Apostle and High Priest - Chapter Three

3:1 Wherefore - Paul has emphasized Christ's Sonship, and ministry as the Author and Captain of our Salvation. He now writes "Wherefore." All that precedes Chapter three has prepared the reader to hear the important truths which follow.

holy brethren - holy because of the work of Christ in sanctification, etc. Holiness is the mark of the true believer.  These Christians are holy because of the work of Christ, and their being holy is the mark of a true Christian.

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Eph. 1:4 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

partakers of the heavenly calling - partners, sharing with other souls who have been redeemed, and are now part of the same calling.

They are also "partakers" of the heavenly calling. They have been made partners with those other souls who have come to Christ, becoming part of that calling. With discernment, the writer's desire is for the Hebrews to consider the Apostle, Christ Jesus, and to fully appreciate that this Christ is the Apostle who represents God to man.

Eph. 3:6 “That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”

Col. 1:12 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”

consider - katanohsate - Aor Impv 2PP - Perceive clearly, to understand fully, give close scrutiny: used in the Gospels to look closely at the “beam” in your own eye, appreciate fully.

the apostle and high priest - As the Son He was sent by the Father to herald the message of the Gospel. Used 1X in Hebrews to validate the specific task and the importance of Christ’s responsibility, which He freely took upon Himself.

As the Apostle, He is the called One who brought the true message of God to mankind, making salvation possible. As High Priest, He is the One who represents mankind to the Father. He is also the High Priest of "our profession," mediating our relationship to God.

I Tim. 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

Heb. 2:17 “Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”

Heb. 4:14-15 “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Heb. 8:6 “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”

Heb. 9:15 “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

of our profession, Christ Jesus - Lit. “to avow frankly, and in public, to declare openly, to adopt the same terms of language, to speak in accordance with truth. Christ mediates our professed relationship to the Father. Why? Cf. Heb. 10:23

HE IS! WE ARE! “The apostle...our profession”

3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him - The Jews were to recognize the reliability of Christ and His continued ministry as the Son of God, God the Son, and their Apostle and High Priest. The Lord Jesus was and is faithful to the Father who appointed Him.

The comparison is made between Jesus and Moses, showing the greatness of Moses contrasted with the superior greatness and faithfulness of Christ. The Jews recognized the testimony of Moses. However, they also needed to see the reliability of Christ and His continued position as the Son of God.

"as also Moses was faithful in all his house." - The greatness of Moses and the superior greatness of Jesus Christ was the issue. The Jews saw Moses life as great (700X in the Old Testament). They believed that Moses was appointed by Jehovah. But now see the greatness of Christ who is Jehovah God. Moses was an appointee. Jesus did did the calling and appointing.

3:3-5 Cf. Rev. 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things...”

Rev. 5:9 ...Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood...

Moses' importance was fully appreciated by the Jew. As a prophet he met Jehovah at the burning bush, confronted Pharaoh in Egypt, initiated the Passover by the hand of God, leading the people out of bondage and across the Red Sea!

For forty years he directed the Jews through the wilderness and brought them to the foot of Jordan! He is the central figure of the Pentateuch and the leading character of the Old Testament. No wonder the Jews would be struck by the enormity of Moses being mentioned by the writer of Hebrews!

"This man" (Christ Jesus) was counted worthy of glory and honor above Moses, because He built the house. Whereas, Moses was just an important figure who pointed to the builder.

It was Christ as God (see 3:4) who prepared (established), the house. Further, Moses was a servant, a testimony of those things which would be spoken of later. His entire life was devoted to demonstrating Christ's coming.

Now, each believer has the responsibility to serve and be faithful. But we must reminder that all things are built by God. The most profound reality of Moses' life was to represent Christ's coming to redeem mankind. We must also live Our lives, representing the coming of the Lord in glory. It is a great privilege to be an ambassador for a coming King!

3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; - This phrase sets Christ apart from Moses. The Lord built the house, which is the Church, the redeemed.

"But Christ"! These two words demonstrate the contrast between Moses and Christ. The Lord Jesus built His House, the Church. The writer of Hebrews makes it clear that the "house" is the church, when he states, "Whose house are we." It is the gathering of the redeemed that Christ has built: His Building.

The contrast between Moses and Christ helps us to understand the phrase.

whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

If we are sons of God, and if we are partakers of the heavenly calling, we will be faithful and hold fast. This is the proof that we are of God's house. The proof that you are a child of God is that you hold to the truth, walk in faith, and do not turn your back on Christ.

Living by a set standard and not giving up the walk of faith does not make you a child of God, but it does prove that you are a child of God. If you are a believer, you will hold on, not because you are able, but because He is able to make you stand.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I John 2:19

It is imperative that we hold fast the truths that are taught here in Hebrews. We cannot enter into the "rest" (cf. 3:11) without holding fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

The Jews had lost sight of the real blessing of God, because of their lack of faithfulness in the Lord! Shall we do the same? As a believer, enter into His continued rest. Experience the blessing of God by obedience and faithfulness to Christ!