Jesus Is Greater Than Moses

What this episode covers

Martin Luther provides a helpful definition of God Larger Catechism “A “god” is the term for that to which we are to look for all good and in which we are to find refuge in all need. Therefore, to have a god is nothing else than to trust and believe in that one with your whole heart. As I have often said, it is the trust and faith of the heart alone that make both God and an idol. If your faith and trust are right, then your God is the true one. Conversely, where your trust is false and wrong, there you do not have the true God. For these two belong together, faith and God. Anything on which your heart relies and depends, I say, that is really your God.” There is only one true God, but whatever our heart clings to is functioning as our god—whether true or not. Jesus is greater than (>) everything! The author of Hebrews spent most of the first two chapters comparing Jesus to angels. Even where the author discussed Christ’s high priestly work in the previous passage (Heb 2:17), he did so after clarifying that his redeeming work makes his authority superior to angels (Heb 2:5, 9, 16). In chapter three the author transitions to a comparison between Jesus and Moses. Once again, the emphasis is upon Christ’s superiority to Moses. Just as the original audience held angels in high regard, they also recognize Moses to be the exemplary leader of the people of God. He led them out of bondage in Egypt and represented them before God, all the while suffering the constant complaint and challenge of an ungrateful generation. And yet, Moses was only a shadow of Israel’s true ruler, “Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses” (v.3). Just as these Hebrew Christians were tempted to drift away from Christ and return to Moses for their salvation, so we are often prone to look to alternative saviors. The remedy is not try to label everything else as an idol, but to invest ourselves more and more in what is superior. The assurance of our salvation is the fruit of a mind settled upon the superiority of Christ. Read Hebrews 3:1-6. Consider the Faithfulness of Jesus (1-2) “Therefore” indicates the connection his argument has to the previous passage in which the author pointed his reader to Christ’s ability to “help those who are being tempted” (Heb 2:18). If there is any reluctance to look to Jesus for help, our primary problem is that we do not understand Jesus. He reminds them that they are “holy brothers” (Heb 2:11) who participate in the same “heavenly calling”. They have not only been set apart from the world as children adopted into the family of God, but they have also received an irrevocable call (Rom 11:29). This “heavenly calling” to the effectual call of God that invites them to place our faith in Christ (Heb 9:15). They have received a divine call not to be like everyone else—not to be conformed to this world (Rom 12:2)—but to order their minds according to heavenly priorities. This calling gives them purpose and meaning to live in such a way that pleases their Creator. Instead of seeking their own pleasure, they now recognize their highest satisfaction in living for God. This divine calling also fills them with hope to receive a glorious inheritance (Eph 1:18). The author tells his “holy brothers” to “consider Jesus” because he knows Jesus can help them overcome whatever temptation they are suffering. This is the only command in the passage: “Consider Jesus”! They were to devote their mind to reflect upon Jesus. We often refer to our confession of faith, speaking of doctrinal standards. But, “our confession” at the end of v.1 has a different meaning. The New Testament almost exclusively uses the term translated “confession” with reference to our personal profession of faith. Jesus is the one in whom we place our faith. He is the one in whom our hearts rely upon. As the apostle of their confession, Jesus was sent by God in order to disciple them and send them out as disciples (Jn 20:21)

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