Therefore, holy brethren, sharers in the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,
Hebrews 3:1
“Note and Bibical Scripture References on Hebrews 3:1-6“
Jesus Christ is greater than Moses. Moses was a servant in God’s house, but Jesus was God’s Son over the house.
“Therefore”– this is God’s way: He gives glorious truth then appeals to people to act according to it (as we can read in Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Galatians 5:1; Ephesians 4:1 and Colossians 3:1).
“Holy”– As read in Hebrews 2:11.
“Heavenly calling”– the call to believers came from heaven and leads them to heaven (As we can read in Romans 8:30)
“Apostle”– this is the only place in the Bible where Jesus Christ is called “apostle”. It means God sent Him on His mission into the world and spoke through Him (as we can read in Hebrews 1:2 and John 6:38-39).
“High Priest”– as read in Hebrews m 2:17.
who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all his house.
Hebrews 3:2
“Note and Bibical Scripture Reference on Hebrews 3:2“
Both Moses and Jesus Christ were faithful – as read in Numbers 12:7 and John 8:28-29; 17:4. “House” means the household of God (God’s people)
For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, since he who has built the house has more honour than the house.
Hebrews 3:3
For every house is built by someone, but he who built all things is God.
Hebrews 3:4
“Note and Bibical Scripture Reference on Hebrews 3:3-4“
Moses was part of the household of God, but the Lord Jesus is the one who created it. So obviously Jesus is far superior to Moses.
And Moses as a servant was indeed faithful in all his house, as a testimony to those things which were to be spoken afterwards, Hebrews 3:5
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.
Hebrews 3:6
“Note and Bibical Scripture Reference on Hebrews 3:5-6“
The Son over the house is in a far superior position to a servant in the house. Moses spoke of things to be “spoken afterwards”. That is, he pointed to a further revelation of truth from God (compare Hebrews 10:1).Jesus Christ is the one of whom Moses testified – as we can read in Luke 24:27 and John 5:46. Why does the writer show Jesus Christ’s superiority to Moses? Moses is the representative of the old covenant of law; Jesus Christ is the founder of the new covenant of grace. The writer will later show that the new is far superior to the old (as we can read in Hebrews 8:6-13). Here he shows the new is superior because of its Founder.
“Whose house we are”– Moses served among the people of Israel; Jesus Christ’s household is made up of all believers in Him, and He is the Head of the house.
“If”– Read in vers 14; Colossians 1:23 and 1 Corinthians 15:2. This does not teach that believers who are members of His household may lose their faith and cease to be members. The meaning is that continuing to believe is the real evidence of membership. See vers 14. It is useless to say of anyone who gives up their courage and hope, rejects the gospel, and goes back to live in sin that they ever possessed God’s salvation (As we can read in Hebrews 10:39; John 10:27 and 1 John 2:19).
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, Today if you will hear His voice, Hebrews 3:7
“Note and Bibical Scripture Reference on Hebrews 3:7-19“
These verses give the second warning against apostasy. Verses 7-11 are taken from Psalms 95:7-11. They show that a whole generation can profess to be the household of God and yet be guilty of unbelief and fail to receive the blessing God promised to give to those who believed (See Vers 19). If it happened once it can happen more than once.
“The Holy Spirit says”– observe these words. A man wrote Psalm 95, but God’s Spirit inspired the writing and spoke through him. Compare 9:8; 1 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21.
“Today”– this word signifies a new beginning, a new day of opportunity. It means this era of Jesus Christ’s gospel. Compare 2 Corinthians 6:1-2.
do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of testing in the desert,
Hebrews 3:8
“Note and Bibical Scripture Reference on Hebrews 3:8“
“Provocation”– as read in Exodus 17:1-7 and Psalms 95:8″
when your fathers tested me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Hebrews 3:9
“Note and Bibical Scripture Reference on Hebrews 3:9“
“Forty years”– As we can read in Numbers 14:26-35.
Therefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways. Hebrews 3:10
“Note and Bibical Scripture Reference on Hebrews 3:10“
“Grieved”– acting in a provoking way, hardening the heart and going astray – all that was (and is) a grief to God.
“Always go astray”– they were not like Jesus Christ’s sheep (who obey His voice and follow Him – as we can read in John 10:27). Outwardly they had the name of being God’s people, inwardly they were hard, unbelieving and rebellious. Compare Psalms 58:3 and Isaiah 1:2-3; 53:6.
So I swore in my wrath, They will not enter my rest.
Hebrews 3:11
“Note and Bibical Scripture Reference on Hebrews 3:11“
“My wrath”– see references on God’s anger at Numbers 25:3.
“My rest”– rest from the desert journey and from their enemies in Canaan (as we can read in Deuteronomy 1:34-36; 12:9 and Joshua 23:1).
Watch, brethren, so that there may not be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God,
Hebrews 3:12
“Note and Bibical Scripture References on Hebrews 3:12-19” The writer applies the words of Psalms 95:7-11 to the situation among the Jews in his day. We may well apply it to the situation in the churches in our time. The warning is against unbelief among those who are called God’s people.
