In his discussion about Jesus’ superiority to Moses, the author of Hebrews says that Moses was a faithful servant in “God’s house” and as a part of God’s house, but Jesus was the builder of that house and therefore is deserving of more honor. He means we should pay very close attention to what Jesus has to say because, “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.” Moses was a “servant” in the house of God while Jesus is the son, heir, over God’s house of which Moses is a part.  The writer made a big deal out of Jesus being superior to all the angels in chapter 1 because God never refers to one of them as His son. He says instead that angels are, as the Contemporary English Version says, “Angels are merely spirits sent to serve people who are going to be saved.” Just as the angels are mere servants, so too is Moses. But Jesus is the begotten heir of the Father and is “over” the house of God.

The house of God is not referring to the tabernacle or the temple as some commentators suggest, rather it is referring to the people of God as verse 6 says, “we (the people) are His house.” The people of Israel made up the household of God in the Old Testament but in these days believers in Jesus make up the household of God in the church age. However, according to the last phrase in this verse there is something one must do to “remain” in the house of God. We must “hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” The most important thing to notice is that whatever this means it’s addressed to people, the author includes himself, who are already referred to as “brothers” who “share in the hope of heaven.”

They are believers in Jesus but they must persevere and, as Tanner points out, “Their status as genuine believers does not guarantee this. In their earthly pilgrimage to the Son’s kingdom, they must be sure to ’hold fast.’” [1] I’m arguing that what we must “hold fast” to is the all sufficiency of Christ! His righteousness satisfies God’s requirements for us. It is only this that gives God’s children rest from their labors as the writer will explain shortly. If we let the Law, Moses, have the prominent place in our daily living, there is no rest. We still labor to earn God’s love and acceptance in His house.  But that place has been purchased and paid for completely by Christ. He’s the builder of this house and we are part of that. We must hold fast to that truth and not let the focus on the law lure us from the peace we have as God’s children. My “confidence” is not in myself to keep Moses’ laws! I’ve already failed miserably in so many ways! My confidence is in His righteousness on my behalf. I have nothing to boast about in myself. The only boasting I have is in Christ alone. He is my hope! What’s your hope?

[1] J. Paul Tanner, “The Epistle to the Hebrews,” in The Grace New Testament Commentary, ed.
Robert N. Wilkin (Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2010), 1042–1043.