Hebrews 3

Hebrews 3:1-6

“The Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus” The Lord Jesus Christ is a faithful Savior, worthy of our implicit faith, confidence, and consecration. If you are yet without Christ, you are yet under the wrath of God. You may have many excellent qualities. You may possess much. But you lack the one thing needful. You do not yet believe.

You are yet without faith in Christ. Without Christ, you are without life, without atonement, without righteousness, without God, without hope! It is my prayer that you will now consider Christ for yourself, look him over, observe him fully, discover who he is, and trust him for the glory of God and your soul’s everlasting salvation. God help you, now, for Christ’s sake, to trust him. But this text is specifically written to those who are here called “holy brethren.” You and I must always consider Christ, look him over fully, discover who he is, and trust him. In these verses, the Holy Spirit shows us the glory and pre-eminence of Christ over Moses and the law represented by him. A Description of God’s People Here is a description of God’s people – “Holy Brethren” (Hebrews 3:1). Believers are holy, not because of their birth or because of any merit in them, but because of the sanctification of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 5:27; Colossians 1:22). We are brethren because we have been adopted by one Heavenly Father, into one holy family, indwelt by one Holy Spirit, given one nature, and heirs of one great, holy inheritance with Christ, the firstborn among many brethren (Galatians 4:6-7; 1 John 3:1). We are brethren of “one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.” We are also partakers of “the heavenly calling”, because we have been called to life and faith in Christ by the irresistible power and almighty grace of God the Holy Spirit. This call of God is called “the heavenly calling” with good reason. It is issued from heaven. We are called to Christ, who is in heaven. And it is to heaven that we are called. The Scriptures make it clear that there is both an effectual call and a general call. All men receive a general call (or warning) through nature (Romans 1:18-20), by conscience (Romans 2:14-15), and by providence (Amos 4:6-12); but God’s elect, all who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, receive an effectual, irresistible, almighty, saving call (Luke 19:5; Galatians 1:15; 2 Timothy 1:9). “Am I called? And can it be? Has my Savior chosen me? Guilty, wretched as I am, Has He named my worthless name? Vilest of the vile am I, Dare I raise my hopes so high? Am I called? I dare not stay, May not, must not disobey:

Here I lay me at Thy feet, Clinging to the mercy-seat: Thine I am, and Thine alone; Lord, with me Thy will be done. Am I called? What shall I bring As an offering to my King? Poor, and blind, and naked I, Trembling at Thy footstool lie;

Nought but sin I call my own, Nor for sin can sin atone. Am I called? An heir of God! Washed, redeemed, by precious blood! Father, lead me in Thy hand, Guide me to that better land Where my soul shall be at rest, Pillowed on my Savior’s breast.” A Description of Our Savior Here is a description of our great Savior, too. “Consider,” or take a good look at, “the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” This is he whom we confess as our Lord and Savior, whom we profess to trust and follow. Let us ever consider him. He is “the Apostle of our profession,” the Messenger of our faith, the Messenger of the covenant, the One sent of God to preach the gospel of redemption (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18) and to secure the salvation of his people by his obedience and death (Romans 5:19; Hebrews 9:26-28). He is also called “the High Priest of our profession”, because he has entered and resides in the holiest with his own blood atonement. There he intercedes for us with the Father (Hebrews 9:11-12; Hebrews 9:24; Hebrews 10:19-22). The Lord Jesus Christ is Jehovah’s faithful Servant, “Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.” (Hebrews 3:2). The Jews esteemed Moses most highly, as the servant of God by whom the law was given at Mt. Sinai. But Moses was only a man, a sinful man. Christ is God’s perfect Servant, completely, perfectly obedient in all things. Moses was typical and representative of him. The point Paul is making here is the fact that Christ is far greater and more glorious than Moses. Moses was faithful to the trust and responsibility put upon him by God. The whole house of Israel was committed to his charge and care. So, too, Christ, as our Mediator and Surety, had all God’s elect given to him, trusted to his hands from eternity (Ephesians 1:12). As our Surety, he became responsible for us to bring us to glory. This he shall do. “He shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The Good Shepherd will bring all his sheep safely into his fold (John 10:16). “He shall not fail.” The Lord Jesus Christ shall accomplish all that he was given to do (Isaiah 42:1-4; John 6:37-39).

