Hebrews 3 | Why Jesus Is Greater Than Moses

Why is Jesus compared to Moses in Hebrews 3?
What does it mean to harden your heart in the Bible?
Can a believer lose their salvation according to Hebrews 3?

Hebrews 3 confronts readers with the bold truth that Jesus is superior to Moses, a claim that would have been astonishing to Jewish believers who revered Moses as the ultimate prophet and lawgiver. The author of Hebrews demonstrates that Moses, while faithful, was merely a servant in God's house, whereas Jesus is the Son, the builder, and heir of that house. 

The chapter transitions to a sobering call to perseverance in faith. Drawing on the Israelites’ wilderness rebellion, the author warns that hardening one’s heart against God can lead to spiritual failure and separation from His rest. This timeless caution reminds us to examine our lives for idols or distractions, no matter how noble they seem, that could divert our trust from Jesus. The message isn’t one of condemnation but of urgency: to cling to the hope and confidence found in Christ.

In emphasizing perseverance, Hebrews 3 tackles complex theological questions about salvation and endurance. The chapter suggests that genuine faith manifests in ongoing trust and obedience, and falling away may indicate a lack of authentic belief. This isn’t a call to fear but a reminder that true discipleship involves walking faithfully, empowered by God’s grace. For those wrestling with doubts or weariness, it’s a hopeful invitation to remain steadfast, knowing that Christ sustains His followers.

Hebrews 3 also invites us to reflect on our relationships within the church. Believers are encouraged to exhort one another daily to prevent sin from hardening their hearts. This underscores the importance of a supportive community where accountability and encouragement keep faith vibrant. It’s a powerful picture of the body of Christ working together to persevere in hope.

Finally, the chapter closes by pointing back to the Israelites who, due to unbelief, could not enter God’s rest. This serves as both a historical warning and a forward-looking promise for those who remain faithful. God’s rest, now fully available through Jesus, is a profound gift not to be missed. The invitation is clear: hold fast to your confidence and boldly boast in the hope you have in Christ.

#FaithInJesus #GodsPlanYourPart #BiblicalTruth #ChristianFaith #JesusIsGreater #StudyHebrews #NewTestamentJourney #DailyBibleReading #Hebrews3Study #PersevereInFaith

Transcript

 Hebrews 3

Hebrews 3

[00:00:00] Hey everyone, welcome to God's Plan, Your Part, Year Two, where this year we're reading through and studying the entire New Testament one chapter at a time. Thanks again for joining us in discovering God's plan and your part in it. Today we are looking at Hebrews chapter three. There's a couple interesting things to dive into here.

First of all, there is going to be this. Scandalous claim that Jesus is better and higher than Moses. Remember this is written to Jewish believers who would have held Moses in extremely high regard. And second, there is a lot of this passage that seems to indicate that if you do not persevere in your faith, you will be in serious trouble.

So Let's dive into this thing. Yeah. You were really excited when we first started this episode. Cause you're like, Oh boy, controversy. Here we go. Um, I don't know if I get excited about that because it, it always feels like I land on one side or the other, and you're pretty good at just like giving all the angles.

So, anyway, uh, yeah, so this, this chapter definitely has two very, like, in your [00:01:00] face, I guess, kind of, points, and the first one is interesting to me because Moses is held in such high regard, um, and it's, it's interesting to me because it's almost like, well, where is God, then, in all of that? Like, does God get, I mean, obviously, there's, there's some issue with Jesus, I think.

I think people were a little Skeptical. Right. Um, but it's interesting, like, Moses is, like I said, held, like he's held in such high regard. What about God then? Like, cause it almost seems like Moses is even better than God at times. So that's interesting. I mean, Jesus is God. Don't get me wrong. Yeah, what I'm, what are you trying to say?

But like, I don't know. It just feels like he is on such a high pedestal. Moses, just in general. Well, and it almost makes me feel like God is forgotten. So, Jesus, why not? Well, I don't, I don't know that God is forgotten. Um, I think people just not as people would have understood that the law was from God, but the law was delivered through Moses.

Yeah. So Moses becomes [00:02:00] this significant piece. Um, I think actually in towards the end of, this is off the top of my head, but I think towards the end of Exodus, the Bible actually talks about how there was never another prophet. like Moses. Um, so, so Moses is in very high regard and it's, it's not bad to hold Moses in high regard.

Uh, the problem is when you hold Moses above. God, which is, I think what you're alluding to. Yeah, I guess it's, I just kind of put him in that, that box of, you know, today we can be really distracted by other things that are good and I guess representative of God, but are not God. And we get distracted and worship other things or, um, in, in such a case that they like completely miss God in, in human form.

And. Rejected him. So, specifically, verse 3, we'll dig into this a little bit, uh, For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. For every house [00:03:00] is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. He is God right there.

The author is talking about how Moses is the house sort of, but God is the builder of the house. And in, in that, just that one verse, the author refers to God as the builder of the house and Jesus as the builder of the house. So the same identity is being given to both God. And Jesus, because they are the same.

