THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE HEBREWS…21

June 20, 2023

The Son of God greater than Moses, so Unbelief towards Him incurs a Heavier Punishment than befell Unbelieving Israel in the Wilderness. Heb. 3:2-4

“Christ’s superiority to Moses (ch. 3:3)—(1.) Because as Son over the house He is above the servant in the house (vv. 5, 6). (2.) Because the bringing of Israel into the promised rest, not finished by Moses, is accomplished by Him (ch. 4:1–11) through His being not merely leader and lawgiver as Moses, but also propitiatory High Priest (ch. 4:14; 5:10)” M. Henry

  1. Apostle and High Priest of our profession 4:14, 15; 5:1–10; 6:20; 7:26; 8:1–3; 9:11; 10:21. Ps. 110:4. He received the Spirit more abundantly than any other (John 3:34). With Him the Messenger was the message: He was Himself “the Truth.” “Of our profession.” M. Henry “confession” (1 Tim. 6:12, 13), and to set forth the faith which Christians profess (Heb. 4:14) “the Apostle and High Priest,” or, the subject matter of the faith we profess- the person of Christ. Heb 10:23; 11:13; 13:15, “giving thanks:” these two references emphasizing the “stranger and pilgrim” character of this profession” Pink Arthur W
  2. Who was faithful. ch. 2:17, Jn. 6:38–40; 7:18; 8:29; 15:10; 17:4. “Faithfulness signifies two things: a trust committed, and a proper discharge of that trust. “Our Lord had a trust committed to Him … this trust He faithfully discharged. Christ was ever faithful to the One who sent Him. As a boy, “I must be about My Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). During His ministry, “I must work the works of Him that sent Me” (John 9:4). At the finish, “Not as I will, but as Thou wilt” (Matt. 26:39).” Pink Arthur W.
  3. To him that appointed him. The meaning is, that he was faithful to God. appointed. Gr. made. 1Sam. 12:6, as. ver. 5, Num. 12:7, Deut. 4:5, 1Tim. 1:12, Eph. 2:22, 1Tim. 3:15. “The house, the building, means the children of God, who by faith, as lively stones, are built upon Christ Jesus the Foundation, and who are filled with the Holy Ghost; in whom God dwells, as in His temple, and in whom God is praised and manifested in glory. In Eph. 2:22 he speaks of the building growing. In ‘coming unto Christ’ (1Pet. 2:4, 5), simply believing, ‘ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house.’ Pink Arthur W.
  4. For this man. this. ver. 6; ch. 1:2–4; 2:9, Col. 1:18 who, Zec. 4:9; 6:12, 13, Matt. 16:18, 1Cor. 3:9, 1Pet. 2:5–7. “The Lord Jesus. Was counted more worthy-he was worthy of more honour than Moses. He, Moses had been eminently faithful in the station where God had placed him; but the Lord Jesus was entitled to honour superior to that. Inasmuch as he who hath builded the house. The idea here is,—the architect—is worthy of more respect than the house itself. Paul assumes that all things owed their origin to the Son of God; ch. 1:2, 8, 10. He was the author of the universe, the originator of the Jewish dispensation over which Moses presided.” Bernes, Albert, Frew, Robert.
  5. ver. 3; ch. 1:2. Es. 2:10; 3:9. For every house is builded by some man; but He that built all things is God” (v. 4). The proof is twofold: Christ has not only built “the house,” but “all things.” Christ is not only the Mediator, “appointed” by God (v. 2), but He is God. The entire universe has been built (“framed,” Hebrews 11:3) by Christ, for “all things were made by Him” (John 1:3), all things “that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible” (Col. 1:16). Therefore Christ made Moses, as the whole family of Israel. “He that built all things is God.”