Hebrews 3:1-6

Christ's Superiority Over Moses

Because of the things He has done, Christians should center their thoughts on Jesus, who is the "Apostle and High Priest of our confession" (Hebrews 3:1). An apostle is one sent on a mission. Jesus, then, was certainly an apostle of God (John 3:16-17; Matthew 26:39; Matthew 26:42; John 13:20; John 20:21; 1 John 4:14). Hebrews 2:17-18 shows that Jesus is our high priest, in that, He, like that figure, made reconciliation for our sins. Remember that the high priest was the one who offered the sacrifice on the day of atonement. He was the only one who could enter the holy of holies and he took that blood sacrifice in to atone. The word translated "confession" actually includes two ideas. First, it is, as Milligan states, "a public avowal of one's beliefs and sentiments." Second, it is a way of life for the Christian (Matthew 10:32; Matthew 16:13-20; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Timothy 6:12). So Jesus is the object of our confession because He was the one sent and the one who offered, and indeed was, the reconciliation for our sins. Paul tells us in Romans 10:9-10, that confession of Christ leads to our salvation and Jesus, in Matthew 10:32, says that if we confess Him on earth, He will confess us in heaven.

Moses was trustworthy in carrying out the duties appointed to him in God's house, as was Jesus (1 Corinthians 4:2). Moses was faithful in his duty, but Jesus is held in higher esteem. Moses was a part of the house of Israel, but Jesus was both the builder and furnisher of that house. Even today, the man who built a great building is considered greater than the building itself. The greatness of the builder can be seen as the writer goes on to say God is the builder. Clearly, these verses let the reader know the writer thought of Jesus as divine (Hebrews 3:2-4).

Hebrews 3:5 goes on to extend the superiority of Christ over Moses. Moses was faithful in God's household as a servant and his faithfulness testifies to the accuracy of the message he brought. However, Moses' service was only a foreshadow of things that would come long after his life on earth was finished (see also Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 10:1). Christ, as Son, is more than a servant over the house. While Moses was a servant over God's house, Jesus is the Son over a house which the author calls His "own." As members of the church, Christians are considered members of God's household (1 Timothy 3:15.) This truly is Christ's house, as He pointed out in Matthew 16:18. One can become a part of that church (as is recorded in Acts 2:47), but, as the author points out, to remain a part of it he must speak boldly of it and hold fast to the hope of it to the end of life (Hebrews 3:6).