Hebrews 3:1-6

¹ “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and High Priest. ² He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. ³ Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. ⁵ ‘Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,’ bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. ⁶ But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.”

Verse 1: The author of Hebrews addresses the believers as holy brothers who share in a heavenly calling. Believers are perfectly holy. There is nothing unholy or unrighteous about us because of the finished work of Christ. We are encouraged to consider Jesus, who is described as both the apostle and high priest of our confession. Notice that Jesus is not high priest according to the law but rather of “our confession,” the gospel of grace.

Verse 2: Just as Moses was faithful in carrying out God’s instructions in the Old Testament, Jesus was faithful to the one who appointed him. This emphasizes Jesus’ role as the ultimate faithful servant in God’s house as he ushered in the New Covenant. Jesus is supreme over Moses and therefore his covenant is supreme.

Verse 3: The author highlights the superiority of Jesus over Moses, stating that Jesus is worthy of more glory. This comparison is made by illustrating the distinction between a builder and the house he builds. Jesus, as the builder, holds a position of greater honor and glory than Moses, who is part of the house. His covenant is therefore more important than Moses’.

Verse 4: The author reminds the readers that every house is built by someone, but ultimately, God is the builder of all things. This further emphasizes the integrity of the New Covenant. God, the builder, has begun the New Covenant through Christ. The finished work of Christ is therefore supreme over all aspects of the Old Covenant.

Verse 5: The author acknowledges Moses’ faithfulness as a servant in God’s house. Moses played a significant role in testifying to the things that were to be spoken later, referring to the revelation of God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. The law had its place: It revealed the depth of humanity’s sin. However, it could not save anyone. This is why the New Covenant was needed.

Verse 6: The author contrasts Moses’ role as a servant with the faithfulness of Christ as a son over God’s house. Believers are identified as the house of Christ if they continue to hold fast to their confidence and hope in him. The author uses a conditional “if” here to emphasize the importance of a genuine faith, an authentic crossing of the bridge from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. True believers will have made this faith decision.