Christ, though he took the form of a servant, is the master.
Moses was faithful in the execution of his duties as a prophet. As a result of Moses’ faithfulness he received glory. But Jesus was more worthy of glory than Moses. Moses was faithful as a servant. Christ was faith as a son. Moses simply served. Christ was heir. Moses led the church yet Moses was still a member of the church. But Christ, being the builder of the church, sits above and over the church.
The writer to the Hebrews uses the metaphor of a building when he talks about the church here. Using a building as a metaphor for the church is not uncommon in scripture. In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul talks about the church as, “the house of God.” 1 Peter 2:5, we are “living stones are being built up as a spiritual house.” Even as vessels that furnish the house, “Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.” (2 Timothy 2:20)
Some may claim the apostles built the church. The writer says here it is Christ that builds the church. Moses did not build the church. Paul did not build the church. The apostles did not build the church. They were tools used by God to build the church. It is God who builds everything. Moses was only a tool in the hands of God.
We make up the house which Jesus is over. And as such we, both Jew and Gentile, are under His care so long as we hold fast to confidence in Jesus and we boast not in ourselves, but in Him.
Application
I have been involved with several church plants. It is hard work. If you have ever been involved in a church plant or trying to rebuild a church, you know how discouraging it can be. But here the writer to the Hebrews reminds us we are not building or rebuilding a church. The success or failure is not our responsibility. We are only tools used by Christ. If Christ wants to build His church, He will build it. The success of the work is the responsibility of Christ. When I realized it is Christ responsibility and not mine I can relax and rest in Him.
As the writer started this chapter, “consider Christ.” Think about He who is, God in human form, a man who is God. He made everything and sustains everything. He is the redeemer of your soul.
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