Hebrews Chapter 3
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.
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’
11 As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
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.
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’
11 As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Why the THEREFORE:
BECAUSE Jesus was made like his brothers in every respect
-so, He might be merciful
-and a faithful High Priest
-and he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
-merciful, faithful, suffered and ABLE to help
Holy Brothers with a Heavenly Calling:
Our calling is to HOLD FAST.
In times past U.S. Navy sailors got tattoos with hands on a rope and the words "Hold Fast". The meaning was in storm or battle, don't let go.
And so are we to Hold Fast, to are belief, faith, and our boasting confidence in Jesus, who lived, died and was resurrected, and is our High Priest, advocate and savior.
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
Consider Jesus:
-Apostle (messenger, sent one)
-High Priest (our advocate, one who sacrifices in our behave) this is a transition into the next chapter where the writer will deal more fully with the priestly things.
-Our Confession:
1 Timothy 1 13b-16
I received mercy... 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
Faithful:
Jesus is faithful even more so than Moses was faithful,
The faithfulness of Jesus is of a different, much higher, order that that of Moses.
Jesus is faithful to the one who sent him and also to us.
BECAUSE Jesus was made like his brothers in every respect
-so, He might be merciful
-and a faithful High Priest
-and he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
-merciful, faithful, suffered and ABLE to help
Holy Brothers with a Heavenly Calling:
Our calling is to HOLD FAST.
In times past U.S. Navy sailors got tattoos with hands on a rope and the words "Hold Fast". The meaning was in storm or battle, don't let go.
And so are we to Hold Fast, to are belief, faith, and our boasting confidence in Jesus, who lived, died and was resurrected, and is our High Priest, advocate and savior.
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
Consider Jesus:
-Apostle (messenger, sent one)
-High Priest (our advocate, one who sacrifices in our behave) this is a transition into the next chapter where the writer will deal more fully with the priestly things.
-Our Confession:
1 Timothy 1 13b-16
I received mercy... 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
Faithful:
Jesus is faithful even more so than Moses was faithful,
The faithfulness of Jesus is of a different, much higher, order that that of Moses.
Jesus is faithful to the one who sent him and also to us.
Randy Stonehill: Faithful
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’
11 As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
“Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’
11 As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
Why the Therefore?
We have HEARD the Heavenly Calling: Our calling is to Hold Fast because He is Faithful,
Better than:
-Angels
-Moses
Consider Psalm 95
There is a wonderful praise chorus we sing sometimes taken from Psalm 95:
Come let us worship and bow down
Let us kneel before the Lord our God and maker
Come let us worship and bow down
Let us kneel before the Lord our God and maker
For He is our God
And we are the people of His pasture
And the sheep of His hand
Just the sheep of His hand
We have HEARD the Heavenly Calling: Our calling is to Hold Fast because He is Faithful,
Better than:
-Angels
-Moses
Consider Psalm 95
There is a wonderful praise chorus we sing sometimes taken from Psalm 95:
Come let us worship and bow down
Let us kneel before the Lord our God and maker
Come let us worship and bow down
Let us kneel before the Lord our God and maker
For He is our God
And we are the people of His pasture
And the sheep of His hand
Just the sheep of His hand
The beginning of Psalm 95 is pure praise to God. And you might recognize the song quoted above, but in the praise song we neglect to remind our selves what time it is.
In Psalm 95:7 right after is says and we are the people of His pasture And the sheep of His hand it says Today, if you will hear His voice:...
Today is the time to Believe.
What happened to the children of Israel before the day of testing and rebellion?
-The Lord miraculously brought them out of Egypt.
-They miraculously walked through the red sea as if on dry ground.
-The Lord miraculously supplied them with water in the desert.
-The Lord miraculously supplied them with manna.
-When they complained about the sameness of their diet the Lord miraculously supplied them with quail.
-yesterdays are past, gone and our hope is restoration.
-tomorrow can worry about itself Matthew 6:34
the time is TODAY
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion..."
What makes us right with God?
-Good works?
No. "...all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags... Isaiah 64:6 KJV.
-Not doing wrong?
No. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 KJV.
The how does one get right with God?
Believe:
-For example Abraham.
--Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6, James 2:23
--The Philippian Jail ask Paul and Silas, "What must I do to be saved", they replied. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved...", Acts 16:30-31.
In Psalm 95:7 right after is says and we are the people of His pasture And the sheep of His hand it says Today, if you will hear His voice:...
Today is the time to Believe.
What happened to the children of Israel before the day of testing and rebellion?
-The Lord miraculously brought them out of Egypt.
-They miraculously walked through the red sea as if on dry ground.
-The Lord miraculously supplied them with water in the desert.
-The Lord miraculously supplied them with manna.
-When they complained about the sameness of their diet the Lord miraculously supplied them with quail.
-yesterdays are past, gone and our hope is restoration.
-tomorrow can worry about itself Matthew 6:34
the time is TODAY
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion..."
What makes us right with God?
-Good works?
No. "...all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags... Isaiah 64:6 KJV.
-Not doing wrong?
No. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 KJV.
The how does one get right with God?
Believe:
-For example Abraham.
--Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6, James 2:23
--The Philippian Jail ask Paul and Silas, "What must I do to be saved", they replied. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved...", Acts 16:30-31.
Michael Heiser: salvation depends on believing loyalty
Pastor Gino Geraci at Calvary South Denver in Littleton CO: Hebrews 3:7-19, The Dangers of A Hard Heart