Jesus and Moses

Hebrews 3:1-6

¹Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, ²who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. ³For 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.) ⁵Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, ⁶but 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.

As the case for Jesus as the Great High Priest is being built by the writer of Hebrews, Moses is brought into the conversation and rightfully so. Moses was arguably the most important of the Old Testament characters, (although I could probably also make a case for Abraham, or King David). But Moses is hugely important and was treated as such by God Himself. Now we find Hebrews comparing the status of Moses and Jesus – and Moses comes in second.

One of the study methods that can be helpful when examining a passage is to look for Key Words. In these 6 verses, two stand out for me. First of all is the usage of the title apostle in reference to Jesus. This is the only time in all the New Testament we find that title used for Him. So that stood out as something that needed attention. Also, we read the word house seven times in these 6 verses. That demands at least a few moments of study.

First the title of Apostle used for Jesus. My first inclination is to look at the Greek here.

ἀπόστολος apostolos; a messenger, one sent on a mission, an apostle

Clearly, Jesus falls into this definition rather handily. He was certainly a Messenger from God, on a specific mission. So while this usage is rare to the point of being singular, it is appropriate. The prophet Malachi gives credence to this as well from his book.

Malachi 2:7

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

On to the multiple usage of the word house. The Greek for this word denotes not only a building in which to dwell, but also the people inside, the descendants / family. This word is about people, not buildings. What we find in these verses is the contrast between Moses as a faithful steward in God’s house and Jesus as God’s faithful Son, the one whom He has set over it as His Christ, His anointed High Priest. Yes, Moses was a faithful servant, but Jesus is the SON of God. He reigns over it all. Because this word is about people, not building, we are graphed into the situation. We are God’s house. And we are ruled over by our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. Moses may have been the leader of God’s people in the time of the Exodus. But he is not our ruler now. That role belongs solely to Jesus. So this passage does not focus on the faithfulness of Jesus, but on his dual status, his glory, as God’s royal Son and his appointed High Priest, as well as the status of his holy brothers, the members of the congregation, as God’s house. This role was very much a part of the prophecy found in Zechariah.

Zechariah 6:12-13

¹²And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. ¹³It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’