General Letters Hebrews

Through The Cross

Discover Jesus as: High Priest Hebrews 3 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 655 of 730
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INTRO

In the book of Hebrews, the unknown author wrote clearly about Jesus as the High Priest. Yesterday in Hebrews 2, we talked about how, through Jesus’ dying, death no longer has a sting. Through His death, Jesus destroyed the devil, who had the power of death (Hebrews 2:14). Hebrews 1 and 2 said Jesus is greater than the angels and greater than the message of angels. In this chapter we will see that Jesus is greater than Moses. Remember, Moses and the prophets talked about somebody greater—they talked about Jesus. Constable states that the first six verses explain why Jesus is greater than Moses.1

TEACHING

Hebrews 3:1-6: When we think of an apostle, we think of Paul, a forerunner who is looking to advance the kingdom of God. When we think of a high priest, we think of the one who offered the sacrifices on behalf of the people. Now we’re being asked to think of Jesus as both the apostle and the high priest. Nelson’s Commentary says our heavenly calling “is a summons to salvation in Christ.”2 God appointed Jesus just as God appointed Moses. Numbers 12:7 describes Moses as faithful in God’s household. Moses was a faithful servant who took care of God’s household—His tabernacle (a tangible building). Hebrews 2:17 describes Jesus’ faithfulness. But where Moses took care of the physical tabernacle, Jesus was the “merciful and faithful High Priest” who made “propitiation for the sins of the people.” Both men fulfilled their divine appointment in their divine calling.

John MacArthur points out that God appointed Jesus to be faithful to take care of the people. He appointed Moses, in this specific incidence, to take care of His tabernacle.3 In 1 Corinthians 4:2, Paul urged believers to be faithful managers of what God has called us to do. But Jesus is worthy of more glory because He is the builder of the house (v. 3). Where Moses was a faithful servant (v. 5), Jesus is the faithful Son over His household (v. 6). We are that household! Practically speaking, we are holding onto the facts that: death no longer has a sting, we have eternal salvation, and we have the Holy Spirit inside us (Hebrews 6:19).

The writer of Hebrews was addressing three audiences. Some were believers; some were unbelievers who had intellectually connected; some were unbelievers who had never made the connection. The writer wanted everyone to understand they couldn’t put their faith in the Law or in temple sacrifices. At this time, even though the veil in the temple was torn when Jesus was crucified, the Jews were still offering their sacrifices. The writer agreed that Moses was a good man but emphasized that things had shifted. Jesus is now better than Moses and the veil has been torn.

John MacArthur explains what Christ’s cross provides for us:

  • Entrance to the inner sanctuary behind the curtain (Hebrews 6:19)
  • A better hope (Hebrews 7:19), and a better covenant (Hebrews 7:22), so we can draw near to God
  • Better promises (Hebrews 8:6)
  • A better sacrifice (Hebrews 9:23)
  • A better and enduring possession (Hebrews 10:34)
  • Something that will never go away—a better place for us (Hebrews 11:16)
  • A better resurrection (Hebrews 11:35)
  • A better provision (Hebrews 11:40)4

This list provides eight reasons why someone should believe in Christ. The writer was asking if his readers really understood what they had access to through the cross of Christ. It is life changing when we realize what He offers to us.

Hebrews 3:7–11: The first warning in Hebrews was to heed the Word and not drift away. The second warning was the danger of unbelief and doubt.5 The writer warned them not to harden their hearts as their fathers had in the wilderness so many years before (vv. 7–10). To “go astray in their hearts” would be to ignore His voice and go their own paths. When we trust in what Christ has done for us on the cross and that He’s come back to life, then we will have the Holy Spirit inside of us. One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to lead us (Romans 8:14).

If the Spirit leads us that means we hear His voice, or sense His voice, as He leads and guides us. If we quench the Spirit by refusing to hear and heed His voice, then we go astray in our hearts. Because the Israelites rebelled against God, they wandered in the desert for 40 years and never entered the Promised Land (v. 11). We can learn from the mistakes of our ancestors. We should not quench the Holy Spirit or claim He no longer leads believers today.

Hebrews 3:12–14: The warning continued, “Watch out . . .” (v. 12). Instead of disbelieving and wandering from God, we should encourage each other every day (v. 13a). Are we being intentional each day about encouraging somebody? By encouraging each other, none of us will be “hardened by sin’s deception” (v. 13b).

Hebrews 3:15–19: The warning is repeated: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” (v. 15). The Israelites rebelled, and they did not enter because of their unbelief (v. 19). Why is the message of this chapter important? Because Jesus is greater than Moses. Moses wasn’t the answer—but Jesus is.

CLOSING

Throughout the book, the writer of Hebrews constantly said Jesus was greater than anything he talked about—the angels, the message of angels, and even the great patriarch, Moses.

  1. Thomas Constable, Constable’s Expository (Bible Study Notes): Hebrews, p. 60; available at http://planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/pdf/hebrews.pdf.

  2. Earl Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, and H. Wayne House, eds. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary: Hebrews (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), p. 1639.

  3. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 1843.

  4. MacArthur, p. 1843.

  5. Constable, p. 65.

Questions

  1. Hebrews 3:5–6 says, “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s household, as a testimony to what would be said in the future. But Christ was faithful as a Son over His household. And we are that household if we hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope.” How was Moses steadfast in his walk to the end (Deuteronomy 3:27; 4:21; 32:52)? How do you remain steadfast to the end?
  2. How did Moses prepare the way for the Messiah (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18; 31:2–3)? Name some of the other Old Testament prophets whom God used to point the way to Jesus. How did they do this?
  3. Have you ever felt as though you were “wandering in the wilderness” like the Israelites? Why do you think God sometimes lets you wander aimlessly for a season?
  4. Why do you suppose Hebrews 3 twice stated, “If we hold fast to the end” (NKJV) (Hebrews 3:6, 14)? Where else in Scripture have you read similar words (Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13)? What does this mean to you?
  5. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Hebrews 3 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Hebrews 3:13

“But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.”

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:11 — “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.”
  • Hebrews 3:6 — “But Christ was faithful as a Son over His household. And we are that household if we hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope.”
  • Hebrews 10:23–25 — “Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”