So there's not some kind of scandalous separation happening here. The other thing that's happening is in verse five. Now, Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant. So again, like the, the background that's being set here is that Moses is certainly helpful, but he's not as big of a deal as some people want to make him.

The author purposely calls out Moses as a servant to testify to the things that were being spoken of later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. So if you would have understood this in the context of like the first century. Uh, [00:04:00] servants were certainly valuable. So servants were critical to what was going on, but a servant did not inherit the.

The authority and possessions and power of the father, only the son did that. So right there in those opening verses, it's like, Hey, Moses is a great, but Jesus is greater. And actually towards the end of the chapter, we're going to start touching on the fact that the Sabbath is great, but Jesus is greater.

So over and over and over again, in the book of Hebrews, you're going to see these, um, it's all the talking, these Jewish religious traditions that are held in very high esteem where it's like, yep, That's wonderful, but God is even more wonderful. Don't place these weird things that are meant to point to God.

Um, don't let them become God. So that's kind of what's going on in these open verses. Does that make sense to you? Yeah, it does. Definitely does. And that's what kind of, I think I was alluding to earlier is that he, Moses almost seems like this celebrity figure Could possibly go in the place of, uh, Jesus and could cause them to be led astray.

But, uh, just to clarify, I looked up [00:05:00] cause I was curious. I was like, I don't think it's an exodus because there was a whole lot that happened after that. So it was right before Joshua. So last verse of Deuteronomy 34 10. That's where they talk about. What's it say? It says, And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, none of them, all the signs, wonders of the Lord sent, blah, blah, blah, goes on and on.

Basically, nobody like him since then. It's not a bad thing that Moses is held in high esteem, but it is a bad thing when he's held in higher esteem than God, which is what the author is getting at right here, getting to the heart of the matter. Which I think can be applicable even to us like I know as I'm reading this book with that lens of oh wow this was like specifically these these like really pointed things were addressing this group of people specifically and it almost kind of feels like man this is like the little bit of like the slap on the wrist book for them but I think it can apply to us too because we can put things in place of God in place of Jesus in our lives and it distracts us we can feel like we're doing a good thing.

because we're following [00:06:00] after somebody who is reflecting God. We're like super passionate about what that specific person is doing or what they're teaching, whatever. But we can be, in a way, not, maybe not led astray, but we can get our own, um, like desires and distractions, like put in place of who God is.

So I think this is, this is good for us too. Okay. So this will get us from Moses into some of this controversy. If you look at verse six, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house. If indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. So the first part of this is that Moses has been referred to as a servant in the house, as part of the house.

Now we are being put on the same level as Moses as servants in the house being referred to as the house. But only if we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. So this is where the controversy of heat bruise kind of plays out. [00:07:00] Um, if you are a once saved, always saved kind of person, which I tend to be, honestly, um, you, you have to figure out these people.

passages, because these Hebrew warning passages seem to indicate over and over and over again that faith is something that we have to persist in, that we have to persevere in, that we have to see through to the end. And if we fail to see it through to the end, we will not enjoy ultimate salvation. So this is, uh, problematic theologically, um, because it doesn't, Split down the lines that people like things to split down.

Um, I like to think that the, the original audience, like Paul is warning them, Hey, like you need to stick to your faith and you need to stay true to what Christ has called you to, because if you fall away from this, Like, you're going to be lost, you're going to be forgotten, you're going to be judged.

Which is what Jesus was teaching the people during his ministry all the time. Um, like, Jesus talked constantly about the, the wheat and the chaff. Like, the, the chaff will be separated from the wheat and thrown into the [00:08:00] fire and destroyed. So, Jesus, many times, is talking about judgment that comes to people that are, like, appearing to be a part of the crop, but aren't.

And that's what's going on here in Hebrews. So, this is really, um, kind of going backwards a little bit where he's giving examples of how when they were in the desert for 40 years, there were some of them that like fell away or they fell away in what they believed. These are God's chosen people, but they fell away.

To enter the promised land. They weren't able to do that. Is the problem here, like the argument here, that he's giving an example. Like they weren't separated from God eternally, but they just weren't able to enter the promised land or like, I'm just, I'm just asking, I don't know. I'm asking because like, I wouldn't, I mean, would you say that those people, and I guess I'm giving you a pretty loaded question, but like, would you say that they weren't able to be with God eternally because they were griping in the desert?

I don't know what happened to every single one. [00:09:00] Like, I think he's just giving an example of like, Hey, remember what happened back then? Like those people weren't able to enter the promised land because of X, Y, Z. I mean, neither was Moses. So here's how I like to set this up. Um, that is a great point actually, that Moses was not permitted into the promised land and Moses shows up at the transfiguration with Jesus.

And clearly he's next to Jesus in the eyes of these people. Kind of a big deal. Okay. So here's what, here's how I see this. Um, big picture. I cannot tell you. What happened to every single one of those people? Obviously it'd be foolish of me to try. I know that was just kind of like a dumb, like coming down, coming down from the 30, 000 foot view, um, I, I think that when people, um, follow Christ, it is a free gift that comes from God.

Salvation is a free gift from God. We did nothing to earn it. It was freely given to us. You can't steal a free gift away from somebody. If God gave you something, it cannot be taken away from you because God freely gave it to you. So the way that I like to look at a lot of these warning passages, and I'm sure we'll touch on them again, [00:10:00] is that there are many people who.

Believe they have salvation, act like they have salvation, pretend to be followers of Jesus, but aren't, they are like the, the goats, like Jesus talks about, like the, the goats will be separated from the sheep and the, the shepherds, they depart from me. I didn't know you at all. Essentially. I think that's what's going on here.

These, these are the, the story of the people in the desert. Like, these are God's chosen people. God specifically chose the Israelites to represent him to the world. And yet. Many of them failed to represent him to the world. Many of them willfully and willingly disobeyed him and rejected him and worked against him.

And when we work against God, we come under his judgment and his condemnation. So it is important, not only that we come to faith in Christ, but that we persevere in our faith in Christ. Because when we are truly saved, um, we walk that out. The rest of our lives, many of us like [00:11:00] fail. We're like the, um, the, the parable of the, the sower of the seeds.

Like many people fall into the category, um, that get choked out by the weeds or fail to take strong roots. I would say those people most likely were never saved to begin with. And, um, You know, really only the true disciples are the ones that see it the whole way through. Now, a lot of times people take this kind of stuff to extremes.

I really try not to take this to extremes. Probably one extreme side is people that just assume they are saved, and they don't have to do anything because God chose them, and they are the frozen chosen, as my friend used to call them a lot. Um, that's not great. Like when, when we're called to honor Christ, when we are brought to salvation, we need to play out our salvation, live out our salvation every day.

That's our sanctification. We have a responsibility. Um, the other side of this is just that we just freely choose whatever we want every day. I don't think that's true either because then God doesn't have sovereignty. We've talked about this many times on the podcast. It's very tricky to hold these two things in tandem, but obviously we have some [00:12:00] kind of choice in the matter.

We need to live some kind of certain way. Um, but also obviously God. chooses us and cares for us and leads us to his plan for our lives. So that's my take on this. Jenny is like feverishly looking something up. What are you up to over there? Uh, I can't remember, who were the ones that came back and talked to Jesus while like the other disciples were just like, oh my word, there they are.

I remember when Jesus was talking to, I don't want to say the wrong thing, I feel like it was Moses and Elisha. Yeah, it was Moses and Elijah. Elijah, okay. I couldn't get the right one. But, where'd they come from? First of all, that's a good question. Yeah, just saying. Okay. So Moses clearly made it. That's all I gotta say.

Moses made it to heaven, right? And he didn't go into the harmless land. So boom, I think what he was solved. I just figured out all of Hebrews 4 I think what Hebrews is doing is Warning us about the dangers of falling away from our faith. I think it is [00:13:00] important to read these passages That way, like, Hey, it is important that we stick to our faith and how thankful can we be that our faith is not entirely up to us.

If my faith was completely up to me, I probably would have fallen away several times already. God sustains us, cares for us, leads us. The Holy Spirit is in us moving us. So I think it's just really important to hold these things in tension. Yes. Salvation is a free gift from God. Yes, we have some part to play as we live this stuff out.

And I think that this. This letter to the Hebrews is written to them to warn them Against falling into false teaching and falling away from the gospel because when you fall away from the gospel you fall away from Christ And that is not a good thing Right. So overall, I think this this chapter definitely gets you to think for sure.

It does apply to us It's not just like this weird Chapter that was meant just for, I mean, obviously this letter was meant for them, but I think it applies to us today. So think about those things that might be getting in the [00:14:00] way of your own faith, things that are distracting you from, um, from God and what he's doing in your own life.

I think that's easy to put anything in that place. I would say just one thing to point out that the author says twice. In two different passages today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. So if you're being called to Christ, don't harden your heart against what the Holy Spirit is asking you to do and where the Holy Spirit is leading you, because you'll be guilty of rebellion.

I think it goes exactly with what you're saying. So take that little. Nugget for today. Apply it where it needs to be applied in your own life, and we'll be back again tomorrow with Hebrews chapter 4. We'll see you then. Thanks for joining us for another episode of God's Plan, Your Part. We wanted to remind you that reading God's Word is so important, and it will transform your life.

If you want a copy of the Bible that we use here on the podcast, just go ahead and send us an email at GodsPlanYourPart at gmail. com. With that being said, here is the reading for today. Hebrews chapter 3, [00:15:00] Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus the apostle and high priest of our confession, who is faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses was also faithful in all of God's house.

For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses. As much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Now, Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant to testify to the things that were being spoken later.

But Christ is faithful over God's house as a Son, and we are His house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness. Where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.

Therefore I was provoked with that generation and said, They always [00:16:00] go astray in their heart. They have not known my ways. As I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest. Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years?

Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of God's Plan, Your Part.[00:17:00]

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