Hebrews 3:3-6

Christ Greater than Moses Because Christ is greater than Moses, he is worthy of greater glory than Moses. Religion magnifies men, things, creeds, works, history, and rituals. The Book of God magnifies Christ. Hebrews 3:3 – “For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.” Our Lord Jesus is considered worthy of much greater honour than Moses because Christ is the Builder of his house, the church. Moses is just part of the house, like we are. Christ and Moses are not to be compared, any more than the builder of a house is to be regarded on the same level as the house. Moses (the law) was but a servant. Christ is the Son, the Lord, the Heir (John 9:28-29; John 5:45-47). Moses (the law) is of no value unless he is put in his proper place as Christ’s servant. Hebrews 3:4 – “For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.” A house does not build itself. Someone conceives the idea, draws the plans, and erects the building. The Planner and Builder of all things is our God. This is a plain declaration of Christ’s divinity. The Holy Spirit here states, in the most unmistakable terms possible, that the man Christ Jesus is God. The reference here is to the building of the church and kingdom of God, or the body of believers (Matthew 16:18; 1 Peter 2:5). All God’s elect, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and even Moses, all the prophets, all the apostles, all believers are built by and upon Christ and receive all their gifts from him (1 Corinthians 3:4-9). Hebrews 3:5 – “And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after.” Moses, the Lord’s servant, was faithful. He served the Lord with fear, reverence and obedience in all that God called him to do. Yet, his entire life and ministry was a prophecy and type of Christ. And all his writings spoke as a testimony to Christ. He wrote of Christ, he spoke of Christ, and he erected the tabernacle, the greatest type and picture of Christ (Luke 24:44-45; 1 Peter 1:9-12). Hebrews 3:6 – “But Christ as a Son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” The Lord Jesus Christ, too, is Jehovah’s Servant, but not a servant like Moses. Christ is the Son, the Master and the Heir of all things. “Whose house are we.” All who trust Christ (whether Jews or Gentiles) are living stones, built up a spiritual house in whom Christ dwells by faith and over whom he reigns (Colossians 2:9-10; 1 Corinthians 1:30), “If we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” These words are not to be understood as a condition of grace, salvation, and sonship. They do not indicate that the sons of God might, after all, depart from Christ. Not at all. – These words are written to distinguish between genuine believers, born and taught of God, and counterfeit professors. True believers will continue. False professor stones will fall (1 John 2:19; Matthew 10:22; Colossians 1:20-23). All is not gold that glitters; and they are not all Israel who are of Israel.

