The Son – Greater than Moses
Hebrews 3:1-6
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. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. [Hebrews 3:3-4]
Hebrews is a book of better things and a better [superior] Person.
Jesus, the Son, fully God and fully Man:
- Is better than the prophets [Heb 1:1-3]
- Is better than the angels [Heb 1:4-14; 2:5-18]
- Is better than Moses [Heb 3:1-6]
- Is better than Aaron [Heb 4:14-6:20]
Jesus, the Son, His ministry:
- Is a superior order – after the order of Melchizedek [Heb 7]
- Is founded upon a superior covenant – the New Covenant [Heb 8]
- Is from a superior sanctuary – the heavenly sanctuary [Heb 9]
- Is through a superior sacrifice – the sacrifice of Himself [Heb 10]
Hebrews is a book of warnings.
- Drifting from the Word [Heb 2:1-4]
- Doubting the Word [Heb 3:7-4:13]
- Dullness to the Word [Heb 5:11-6:20]
- Despising the Word [Heb 10:26-39]
- Defying the Word [Heb 12:14-29]
In Chapter 3 we read that Jesus is to be “counted worthy of more glory than Moses.” Can you imagine the impact on these Jewish believers? Remember, these early Jewish Christians were being tempted to return to Judaism, and thus returning to the Law. But this is a similar challenge today. As years go by there is a temptation to become more law-centered than Christ-centered. It is because the Law draws attention to self. We sometimes get absorbed in a list of do’s and don’ts that make us visible rather than simply entering into the Holy of Holies, by faith, behind the veil.
Our topic this morning is Jesus is better than Moses, and thus the covenant of grace is superior to the covenant of Law. At the end of Chapter 3 is another warning: Doubting the Word. Doubting is unbelieving and it causes wandering, which results in unrest, i.e., we are never satisfied. It was the great malady in Israelites’ wilderness wanderings. The manna was not enough; and yet the Manna was Jesus [ref. John 6:32-33; 1 Cor 10:3].
When Jesus alone is not enough, when we are looking to others and things as our bread of life, we must heed these warnings lest we too perish from unbelief.
