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Hebrews 3:1-6

Jesus is my hope!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 24, 2019

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.

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Hebrews 3:5, Deuteronomy 18:18-19, John 1:1, John 5:45-46

Moses’ Testimony

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 23, 2019

In comparing Jesus with Moses, the author of Hebrews says that both Jesus and Moses were faithful to their calling. But Jesus deserves more honor just as the builder has more honor than the building. He then adds, “Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later.” Moses was a prophet and made some interesting predictions about the future, most significant of which comes at the end of his five books in Deuteronomy. In chapter 31 and verse 29, Moses says that he knows they will disobey the laws that he brought to them from God. Although they spread out across two mountains and shouted “we will obey” back and forth, Moses knew they would fail. This is probably part of what the writer of Hebrews was referring to, but I’d argue there was something more.

When confronted by the religious leaders for healing a lame man on the Sabbath, Jesus rebuked them by saying, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39). Further in that discussion Jesus explains that there will be a witness against them for rejecting Him. He won’t have to testify against them, for their own prophet, Moses, will convict them. Jesus says in John 5:45-46, “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.” What did Moses say about Jesus? When the nation refused to hear from God on the mountain out of fear, Moses tells them that God will raise up a prophet from amongst themselves to speak to them. He says in Deuteronomy 18:18-19, “I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him.  I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.”

Jesus is that Prophet! Moses’ testimony stands as a witness to the future proclamations of Jesus. Moses was the greatest of Israels prophets. Whoever wrote the postscript to Moses’ life (Maybe Joshua) said of Moses, “And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.” John writes something similar in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.”  The Greek phrase we translate “with God” is “pros ton theon.” Lenski suggests the phrase means that Jesus was “in the presence of God and turned in loving, inseparable communion toward God, and God turned equally toward him.”[1] According to another commentator, “The word was used to describe being ‘face to face’ with another.” I believe John is clearly identifying Jesus as the prophet that Moses prophesied about. So even Moses tells us, “Jesus is greater! Listen to Him!”

[1] R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1961), 32–33.

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Hebrews 3:2-3, Numbers 12:7

The building or the Builder?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 22, 2019

The second verse of Hebrews chapter 3 continues the comparison between Moses and Jesus. It says that Jesus “was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.” This is God’s testimony regarding Moses’ faithfulness not just the author of the Book of Hebrews.  Back in the book of Numbers (12:7) when Aaron and Miriam challenged Moses’ authority, God speaks and says that in the past He spoke to prophets through dreams and visions, “But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house.” It’s obvious that the writer of Hebrews is quoting from Numbers. Moses’ faithfulness is with respect to God’s house or household.  This refers to the people of God. Moses did God’s bidding, although reluctantly, in leading God’s people out of slavery in Egypt. But Jesus had a more honorable role with respect to God’s people.

Hebrews 3:3 explains this. Putting verses 2 and 3 together, it says Jesus “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.” If “God’s house” is referring to God’s household as I believe it does, then it’s right to say “in” God’s house includes the fact that Moses was part of God’s household. God chose him to a specific task within God’s people and God stood up for Moses when he was challenged by others with respect to that calling.

The writer of Hebrews leans on what he had already said in Hebrews 1:2. God used to send his “Word” to his household through His prophets, of which Moses was one, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” Moses was faithful to His calling and deserves recognition. But Jesus was the caller. Jesus was the builder of the house of which Moses was just a part of. Whereas Moses spoke words from God to God’s people, Jesus is the “Word” of God Himself. Moses was a messenger. Jesus was both the messenger and the message! Choose the builder!

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Hebrews 3:1, Romans 3:20, Matthew 11:28

We Believe in Jesus!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 21, 2019

The author of Hebrews is speaking to those who have come to faith in Jesus and are living in the hope of heaven. Verse 1 of chapter 3 says, “Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession…” Our “confession” might more clearly be translated as our “profession.” The literal rendering of that Greek word is “say the same thing.” Guzik adds, “In regard to salvation, all Christians ‘say the same thing’ about their need for salvation and God’s provision in Jesus.”[1] The author is addressing those who have made a profession of faith in Jesus. He’s reminding them that they have chosen Jesus over Moses! The problem he addresses is that Moses, the law, sneaks back into our lives and takes over our devotion. We become more interested in doing good and exhorting others to do good than being declared good through our faith in Christ.

Jesus calls us to “rest” in Him; “Come to me all of you who are burdened down with religion and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  He calls it rest for “your souls.” When we come to faith in Christ, the burden of our failure under the law, our sins, is taken off our backs and we’re set free. We have true rest! Repentance is the acceptance of the reality of our own personal failure to live up to standards of the law. But the pull of religion is extremely strong. Once we receive God’s forgiveness in Christ, we are easily persuaded that we can now go back to living up to the standards of the law. But what invariably happens is we fail again and again. There is no “rest” in trying to live up to the standards of a law that was given to show us we can’t. The New Living Translation accurately renders Romans 3:20, “For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.”

