Chapter 3
The Faithfulness of Christ
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
Again we see that those the author is writing to are Christians as he calls them holy brethren and those who are part of the heavenly calling. Christians are called (Rom. 8:28) and chosen by God (Eph. 1:4). He wants these believers to think about Jesus Christ who is the Apostle (God’s messenger) and High Priest (who intercedes for us before God). Jesus has been faithful in all things to the Father just as Moses was faithful to God. However, Jesus has more glory than Moses. While Moses was a great prophet of God he still was a sinner as we are. Jesus is the sinless Son of God who built or created all things by His own power. The Father has given all dominion and power over all things to His Son (Matt. 28:18). We show that we are His followers by holding firm to our confidence of who He is and rejoice in our hope (faith) to the very end of our lives.
Do Not Harden Your Hearts
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice,
8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ 11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”
The Holy Spirit of God through this author wants this readership to hear what He has to say to them. He doesn’t want them to harden their hearts or be stubborn against the better way of Christ. They should not hold on to the Old Testament observances and rites. When God delivered the nation of Israel from Egyptian bondage the people often rebelled against Him with stubborn or hard hearts. Some of the people practiced idolatry, constantly complained to Moses and God, and showed a lack of faith. Their hearts were hard even though they had witnessed the mighty power of God in His signs, wonders, and miracles. Those Israelites tested the patience of God during their forty years of wilderness wanderings because of their lack of faith and disobedience to God. Therefore, because God was angry with them, the Lord determined not to let that generation enter into His rest for them in the Promised Land of Canaan.
A Warning
12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
The author is issuing a warning to the Hebrews he is writing for them to be strong in the faith on the New Covenant in Jesus Christ. They should not lapse back into the former ways of the Old Covenant. Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Old Testament law. (Matt. 5:17) Everyone should encourage each other in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We should hold fast our confidence in Jesus and not harden our hearts because of sin. We should not rebel and complain about our problems like Israel did in the wilderness but should recognize our blessings in Christ and praise God for them.
The Importance of Faith
16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Moses led Israel out of Egypt and away from Pharaoh King of Egypt. Yet Israel rebelled against God. They initially worshipped a golden calf when Moses was up on Mt. Sinai talking with God. They refused to take over the Promised Land because of fear. For their lack of faith they had to wander in the wildness for 40 years as punishment by God. Israel constantly complained and griped about their conditions in the wilderness. They were a stiff-necked and hard hearted generation. That entire unfaithful generation died in the wilderness and never found their rest in the Promised Land.