Near to the Heart of God A Study of the Book of Hebrews Lesson 7 Hebrews 3:1 – 6 Greater Than Moses

I. The Inquisition – Questions & Answers A. Do angels die? B. Does salvation in 2:3 mean justification? C. What is the nature of the “bondage” to which men are subject because of the fear of death in 2:14-15?

II. Introduction A.From Good to Great B.Where we are in Hebrews C.The importance of Moses 1. His divine calling and protection 2. At the exodus (plagues, Pharaoh) 3. As a mediator 4. His role in the reception of the Law 5. As a great military leader 6. As a judge/arbitrator 7. As an author – the Pentateuch 8. As a faithful intercessor for Israel 9. As a prototype of Messiah (Deuteronomy 18:15)

10. A divine assessment of Moses: 6 The LORD said, “Hear now my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known to him in a vision; I will speak with him in a dream. 7 My servant Moses is not like this; he is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I will speak face to face, in all my house. 8 With him I will speak face to face, openly, and not in riddles; and he will see the form of The LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” (Numbers 12:6-8) 3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than any man on the face of the earth.) (Numbers 12:3) any man on the face of the earth.) (Numbers 12:3)

10 No prophet ever again arose in Israel like Moses, who knew the LORD face to face. 11 He did all the signs and wonders the LORD had sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, all his servants, and the whole land, 12 and he displayed great power and awesome might in view of all Israel (Deuteronomy 34:10-12). 11. Moses in the days or our Lord a)At the transfiguration – Matt. 17:3 b)On Moses’ seat – Matt. 23:2 c)The one in whom they hope: 45 “Do not suppose that I will accuse you before the Father. The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. 46 If you believed Moses, you have placed your hope. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me” (John would believe me, because he wrote about me” (John 5:45-46). 5:45-46).

d)Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven (John 6:32). e)“We are disciples of Moses” 28 They heaped insults on him, saying, “You are his disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses! We do not know where this man comes from!” (John 9:28-29)

III. The Son is Greater Than Moses – (3:1-6a) A.Exhortation (3:1) Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, take note of Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess (3:1) 1. Connection to context (“Therefore”) 2. The recipients (assumed to be saints) a.Holy brethren b.Partners in a heavenly call c.Whom we confess (below) 3. Take note of (consider) Jesus a.As Apostle b.As High Priest

B.Jesus compared with Moses: faithful in all his house, like Moses (3:2) Who is faithful to the one who appointed him, as Moses was also in God’s house (Hebrews 3:2). Jesus is compared with Moses, to show their similarities, before highlighting the points of contrast. Both Moses and Jesus were faithful.

C.Jesus is contrasted with Moses (3:3-4) 3 For he has come to deserve greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house deserves greater honor just as the builder of a house deserves greater honor than the house itself! 4 For every house is built by than the house itself! 4 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. someone, but the builder of all things is God. 1. Moses = the house 2. God is the builder of everything, including the house (thus, Jesus is God)

C.Jesus is contrasted with Moses (3:5-6a) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house (Hebrews 3:5- 6a). 1. Moses was faithful in all his house, as a servant (3:5 – cf. Numbers 12:7) 2. Christ was faithful over His house, as a Son (3:6a). (“Christ” -- thus, Jesus is not only God, He is the Messiah)

IV. Problem portion – the big “if:” We are of his house, if in fact we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope we take pride in (3:6b).

We are of his house, if in fact we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope we take pride in (3:6b). A.The “ifs” are not just in Hebrews 1. Romans 8:9 2. Romans 8:17 3. Romans 11: Corinthians 13:5b 5. Colossians 1: Peter 2: John 2:3

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him (Romans 8:9). And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) – if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:17). Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God – harshness toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off (Romans 11:22).

Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless, indeed, you fail the test! (2 Corinthians 13:5) 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him – 23 if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant (Colossians 1:22-23).

1 So get rid of all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation, 3 if you have experienced the Lord’s kindness (1 Peter 2:1-3). 3 Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments (1 John 2:3).

We are of his house, if in fact we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope we take pride in (3:6b). B.The author assumes the best about his readers. C.This epistle is written to a church (thus we cannot assume everyone is a believer). D.This is not teaching salvation by works. E.This statement assumes human weaknesses. F.The purpose of this epistle is not to create doubt, but to turn our attention to Jesus. If we merely look inwardly, to ourselves, then we fail to do what the author exhorts us to do.

Copyright © 2008 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. This is the edited PowerPoint presentation of Lesson 7 in the series, Near to the Heart of God, A Study of the Book of Hebrews prepared by Robert L. Deffinbaugh for August 24, Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit.