Hebrews 3

Jesus Is Greater Than Moses

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and^[a] are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger^[b] and High Priest. 2 For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God’s entire^[c] house.

3 But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. 4 For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.

5 Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. 6 But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.^[d]

7 That is why the Holy Spirit says,

“Today when you hear his voice, ( Hebrews 3:1-7 ).

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. ( Hebrews 4:13 ).

The Big Picture: MESSENGER

One sent with a message. Messenger is often used in the literal sense (Genesis 32:3,Genesis 32:6; Numbers 20:14; Numbers 24:12; Deuteronomy 2:26). In an extended sense, the prophets (2 Chronicles 36:15-16; Isaiah 44:26; Haggai 1:13) and priests (Malachi 2:7) are termed messengers in their role as bearers of God's message for humanity. The Hebrew and Greek terms for messenger are frequently rendered “angel,” the heavenly messengers of God. See Angels. Sometimes messengers made advance travel arrangements for their master (Luke 9:52). In this sense the prophetic messenger of Malachi 3:1 prepares for the Lord's coming. The Gospel writers applied this preparatory function to John the Baptist (Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:2).JESUS CHRIST

(jee' zuhss krisst) Greek form of Joshua and of title meaning, “Yahweh is salvation” and “the anointed one” or “Messiah.” Proper name of the Savior of the world. The title “Christ” gathers all of the Old Testament prophetic hopes and infuses into them the meaning associated with the proper name Jesus, Man of Galilee—Man of sorrows. Jesus is the clearest picture of God the world has ever seen—that is the affirmation of believing hearts. In Jesus Christ are united the vertical of God's revelation and the horizontal of history's meaning. Christians see in this one proper name a conjunction of God and man.

The believers of the New Testament did not first “read” Jesus Christ chronologically. That is, they did not set down to construct a doctrine called Christology that would move from preexistence to parousia (final coming). Rather, they were caught up in the historical reality of what God was doing for them and all the world through Jesus Christ. Looking at the different episodes of the Christ event should show the New Testament understanding of Jesus, God's Christ.

Resurrection Jesus' resurrection grasped the early believers. The walk of the risen Christ with those burning hearts en route to Emmaus, the appearance of the risen Christ first to Mary Magdalene, the appearance and commissions of the risen Christ to His disciples—these things which no other experience can duplicate nor any other religious movement validate claimed the Christians' attention in an unforgetable way. People of the first century had seen people die before. None before or since had seen a person bring God's resurrection life to bear on this world's most pressing problem, death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the center of the Christian gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1).

The Death of Jesus Christ He who was raised on the first day of the week was the same as the One who had died three days earlier. His was not simply a natural death. It was a ritual murder carried out by the authorities of Rome, engineered by the religious leaders of that day, but made necessary by the sins of all who ever lived. Jesus was delivered up by His own people and put to death by a cruel political regime, but the earliest New Testament communities saw in this tragedy the determinate will of God (Acts 1-12). Paul connected Jesus' death to the sacrificial ideas of the Old Testament and saw in the giving of this life a vicarious act for all humankind. Jesus' death was a major stumbling block for Israel. How could God's Christ be “hung on a tree” and fall under the curse of the law (Galatians 3:1) when He did not deserve it.

Jesus as Doer of God's Mighty Works This One who was raised, the same One who died, had performed the miracles of God's kingdom in our time and space. John testified that in the doing of God's mighty works Jesus was the prophet sent from God (John 6:14). He healed all kinds of persons, a sign of God's ultimate healing. He raised some from the dead, a sign that He would bring God's resurrection life to all who would receive it. He cast out evil spirits as a preview of God's final shutting away of the evil one (Revelation 20:1). He was Lord over nature, indicating that by His power God was already beginning to create a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1). The spectacular impact of His mighty works reinforced and called to mind the power of His teachings.

Jesus' Teachings “Never man spake like this man” with such authority (John 7:46; compare Matthew 7:29). His teachings were about “the Father,” what He wanted, what He was like, what He would do for His creation. Jesus' teachings required absolute obedience and love for God and the kingdom of God. He dared claim that the kingdom had begun in His ministry but would not be culminated until Christ's final coming. Until that coming, Christians were to live in the world by the ethical injunctions He gave (Matthew 5-7) and in the kind of love He had shown and commanded (John 14-16). To help earthly people understand heavenly things, He spoke in parables. These parables were from realistic, real-life settings. They were about the kingdom of God—what it was like, what was required to live in it, what was the meaning of life according to its teachings, what the kingdom promised. One of the promises of the kingdom was that the King would return and rule in it.