Hebrews 3:6-14

“Whose house we are, if…” The children of Israel were led out of the darkness and bondage of Egypt by the hand of Moses. The Lord God did many miraculous things before their eyes. Time and again he performed mighty works on their behalf. He defeated their enemies. He fed them with manna. He gave them water out of the rock. By day and by night he led them, comforted them, and protected them. For forty years the Israelites had seen the hand of the Lord in all their affairs. They murmured and complained. But God was merciful and long suffering. At last the nation stood within sight of Canaan. Many had fallen already in unbelief. But these people had persevered up to the very brink of victory and rest. Yet, at the last, with the promise in sight, we are told that their “carcasses fell in the wilderness”. At the last, “They could not enter in because of unbelief.” In another place, Paul tells us that “All these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Perseverance In other words he says to us, “Be not high-minded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed, lest he also spare not thee.” Paul is telling us that it is necessary that we persevere in the faith. It is not the person who begins and lives for a long while in faith who is saved and enters into glory. It is the person who begins, and lives, and dies in faith who enters into eternal rest. Not everyone who says to Christ, “Lord, Lord,” is saved; but those who do the will of God, believing on Christ, and enduring in that faith to the end. The purpose of God the Holy Spirit in this third chapter of Hebrews is to show us the necessity of persevering faith. He is telling us that we must go on, steadfast in the faith. If we do not, if we forsake Christ, like those Jews who fell in the wilderness, we will perish and miss eternal glory. Eternal Security I know that all true believers are eternally saved. Not one of God’s elect shall ever perish. No true believer will ever cease to believe. No true follower of Christ will ever cease to follow Christ (Ecclesiastes 3:14; John 10:28). False Faith Still, all is not gold that glitters; and all who profess faith do not have real faith. Therefore, I am compelled to constantly examine myself; and in faithfulness to you, I must warn you that there is such a thing as false faith, by which multitudes are deceived. Many people have a temporary faith which seems, to all outward appearance, real. But in the end they are found among the damned (Matthew 13:18-23). Nothing is more dangerous than a false faith which produces carnal, presumptuous security. True peace is most blessed; but false peace is most deadly. Let me be very clear. The Word of God emphatically teaches the eternal security of God’s elect and the final perseverance of the saints. True believers shall never cease to be true believers. But I do not know, nor can any man know, how near a person may come to the character of a true believer and yet perish. I take the warnings of Holy Scripture seriously (Hebrews 6:4-6; Hebrews 10:26; Hebrews 10:29; Hebrews 10:38; 2 Peter 2:20-22; John 15:1-7; 2 Peter 3:17; Hebrews 3:12). I know that many who once appeared strong in the faith have, in the end, left the faith (1 Timothy 1:18-20). Therefore, I am compelled to be honest, sincere, and diligent to make my calling and election sure (1 Corinthians 9:27). Let us consider these things seriously. A Question Are we truly born of God? Are we true believers? Do we have the faith of God’s elect? Or, are we simply deceiving ourselves with carnal security? I would do nothing to shake the true assurance of any child of God. But, somehow, if you are deceived, if I am deceived, I pray that God will make us to know it and cause us to seek the faith of God’s elect. I am quite certain that the man is much more likely to seek God’s salvation who knows that he is naked, and poor, and miserable, than the man who says, “I am rich and increased with goods.” There is a difference between faith and assurance. I know that many say, “If you doubt, you’re damned.” Others tell us, “If you don’t doubt you’re damned.” For my own part, I would rather go to heaven doubting the sincerity and truthfulness of my own heart and my faith in Christ, than go to hell presuming. The Thing to Examine The thing to be examined is not “What have I experienced?” or “What have I done?” or “What do I feel?” or “How do I live?” This issue is “whether ye are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). The one issue to be determined is this – Do I, or do I not, trust Christ alone for my acceptance with God? Do I trust Christ’s blood alone to atone for my sins, or am I yet trying to atone for my own sins. Do I trust Christ’s obedience alone for my righteousness before God, or am I yet trying to establish a righteousness of my own? If Christ is not all in all as the solitary object of our faith, as the solitary object of our trust, we are not yet in the faith.

