Christ Greater than Moses

Epistle to the Hebrews - Part 5 • Hebrews 3:1-6 • October 4, 2020 • Vesper Service 6:00 PM

Sermon Introduction

The author of Hebrews declared that Christ Jesus is the Son of God who is eternal and that He is God. Furthermore, the writer stated that Christ is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. An apostle is an ambassador. Christ is the ambassador of heaven concerning the salvation of humankind. Moreover, He is also the High Priest. A high priest comes to God on behalf of the people, offering sacrifices. Christ represents heaven to humankind. Conversely, He also represents humans saved by God’s grace.

In the earlier part of the letter, the writer explained that Christ is greater than the prophets and the angels. The author further exposited that Christ is more excellent than Moses. Now, Moses is the most respected figure in Jewish history. For the Jew, there is none like Moses. But for the disciples of Christ, there is none like Jesus.

Eddie Labios Jr. Pastor

Hebrews 3:1-6 NASB

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; 2 He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. 3 For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. 5 Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; 6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.

Notes

Both Christ and Moses were faithful in their respective houses. Christ to the church and Moses to Israel. But Christ has more glory than Moses because God created both houses, the church, and Israel (3:2-4). Christ is God (1:8).
Moses was faithful as God’s servant who took care of the house of Israel. But Christ was faithful as God’s Son, who takes care of God’s house, the church (3:5-6). The church is not a building, but it is the assembly of the sanctified.
True believers belong to God’s house, the church. One proof would be that they would hold on until the end. Thus, fake believers will fall away from the gospel they heard, but genuine believers will hold on until the end (3:6).

Application

Christ is both the Apostle and the High Priest of our confession. He represents heaven to us, and He represents us to heaven. Christ is the perfect mediator. Thus, we look to Christ alone, no one else.
We glorify Christ above Moses. We praise God for the faithfulness of Moses in stewarding the house of Israel, the nation God chose to birth the Son. Yet we must put into perspective that Christ is God. Thus, He is greater than all.
We should belong to Christ’s house, His community of believers, where we can grow together and submit to each other in Christ. Be alarmed if you are more comfortable with friends in the world, instead of the community. We should determine to hold on to His goespel and His house until the end.

Discussion Guide

Christ is both the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. What do these mean to you?
Who is Moses to the Jew? Who is Christ to His followers?
What are the similarities and differences between Christ and Moses?
According to the author, how should we hold on to the message we heard?
Which house to we belong to? And may we express our belongingness to this house?