There is no rest in trying to live up to the standards of the law! But Jesus promises us “rest for our souls” if we come to him. Coming to faith in Christ is like coming in out of the wind and rain of the law. In Christ we find rest, protection, and comfort. But the tendency in our flesh is to want to step back out into the storm of the law and demonstrate how we can stand up to it now. Once again, we find there is no rest outside of Christ. He is the subject of our profession. Our faith is not about how good we might become or about how much we might accomplish in life. Our faith always sees Christ as the subject and looks to Him, reflects diligently on Him, and finds rest in Him. The problem that Paul addressed in Galatians and the author of the book of Hebrews seems to be addressing is not just “entering” into God’s rest, but staying there.

[1] David Guzik, Hebrews, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2013), Heb 3:1b.

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Hebrews 3:1, John 9:28-29

Choose Jesus!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 19, 2019

The first three verses of Hebrews chapter 1 are about how Jesus is superior to the prophets. God speaks to us through Jesus now, not prophets. Hebrews 1:4-2:18 is about how Jesus is superior to the angels. The angels are messengers from God, but Jesus is both the messenger and the message from God.  Chapter 3 begins his discussion on how Jesus is far superior to Moses and far more deserving of honor. To the Jews in Jesus’ day, Moses was the bomb! They rejected Jesus and claimed to be disciples of Moses (John 9:28-29). Pink writes, “During the most memorable portion of their history, all of God’s dealings with Israel were transacted through him (Moses). His position of nearness to Jehovah was remarkable, awesome, unique. He was in his own person, prophet, priest and king. Through him the whole of the Levitical economy was instituted. By him the Tabernacle was built. Thus we can well understand the high esteem in which the Jews held this favored man of God.”[1]

It was inconceivable to the Jewish leaders that this Jesus, standing before them in the flesh, was to be more highly esteemed and praised than Moses. That was heresy to even consider such a thing. But that’s exactly what the author of Hebrews called his readers to do; consider it! The first verse of chapter three calls us to think profoundly about it and to reflect on this “Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession.” Moses was certainly “sent” by God, as were all the prophets and angels of old. The Greek word for sent is “apostello.” An apostle was one sent by God. Moses certainly was an apostle in that regard, but Jesus was “the” sent one! Moses was a prophet of old but Jesus was “the” apostle. Yes Moses performed prophetic miracles, but Jesus performed more! By the hand of God, Moses did incredible miracles that delivered a whole nation from slavery, but Jesus did incredible miracles that delivered individuals from sickness, blindness, imprisonment, and even death! Moses was sent by God to redeem a people. Jesus was sent by God to redeem all people!

It’s easy to see how Moses served as a priest to his people. He interceded for them when they broke the Law of God. He even dissuaded God from the entire destruction of the sinful nation. Moses offered sacrifices for the people. Moses sprinkled the blood for the people. Moses gave them drinkable water in a poisoned land. Yes, and more. Moses was certainly a priest for the people. But Jesus is “the” priest for all the people.  He was the sacrifice that satisfies God’s anger over all sin. It’s His very own blood that eliminates the need for any other sacrifice from us. He completely and totally makes peace with God for us. When we choose to focus our attention on the law and our own righteousness, we in essence choose Moses. The author of Hebrews is still addressing people who have been so ingrained and trained in religion that it’s inconceivable to turn from the law to Christ. That’s us! We still want religious rituals, restrictions, and regulations in order to prove ourselves worthy rather than accept the grace of God that makes us worthy through faith in Jesus. We have a choice! Choose Jesus!

[1] Arthur Walkington Pink, An Exposition of Hebrews (Swengel, PA: Bible Truth Depot, 1954), 143.

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Hebrews 3:1, Numbers 12:7-8, Exodus 33:8

Jesus or Moses?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 18, 2019

Moses’ name was synonymous with the law he mediated, but it’s important to remember that the man himself was profoundly revered in Israel throughout its history. He was chosen by God specifically. God spoke to Moses directly from the burning bush. Moses became their deliverer through a series of incredible miracles including turning his staff to a snake and back again, turning water to blood, and then 10 incredible plagues that distinguished between Egyptians and Israelites. He then opened the Red Sea with his staff! He was the greatest of all the prophets as well. In Numbers 12:7-8 God explains Moses’ superiority to the other prophets. God says when he calls prophets he reveals truths to them through dreams and visions but, “Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD.”

There were a few other reasons that Moses was so highly revered by the Jews. He is the “Lawgiver.” Kent writes in his commentary, “Moses was the lawgiver. To the Jew, the Law was the greatest thing in all the world.”[1] Don’t forget that Moses was also the greatest Jewish historian. Through him came the history of creation and the connection of all Jews with Abraham and Noah. The Jews know who they are because of Moses. Moses could also be called the greatest high priest in Israel as well. His brother Aaron may have had the title, but it was Moses who made intercession for his people after the golden calf incident where Aaron was implicated. It was Moses who held up the rod for victory over the Amalekites with Aaron and Hur supporting his arms. It was Moses who sprinkled the blood.  Through all this, Moses was still called the “most humble” man in the Old Testament. According to Exodus 33:8, whenever Moses walked around the camp, the people would come out of their tents and stand to honor him.

