HEBREWS 3:1-6
JESUS AND MOSES: THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT
October 25, 2015
Todd Chapman
Hebrews 3:1-6
1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. 3 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. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 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.
In our text the author compares and contrasts Jesus and Moses in order to heighten our appreciation of, confidence in , and boasting of Jesus.
JESUS IS LIKE MOSES: (SAME)
JESUS IS BETTER THAN MOSES: (DIFFERENT)
Jesus is worthy of way more glory than Moses.
- The house builder deserves more glory than the house.
- Every house is built by someone.
- God is the builder of everything in the cosmos.
Jesus is worthy of way more glory than Moses.
- Moses was a servant in God’s house.
- Jesus is a son over God’s house.
THE WARNING: (IF)
- …hold fast our confidence in our hope – our confession – Jesus.
- …boasting in our hope - our confession – Jesus.
Our Confession... Jesus is:
- God Almighty
- A human being
- One who tasted death so we would not have to
- Founder of our salvation
- Made our perfect High Priest through suffering
- Destroyer of the power of the devil
- Deliverer of those who were afraid of death
- Maker of propitiation for us
- Our help in all circumstances
WE ARE NOT DRIFTING, WE ARE NOT NEGLECTING OUR GREAT SALVATION, “WE ARE HIS HOUSE” IF…
…hold fast our confidence in our hope – our confession – Jesus.
…boasting in our hope - our confession – Jesus.
TAKEAWAYS:
IF NOT CONFIDENT, IF NOT BOASTING:
- Ask why?
- Contemplate God’s Great Salvation
- Hang with confident, boasting brothers and sisters
IF CONFIDENT, IF BOASTING:
- Thank God
- Recognize we are all vulnerable to drifting and neglecting
- Hang with confident, boasting brothers and sisters
- Look for those struggling with confidence and boasting, love them
- Look for those with no confidence or boasting in Jesus, love them
Life Group Questions
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
- How would you summarize the big idea of 2:14-18?
- In what sense does the author want we readers to “consider Jesus”?
- What is “our confession”?
- In what ways are Jesus and Moses similar according to the author?
- In what ways are Jesus and Moses different?
- Why do you think the author compares and contrasts Moses and Jesus?
- Specifically what is the author trying to convey by telling us that Moses was faithful “in all God’s house” and “Christ is faithful over God’s house”?
- What’s the difference between Moses being a “servant” and Jesus a “son”?
- The author tells us that we are a part of God’s house “if we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope”. What does it mean to “hold fast our confidence”? What does that look and feel like? What does it mean to “boast in our hope”? What does that look and feel like?
- How would you paraphrase the big idea of 3:1-6?
HOW DOES IT APPLY?
- How would you summarize your understanding of Moses’ role in God’s plan of salvation? How do you feel about Moses?
- Are you tempted at all to give Moses more glory than Jesus? Why?
- Are there circumstances that sometimes challenge your holding with confidence to Jesus? Explain.
- If you are challenged sometimes to hold fast to Jesus, what do you do?
- How do you boast in your hope in Jesus? What does your boasting look like?
- Is there anything that would help you hold more tightly to Jesus and cause you to boast in Him a little more? What would that be?