“Watch”– as we can read in Hebrews 12:25; the dreadful possibility of unbelief is there; be very careful about it. An unbelieving heart is sinful. Sin produces unbelief which leads to further sin. An unbelieving heart cannot be seen but the outward evidence of it is turning away from the living God. Whenever men turn away from Him we know the cause is this – not their reason, their intellect, their learning, etc. It is the state of the heart that determines what men do. as we can read in Proverbs 4:23.
but encourage each other daily, while it is called “today”, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13
“Note and Bibical Scripture References on Hebrews 3:13“
Christians should constantly encourage other Christians to really believe God and go on believing, and to avoid sin. This can be an instrument in God’s hands for much good. Observe two facts about sin. It hardens men’s hearts against God, and it is deceitful (as we can read in 2 Thessalonians 2:10). Sin likes to present itself as something pleasant rather than the ugly thing God says it is. It tries to appear as honey rather than the poison it really is. It speaks of pleasures but is quiet about the wages it pays (as we can read in Romans 6:23), and God’s anger against it (as read in Romans 1:18).
Sin is one of the three deceitful powers that make men blind and keep them in the broad way which leads to destruction. For the other two see Jeremiah 17:9; and Revelation 12:9. When the great deceiver satan uses deceiving sin in man’s deceitful heart, is there any limit to the possibilities of deception?
For we have become sharers with Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm to the end;
Hebrews 3:14
“Note and Bibical Scripture References on Hebrews 3:14“
As read in verse 6. Observe carefully these verbs. We have become sharers in Jesus Christ (past tense – not “we will become sharers) if we hold our confidence in Him firm to the end (speaks of the future). If we have come to share in Jesus Christ – the future cannot abolish an actual event in the past. It can only confirm it. It can reveal whether we have really come to share in Jesus Christ or not. The writer is defining the true people of God, they share in Jesus Christ and prove it by continuing to believe. Faith will be tried, its profession will be tested. The genuine believer will appear by his perseverance in the faith. It is not enough to make some sort of beginning as a Christian. We must go on believing till the end. true believers in Jesus Christ do this. Apostates do not, because the faith they professed to have is not genuine (compare Hebrews 10:35-39; Romans 5:9-10; John 10:27; 17:11-12; Luke 22:31-32; 1 John 2:19).
while it is said, Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation. Hebrews 3:15
“Note and Bibical Scripture References on Hebrews 3:15”
Hardening the heart and rebelling against God is evidence of an unbelieving heart.
For some, when they had heard, did provoke God; however not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
Hebrews 3:16
“Note and Bibical Scripture References on Hebrews 3:16“
“Not all”– the whole nation of Israel, with only two exceptions (as we can read in Numbers 14:1-2, 30).
“Out of Egypt”– as we can read in Exodus 14:29-31.
But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with those who had sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the desert? Hebrews 3:17
“Note and Bibical Scripture References on Hebrews 3:17″ As read in verse 10; 1 Corinthians 10:1-12; Ephesians 5:6 and Colossians 3:6. The writer is warning of the possibility that the Hebrews of his generation too might face the wrath of God. It was essential for them to believe and obey God’s revelation in Jesus Christ.
And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who refused to believe? Hebrews 3:18
So we see that they could not enter because of unbelief.
Hebrews 3:19
“Note and Bibical Scripture References on Hebrews 3:18-19” As read in verse 11; Numbers 14:11; Deuteronomy 9:24; Psalms 78:10-12, 21, 22 and Acts 7:51-53
“Refused to believe”– As we can read in John 3:36. It could also be translated “disobeyed”. Disobedience and unbelief (vers 19) work hand in hand. They are partners in every crime against God and man. And they are twin thieves which rob men of the opportunity to receive and enjoy what God offers to all. Then they kept Israel from entering Canaan, the promised land. Now, just as surely, they will keep men from entering heaven.
Whoever believes in the Son has everlasting life, and whoever refuses to believe the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him”. John 3:36
“Note and Biblical Scripture Reference on John 3:36“
This naturally follows from the preceding verses. God has ordained that Christ has given eternal life to those who believe in Him. He is the only one who can give it and this is the only way by which it is received. See References on eternal life at John 3:16
“Refuses to believe”– this translation brings out the meaning of the Greek, which could also be translated “does not obey”, or “is rebellious against”. It is a different word than the word translated “believes” earlier in the verse. The translation here “believeth not” is also possible, but does not bring out the idea of disobedience or rebelliousness that is in the Greek word. The translation “refuses to believe” suggests this attitude of disobedience, of wilful, stubborn unbelief. Believing in Jesus Christ involves submitting to Him, refusing to believe is continuing in rebellion and disobedience. As we can read in Romans 1:5 and Acts 22:10.
“Wrath”– to reject Jesus Christ, to be disobedient to Him, is to choose sin. And the anger of God will always remain on all sin and all sinners (As we can read in Matthew 3:7; Romans 1:18; Ephesians 5:6;1 Thessalonians 1:10 and Revelation 6:16-17; 19:15. See References also on Numbers 25:3; Deuteronomy 4:25 and Psalms 90:7-11). His anger comes because of His holy, righteous nature which hates all evil. Every person will have either eternal life, or else God’s anger remaining on him. There is no middle ground…
Much LoVe, JoY, Peace and Blessings through Jesus Christ, our wonderful, almighty, dear caring Lord, Saviour and Redeemer, in who we faithfully abide, trust, believe and abundantly do receive throughout His marvelous righteous Word and truth fulfilling Holy Spirit.✝️🔥👑🙏🕊️
🌟 Emmanuel ✨