Hebrews 3:7-11

Our Great High Priest “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)” There are many, very many, who, while professing faith in Christ, yet perish in unbelief. In these verses, the Spirit of God identifies unbelief as the greatest of all evils and gives us a strong warning against it by example (Psalms 95:7-11). The Israelites professed to be and were called God’s people, but they were a rebellious, murmuring, unbelieving people. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). Four things are here stated about the unbelieving Jews who perished in the wilderness under the wrath of God. Let us lay them to heart and be warned. Those who perished, perished because they would not hear God’s voice as he spoke to them by Moses. God speaks to us by his Son. He declares, “This is my beloved Son, hear ye him” (Hebrews 1:1-2). God has given us greater light than he gave the Jews. If we perish, as they did, in unbelief, ours will be the greater condemnation. Those men and women perished because they hardened their hearts. There is a natural hardness of heart with which we are all born; but this text speaks of a willful, deliberate, voluntary hardness of heart, a hardness of heart that is acquired by the rejection of truth, despising the light of the gospel and the warnings of Holy Scripture, by a willful continuance in rebellion and unbelief (Matthew 11:20-24; Proverbs 29:1). Those who perished in the wilderness perished because they dared to defy God. They tried his patience, despised his and long-suffering, and murmured against his providence. Though they had seen his goodness, lived upon his provisions, enjoyed his protection, and witnessed his miracles for forty years, still, they believed him not. God was grieved with that nation. They wearied him with their sins, displeased him with their unbelief, and provoked him to anger with their complaints. He therefore declared that they could not enter into the land of Canaan, the promised land of rest. So, too, all who harden their hearts against the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ shall be forever shut out of heaven by their unbelief.

Hebrews 3:12-19

Sovereign Grace Illustrated A Warning Hebrews 3:12 “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” This warning is given to all who hear the gospel and profess to believe it, to all who profess to be God’s people. We must not follow the example of those who perished in the wilderness and miss Christ, who is our Rest and in whom alone rest is found. Unbelief was the first sin of man and is the mother sin. Unbelief is a willful denial of the Word of God, a declaration that God himself is a liar, one not fit to be believed (1 John 5:10-13). Unbelief shuts people out of the kingdom of God (Mark 16:16). An Admonition Verse Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Believers should constantly endeavor to encourage one another in the faith, exhort one another to perseverance, instruct one another in the gospel. Perhaps you ask, “How can we do this?” We encourage, exhort, and teach one another in the house of God, worshipping, praying, and praising God together (Hebrews 10:24-25). As we study the Scriptures, in private and sitting under the ministry of the Word, we learn the things of God and have that with which to assist others in knowing God (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Timothy 3:14–17). In our daily conversation with one another, we ought to talk together about heavenly things and less about foolish, earthly things. When we see signs of indifference and worldliness, we ought to warn one another about the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. A Necessity Now, look at Hebrews 3:14-19. Here we are given an exhortation to perseverance. If we would enter into heaven, if we would obtain eternal life, if we would at last enter into his rest, we must persevere in faith, we must go on trusting Christ to the end (Hebrews 3:14-19). Hebrews 3:14-19 “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (15) While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (16) For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. (17) But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? (18) And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? (19) So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:14 – “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.” We participate in the blessings and benefits of Christ only by a genuine, persevering faith. True faith never quits. Those who endure to the end shall be saved, no one else (Matthew 10:20). True faith is not a temporary excitement; but a permanent gift of grace (Romans 11:29). We are given many, many examples of false faith in the New Testament (John 2:23-25; John 6:26; Acts 8:13; Acts 8:18-21). Let us be warned. True faith is a genuine, God given, growing confidence in and consecration to the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 10:38-39). Hebrews 3:15-18 – “While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?” In Hebrews 3:15 the Holy Spirit repeats the warning given in Hebrews 3:7-8, urging us not to harden our hearts. He makes this repetition because we need it. Not all those Jews who followed Moses out of Egypt perished in the wilderness, but most did. And most who take up a profession of faith in this age, and make a fair show in religious things for a while, soon fall by the wayside and perish. Though they had many evidences of God’s goodness and much light and truth, they did not believe God. Let us take heed that we be not numbered among them. Let us be found clinging to Christ, ever clinging to Christ, lest our carcasses be found at last in this wilderness, lest we miss him at last. Verse Hebrews 3:19 – “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” This is the summary of the whole matter. Those who perished in the wilderness were not able to enter into the land of rest because of unbelief. They were not willing to believe God, to trust God, to rely on God. Unbelief shut them out (Romans 4:20-25; Hebrews 2:1-3). Let us hear the warning here given, and tenaciously cling to Christ. “Prone to wonder, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love! Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above!”