Yes, Moses was all these things but Jesus is better! The author of Hebrews wants us to consider, or think carefully about Jesus. He says, “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.” Moses was great! But Jesus is greater. The College Press Commentary says, “He is our savior. Without his death we would die forever. With his death we can live forever. He is our high priest. No one else could enter God’s presence for us to make atonement for us. No one else could intercede for us like Jesus.”[2] When it comes to choosing between Moses and Jesus be sure to think carefully.

[1] R. Kent Hughes, Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul, vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993), 90.

[2] James Girdwood and Peter Verkruyse, Hebrews, The College Press NIV Commentary (Joplin, MO: College Press, 1997), Heb 3:1.

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Hebrews 3:1, Matthew 11:29

Consider Jesus…

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 17, 2019

Chapter 3 of Hebrews begins a fascinating study of the difference between Jesus and the Law. Whoever the writer is, it’s obvious that he is well informed regarding the struggles facing the early church with regards to the place of the Old Testament Law in the lives of Christians, especially the non-Jewish ones. He is going to contrast Jesus with Moses. The Religious leaders in Jesus day often rejected Jesus because they said “We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from” (John 9:29).  The term “Moses” did not just refer to the man himself, it was used to refer to the whole Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy) which Moses wrote. Moses is traditionally referred to as the “law-giver” because he wrote what has been known as the “law.” The law is a third of the Old Testament and by Jesus day when people refer to Moses, they mean the Law. So the comparison the writer of Hebrews is making is between Jesus and the Law.

He knows the subject isn’t going to be the easiest thing to talk about so he begins by exhorting his readers to “consider” his suggestions about Jesus and the Law. The Greek word is “katanoeo” (Greek: κατανοέω).  According to the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament it means, “to give very careful consideration to some matter.”[1] According to the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament it means, “’to direct one’s whole mind to an object, also from a higher standpoint to immerse oneself in it and hence to apprehend it in its whole compass.”[2] Because of these definitions I’m not satisfied with the standard English translation of “consider.” It doesn’t carry the intensity the Greek word suggests. Therefore, I’d subscribe to the New Living Translations phrase, “think carefully about this Jesus…” It more accurately reflects the author’s intent.

Please note that verse 1 of Hebrews chapter 3 addresses Christians. The chapter begins with, “therefore, holy brothers, sharers in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus…” His appeal is to people he believes will be in heaven with him. He’s not threatening them in any way about the loss of their place in heaven, he’s addressing the experience of their faith in the here and now. This exhortation is not to try harder, to be better, or more diligent in religious expressions. That’s work! He’s calling them to understand Jesus’ role more profoundly to find the rest that He promises. Jesus said in Matthew 11:29, “learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

[1] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 349.

[2] Johannes Behm and Ernst Würthwein, ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964–), 973.

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Hebrews 2:16-18

It’s Your Choice

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
July 16, 2019

The angels do not get the attention that God gives to us believers. That’s one reason why the angels stare intently at Christ’s work on our behalf. It’s something that’s not available to them. They are either fallen or unfallen! The fallen angels are irredeemable. They are what they are and can’t be redeemed from their fallen state. It’s their fallen state and willful, continual rebellion against God that makes their redemption impossible. But mankind, for some reason, has received the blessings of redemption from our fallen nature. God sent His Son, not for the angels, but for you and me! The author of Hebrews begins the next passage, Hebrews 2:16-18 with this idea. He writes, “For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

The perfect humanity of Christ is an essential doctrine. The first Adam failed and passed on that failure to us. The second Adam, Jesus, succeeded in all things and passes on His success to us through faith. That’s why the writer talks about the “offspring of Abraham.” The Abrahamic covenant, unlike the Mosaic covenant, is based on God’s unconditional promises. The Mosaic covenant is conditioned upon our obedience. The “tests” than Abraham endured were tests in regard to whether or not he was going to trust God’s positive disposition towards him, or believe that lie that God was a policeman or his boss. It’s important here to understand that the word for “temptation” is the same word for “testing” or “trials.” The question associated with all these things is “will we trust God to have our best intentions foremost in mind regardless of our circumstances?” Job’s faith in God’s love was tested through some of the most difficult trials imaginable. Abraham was tested directly to see if he would trust God’s love for him under all situations. He did, and that made him righteous. As the writer will tell us later in Hebrews, “it was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac.”

God tells us something in this passage and everywhere in the New Testament. God loves us and sent his Son to be our merciful and faithful high priest. He made “propitiation” for our sins! He reconciled us to God and wiped away the account of our sins through His sacrifice on the cross as the ultimate demonstration of His love for us. I believe the question that the author of Hebrews is challenging us with is “are we going to believe that?” Did Jesus make us right with God or do we have to do it ourselves? Did Jesus “help” us in our failures in line with the first Adam by succeeding on our behalf? Is His success really ours? Do we trust in what Christ did for us, or do we trust in what we do for Him. Is God’s love unconditional or do we have to earn it? Do we think more about being good and measuring up to standards, or do we trust Christ to have met all the standards for us? It’s your choice.

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