Jesus' Ultimate Coming Just as the first coming of Jesus Christ was according to prophecy, so the final coming of Christ is to be by divine promise and prediction. The earliest Christians expected Christ's coming immediately (1 Thessalonians 4:1). This must be the expectation of the churches in every age (Revelation 1-3). It was the same Jesus who ascended who will return (Acts 1:1). His return heralds the end and brings an end to the struggle of good and evil, the battle between the kingdoms of this world which must become the kingdom of our God and of His Christ (Revelation 11:15). In the meanwhile His followers must work to eat (2 Thessalonians 3:1). His followers must go and tell; His followers must unite the hope of eschatology and the life of ethics in a fashion that will share the gospel with all the world (Matthew 28:19-20). The time of His final coming is not a Christian's primary concern (Acts 1:5-6). Natural calamities, man-made tragedies, and great suffering will precede His coming (Matthew 13:1; Matthew 24-25). All of these will find His people faithful, even as He is to His promise—found faithful even as God was to God's promises in sending this Child of promise to the world.

The Birth of Jesus Christ The Gospels began in the heart of God and in the resurrection faith of the writers, but Matthew and Luke begin with the story of Jesus' birth. His conception was virginal. His advent was announced by angels. His actual birth occurred in a place and time that seemed to be no place and time for a baby to be born. Angels announced. Shepherds heard, came, and wondered. Magi came later to bring gifts. A wrathful and jealous King (Herod) killed many innocent children hoping to find the right one. The “right One” escaped to Egypt. Upon returning, He went to Nazareth, was reared in the home of the man Joseph, was taken to Jerusalem where His knowledge of His Father's business surprised and inconvenienced them all—the doctors and the parents. At birth He seemed destined for death. At baptism He was sealed to be a suffering Messiah. Those were times in which He and the Father were working things out, so that when ministry came Jesus could “work the works of him that sent me, while it is day” (John 9:4). But Bethlehem was not the beginning of the story.

Jesus' Preexistence Eternity began the story. If this one is the Son of God, then He must be tied on to the ancient people of God. He must be in the beginning. with God (John 1:1). Preexistence was not the first reflection of the early church about Jesus Christ, nor was it merely an afterthought. The purpose of Jesus' preexistence is to tie Him onto God and to what God had been doing through Israel. Matthew 1:1 established by His genealogy that Jesus is related to David, is related to Moses, is related to Abraham—one cannot be more integrally related to Israel than that. Luke 3:1 established by His genealogy that Jesus is vitally related to all humans. Jesus came from Mary; but ultimately He came from God via a lineage that extends back to Adam, who was the direct child of God. Paul spoke of the fully divine Son of God who came down from God, who redeems us, and who returns to God (Ephesians 3:1). This heavenly Christ emptied Himself and became like us for our sake (Philippians 2:1). God determined, before the foundation of the world, that the redemption of the world would be accomplished through Jesus, the Lord of Glory (Ephesians 1:1). John began a new Genesis with his bold assertion that “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God” (John 1:1). This Word (Greek, logos) has become flesh (John 1:14) so that qualified witnesses can see, touch, and hear the revelation of God (1 John 1:1-4). It may have been in this way from resurrection to preexistence that early Christians stitched together, under the guidance of God, the story of Jesus. But His story lay also in His names, His titles, what He was called.

The Names and Titles of Jesus Jesus' own proper name is a Greek version of the Hebrew “Joshua,” salvation is from Yahweh. His very name suggests His purpose. “He shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). This One is Immanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). Mark began his brief Gospel in some manuscripts by introducing Jesus as the Son of God (Mark 1:1). Luke's shepherds knew Him as “a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). John pulled out all the stops in his melodic introduction of Jesus Christ: the Word who made the world (John 1:1-3), the Life (John 1:4), the Light (John 1:5), the Glory of God (John 1:14), One full of grace and truth (John 1:17), the Son who makes the Father known (John 1:18). Paul addressed Him as “the Lord”—the earliest Christian confession was that Jesus (is) Lord. The lordship of Christ is tied to the reverence for the name of God and is an assessment of Jesus' worth as well as Paul's relationship to Him. Since Christ is Lord (kurios), Paul is servant (doulos). The Gospels herald the message of the Son of Man, He who was humbled, who suffered, who will come again. Hebrews cast Jesus in the role of priest, God's great and final High Priest, who both makes the sacrifice and is the sacrifice. Thomas, known for his doubting, should also be remembered for faith's greatest application about Christ: “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). The metaphors of John's Gospel invite us to reflect on Jesus Christ, God's great necessity. John portrays Jesus as the Water of life (John 4:14); the Bread of life (John 6:41); the Light (John 8:12); the Door (John 10:7); the Good Shepherd (John 10:11); the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25); the Way, the Truth, the Life (John 14:6).

