Hebrew3:1-6

Pondering Hebrews 3:1-6

1. Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Yeshua, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; ² He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. ³ For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honour than the house. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. ⁵ Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; ⁶ but Messiah was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.” 

Within the first two chapters of Hebrews, we noted that Yeshua is greater than the angels. This was significant as angels; God’s supernatural envoys are ‘mere’ messengers from God who had started to be worshipped again by some, while explicitly forbidden (Deuteronomy 4:19). This was not without precedent for two of Israel’s kings Ahab and Manasseh had worshipped the ‘Host of Heaven’, which are these angels (2 Kings 17:16, 21:3). The holy angels continue to worship the Lord (Nehemiah 9:6), but fallen angels wanted to be worship and some had started to do this (Colossians 2:18). It is interesting to me, that angels are very popular, in television programs and movies. There is an explosion of interest in angelic beings both good and bad (Matthew 24:37; 1 Peter 3:20). Yeshua, in contrast, has a better Name and all creation including the angels are to be in subject to Him, for He is crowned with glory and honour (Hebrews 2:7) and the good angels will worship Him (Hebrews 1:6).

Now in chapter 3 the author of Hebrews instructs us by comparing Moses and Yeshua. Moses has been regarded as the most significant Biblical Jewish prophet of all times. In chapter 3 of Hebrews we get to understand that Yeshua is even greater than Moses! It was Moses, who received the Torah (Exodus 34), it was Moses who spoke with God face to face (Exodus 33:11), it was Moses that led the people out of bondage (Exodus 33:1).  In all these things Moses was a servant in God’s house (Numbers 12:7-8), he was even called “Moses the man of God” (Deuteronomy 33:1). All of these high accolades are suddenly passed over when we are introduced to the Son, for God the Father spoke about Messiah and said: “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17). This was repeated at His transfiguration (Mark 9:7), and at His resurrection, He was being exalted to sit at the right hand of God (Acts 2:33). Contrast the glory, Moses in (Exodus 34:29-35), where we read that when he spends time with the LORD has face become radiant, a glory which fades away (2 Corinthians3:13). Not so of the Son who had that glory in Him as part of His nature, (Isaiah 6:1-8), as such he veiled it with flesh (John 1:14), revealing His glory only a few times (Matthew 17:1-7) until He comes to set up His kingdom (Matthew 25:31). The writer of Hebrews can indeed say one greater than Moses is here.

The term apostle means send one, Yeshua is the ultimate send one from the Father; this is the only reference to Yeshua being called an apostle. Secondly, He is called a high priest; this is in the order of Melchizedek, for Yeshua is of the tribe of Judah, not Levi and so He could not have served in the Levitical order because the Torah prohibited this. We will discuss that at another time! As the God-Man, He is a high priest who serves in the heavenly tabernacle bringing in the Brit Chadashah (New Covenant).

This New Covenant announced in Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34), proclaimed at the last Passover (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20 & 1 Corinthians 11:23-26), and gets inaugurated after the death of Messiah, when He applied His blood in the heavenly tabernacle (Hebrews 10:19). This New Covenant have an already and not yet fulfilment aspects. The fullness of the New Covenant indicates that all Israel will be in a right relationship with the Lord (Jeremiah 31:31-34), this has yet to happen. But each person Jew or Gentile who accepts the atonement of Yeshua through the New Covenant, can become a child of God (John 1:12); this new unity of Jew and Gentile was a mystery in the Tanach (Older Testament). It was revealed to the apostle Paul (Ephesians 2-3).

Friends, we are to be partakers of the heavenly calling: Since Yeshua is steadfast and able to bring many sons and daughters to glory (Hebrews 2:10). We are to be partners with Yeshua in His heavenly calling.

What does it mean to be partakers of the heavenly calling? This calling is for those in Messiah (Hebrews 3:14) and those who are in the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 6:4). We can be His ambassadors and He can make His appeal through us (2 Corinthians 5:20) and we partner with Him in the ministry of reconciliation.

Hope this illuminated your understanding
Blessings in Messiah Yeshua
Paul