HEBREWS: Lesson 4 - Jesus Is Better Than Moses

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In this lesson we looked at Hebrews 3:1-6. These verses are written to the "holy brethren", or those Jews who have turned from Judaism and given themselves fully to Christ Jesus. They are Christian Jews. They are "partakers of the heavenly calling". This section of Scripture contains the Doctrine on which the exhortation of verses 7-19 is built.

In Chapters 1 and 2 the author proved to the wavering Jews that Jesus was greater than the angels because of His Deity. He is God. He created all things, even the angels. Now the author continues as he compares Moses to Christ Jesus.

The Jewish people considered Moses to be THE most highly esteemed person that ever lived--even greater than Abraham (the biological progenitor of the Jews and the father of Judaism--the first Jew). Many even considered Moses to be greater than the angels.

Here are a few things that came to mind when the Jews remembered Moses.

1. He was the man to whom God spoke mouth to mouth.

2. He was the man who led Israel out of bondage in Egypt. He freed them from slavery.

3. He was the man who gave the them the Ten Commandments and the Levitical Laws which governed everything they did. Moses was the great Law Giver.

4. He was the man to whom God gave the details of how to build the Tabernacle.

5. God used Moses to perform many miracles: He parted the Red Sea. He provided water and food in the desert. He interceded for the Israelites and, in some cases, saved them from certain death.

6. He eventually led them to the edge of the Promised Land.

7. Moses was God's man.

So it is understandable why the author chooses to prove Jesus to be better than Moses.

In verses 1-6 the author presents evidence to support the superiority, the supremacy, and the sufficiency of Christ:

1. Superior in His OFFICE (v. 1) - He is the Apostle and High Priest;

2. Superior in His WORK (vs. 2-4) - He is the Builder of the house;

3. Superior in His PERSON (vs. 5-6) - He is the Son.

Verse 1: OFFICE - The author basically ask, "If you think Moses is great, you should consider Jesus!" He is the Apostle and High Priest of our profession. The author is reminding these converted Jews that Jesus is God's messenger.

Again, this verse and the following five verses are written to the "holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling...". In Acts 2:29, Peter addresses the "brethren" and in Acts 13:38, Paul addresses the "brethren". In both cases "brethren" is referring to fellow Jews who are not yet Christians. They are "brethren according to the flesh.

Verse 2: WORK - Jesus is faithful to Him that appointed Him [God], as also Moses was faithful in all his house [the Israelites]. The house of Moses refers to the Israelites and the House of Jesus refers to the family of God.

In John 6:38, Jesus said, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." In John 17:4, Jesus said, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." In Numbers 12:7, God said, "My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house."

The author makes a very positive comparison of Moses to Jesus. He handles the comparison very delicately, knowing how the Jewish people felt about Moses. But he is very clear that Moses was a slave of the house Owner and the Owner is Jesus

Verse 3: WORK - Jesus is the Builder of the house, not merely the servant. Jesus is "counted worthy of more glory than Moses" because He was the Builder. Moses is the servant. Jesus called Israel and led them in the desert. Jesus appointed Moses to serve over Israel. Jesus gave Moses the Law through the angels.

Verse 4: WORK - The author referred earlier to Jesus as "this man was counted worthy of more...". He called Him the Builder of the house. In this verse we basically see the author referring to Jesus as God "but he that built all things is God." So in that sense, God is the Builder of every house. The work Christ did was in service to the Father (John 6:38 and John 17:4) and according to the Father's purposes.

Verses 5-6: PERSON - Moses is a picture of Christ. Moses by person is a servant. Jesus is by person a Son. "And the servant abideth not in the house forever, but the Son abideth forever." (John 8:35)

Notice that in verses 5-6, the author says that Moses' faithfulness in serving God in the house that God constructed was to be "a testimony of what would come later." We will see this referred to later in Hebrews, Chapter 10, as a "shadow" of good things to come. Moses is a picture of Jesus in lesser form.

Verse 6 makes clear that the house of God is made up of those who hold fast in their confidence and hope, firm to the end. "...whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." He is warning the Jewish Christians not to fall away; not to let the pressure from all the persecution cause them to turn from their earlier commitment to Christ. This verse is setting us up for the very important warning which is coming next. A warning to those Jews who have turned from Judaism but have not yet truly decided to accept Christ and surrender all to Him.

The proof of someones true spiritual condition can be seen in their CONTINUANCE to follow Christ. If you see somebody attach themselves to Christ, but they don't abide, they don't remain, then they never did have the Son of God. God says that once a person is His that person is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). It is permanent. Therefore, if someone falls away, they never were in Christ.

"They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not of us." (1 John 2:19) also see 2 Corinthians 13:5; Matthew 7:22; Hebrews 10:39.

There are many who appear and claim to be Christians but have yet to fully commit to Christ. Many who have heard the gospel over and over have had "their consciences seared with a hot iron." (1 Timothy 4:2). Their hearts are so hard that the Truth can not be heard.

As we will see next week (3:7-19), the author addresses these unsaved Jews who were intellectually knowledgeable of Christ, yet not yet surrendered. The author is desperately trying to warn them of the danger of hardening their hearts and being like the Israelites who grieved God and were unable to enter His rest.

If the author of Hebrews lived in 2017, he would tell you this: If you look around, you will recognize the intellectually knowledgeable who claim to be Christians. Their priority is the world over the things of God. They seek to find identity with and acceptance from a culture that hates God. They rarely read/study the Bible, finding it boring and of little value to their daily lives. They rarely pray, but if they do, their prayers are mostly aimed at selfish needs relating to work, health, finances, or their family. Intercessory prayer is a foreign activity to them. They rarely have time for anything/anyone unless it pertains to their own self interest. Sacrifice is a pain they prefer to avoid. They fear the thought of sanctification as this would require separating themselves from their love of sin. In their homes, with the exception of recited mealtime blessings, they do not prioritize family prayer or conversation about spiritual concerns. Instead they are entertained by television shows and movies that glamorize or make fun of sexual sins (homosexuality, premarital sex, and  adultery). The same things that Christ died for they find funny and entertaining. They feel threatened and often become angry and defensive when encouraged to CONSIDER JESUS over sin (Hebrews 3:1).

Next week we will see what the author has to say about hearts hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. The author will also show us what is required to enter into God's rest.

In preparation for next week's lesson, read Hebrews Chapter 3 and 4. Also read 2 Corinthians 13:5; Matthew 7:22.

"Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith." (2 Corinthians 13:5)