Summary Christ is the way to God. His way of being in the world was a way of obedience, faithfulness, and service. The earliest Christians saw who He was in what He did. In the great deed of the cross they saw the salvation of the world. The inspired writers offered no physical descriptions of the earthly Jesus. The functional way the New Testament portrays Him is found in the statement that He was a man “who went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). The good that He did came into dramatic conflict with the evil all mankind has done. This conflict saw Him crucified, but a Roman soldier saw in this crucified One (the) Son of God (Mark 15:39). God did not “suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Acts 2:27). With the one shattering new act since creation, God raised Jesus from the dead. THE BOTTOMLINE:

The Christian Hebrews reproved for their little progress in the knowledge of the gospel.

Christ is to be considered as the Apostle of our profession, the Messenger sent by God to men, the great Revealer of that faith which we profess to hold, and of that hope which we profess to have. As Christ, the Messiah, anointed for the office both of Apostle and High Priest. As Jesus, our Saviour, our Healer, the great Physician of souls. Consider him thus. Consider what he is in himself, what he is to us, and what he will be to us hereafter and for ever. Close and serious thoughts

of Christ bring us to know more of him. The Jews had a high opinion of the faithfulness of Moses, yet his faithfulness was but a type of Christ's. Christ was the Master of this house, of his church, his people, as well as their Maker. Moses was a faithful servant; Christ, as the eternal Son of God, is rightful Owner and Sovereign Ruler of the Church. There must not only be setting out well in the ways of Christ, but stedfastness and perseverance therein to the end. Every meditation on his

person and his salvation, will suggest more wisdom, new motives to love, confidence, and obedience. (Heb 3:7-13)

A comparison between the priesthood of Melchizedec and that of Christ.

Observe the end proposed: rest spiritual and eternal; the rest of grace here, and glory hereafter; in Christ on earth, with Christ in heaven. After due and diligent labour, sweet and satisfying rest shall follow; and labour now, will make that rest more pleasant when it comes. Let us labour, and quicken each other to be diligent in duty. The Holy Scriptures are the word of God. When God sets it home by his Spirit, it convinces powerfully, converts powerfully, and comforts powerfully.

It makes a soul that has long been proud, to be humble; and a perverse spirit, to be meek and obedient. Sinful habits, that are become as it were natural to the soul, and rooted deeply in it, are separated and cut off by this sword. It will discover to men their thoughts and purposes, the vileness of many, the bad principles they are moved by, the sinful ends they act to. The word will show the sinner all that is in his heart. Let us hold fast the doctrines of Christian faith in our heads, its

enlivening principles in our hearts, the open profession of it in our lips, and be subject to it in our lives. Christ executed one part of his priesthood on earth, in dying for us; the other he executes in heaven, pleading the cause, and presenting the offerings of his people. In the sight of Infinite Wisdom, it was needful that the Saviour of men should be one who has the fellow-feeling which no being but a fellow-creature could possibly have; and therefore it was necessary he should actual

experience of all the effects of sin that could be separated from its actual guilt. God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, Ro 8:3; but the more holy and pure he was, the more he must have been unwilling in his nature to sin, and must have had deeper impression of its evil; consequently the more must he be concerned to deliver his people from its guilt and power. We should encourage ourselves by the excellence of our High Priest, to come

boldly to the throne of grace. Mercy and grace are the things we want; mercy to pardon all our sins, and grace to purify our souls. Besides our daily dependence upon God for present supplies, there are seasons for which we should provide in our prayers; times of temptation, either by adversity or prosperity, and especially our dying time. We are to come with reverence and godly fear, yet not as if dragged to the seat of justice, but as kindly invited to the mercy-seat, where grace reigns. We

have boldness to enter into the holiest only by the blood of Jesus; he is our Advocate, and has purchased all our souls want or can desire.

Gracious God, I acknowledge that You are worthy of all honor, glory and praise. I am thankful for the victorious work of Your Son, Jesus Christ at Calvary for me. I appropriate His victory for myself now as I willingly surrender every area of my life to Your will.
Thank you for the forgiveness and righteousness that has been given to me as Your adopted child. I trust in Your protection and provision daily. I know that your love for me never ceases.
I rejoice in Your victory, my Lord, over all the principalities and powers in the heavenlies. In faith I stand in Your victory and commit myself to live obediently for You my King.
I desire that my fellowship with You become greater. Reveal to me those things that grieve You and enables the enemy to secure an advantage in my life. I need the Holy Spirit's powerful ministry in my life; bringing conviction of sin, repentance of heart, strengthening my faith and increasing perseverance in resisting temptation.
Help me to die to self and walk in the victory of the new creation You have provided for me. Let the fruits of the Spirit flow out of my life so that You will be glorified through my life.
I know that it is Your will that I should stand firm and resist all of the enemy's work against me. Help me to discern the attacks upon my thoughts and emotions. Enable me to stand upon Your Word and resist all the accusations, distortions and condemnations that are hurled against me.
It is my desire to be transformed through the renewing of my mind, so that I will not compromise with the ways of the world, or yield to the enemy's attacks, but be obedient to Your will.
I draw upon those spiritual resources that You have provided me and I attack the strongholds and plans of the enemy that have been put in place against me. I command in the name of Jesus Christ that the enemy must release my mind, will, emotions and body completely. They have been yielded to the Lord and I belong to Him.
Lord, enable me to become the person You created me to be. Help me as I pray to be strong in faith. Show me how to apply Your Word in my life each day. I know that I wear the full armor of God when I am committed to and stand firmly upon Your Word. I want You to have the supreme place in my life.
I surrender myself completely to You, Lord. You are always faithful and You extend Your grace to me constantly, even when I do not realize it. I claim Your promise of forgiveness and cleansing in its fullness. In faith, I receive the victory today that you have already put in place for me. I do this in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior with a grateful heart. In the name and power of the Blood of Jesus, Thank You,Father, Your Word says that I am made in Your image; therefore it is my desire to love as You do. Right now I tap into the anointing to change, which is made available to me through Your love. I pray that the atmosphere of my life, my home, my church, and my place of work will change as a result of Your love demonstrated through me. Let it begin today. In Jesus’ name I pray.
In the name of Jesus, I decide right now to accept my responsibility in this walk of love. I love You, Lord, and the evidence of my love is the love I show to others. I receive Your power, Your anointing and all that comes as a result of my obedience to walk in love. I will even demonstrate love to my enemies. I open myself up to this love walk. Change me, rearrange me and make me new again. I thank You, God, that I will not miss the very best that You have for me. I won’t just wear a Christian label, but I am living as a Christian as well. I believe that I receive right now the faith to walk in love, in Jesus’ name. Amen. Since I seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things are added to me. There may be a shortage of food in the cupboard and money in the bank, but my God supplies all my need according to His riches in glory. El Shaddai is my source. I speak light into the darkness. Lack of clothing I speak to you. Lack of finances I speak to you. Lack of food I speak to you. Lack of transportation I speak to you. "If God be for me, you cannot be against me. Be removed from my life and be cast into the sea". Provisions, food, clothing and money, I speak to you, "Come into my life. Come into the life of my family. Righteousness finds it's way to me. Healing finds it's way to me. Prosperity finds it's way to me. Financial blessings come upon me and overtake me". Jesus is preeminent in my life. Therefore, all grace is abounding toward me. So I can have a sufficient supply in every area of my life to give into every good work of God. I am a giver. I am a sower. Therefore, I am a reaper. Harvest day has arrived. Jesus became poor on the cross so I could be rich. Prosperity is part of the atonement and my spiritual right. I resist lack and poverty in Jesus name. I will not live below my covenant rights I AM PROSPEROUS. Today will be a good day. Every weapon of Satan planned for me will turn on him. This day, I am more than a conqueror. Today will be filled with blessings from God. All spiritual and natural blessings for this day have been arranged for me before the foundation of the earth. I can't lose. "Through the Blood of Jesus, I am redeemed out of the hand of the devil. Through the Blood of Jesus, all my sins are forgiven. The Blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is cleansing me now from all my sin. Through the Blood of Jesus, I am justified, made righteous, just as if I’d never sinned. Through the Blood of Jesus, I am sanctified, made holy, set apart for my Master’s use. My body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, redeemed, cleansed, and sanctified, by the Blood of Jesus. I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, spirit, soul, and body. His Blood protects me from all evil. Because of the Blood of Jesus, satan has no more power over me and no more place in me. I renounce you satan and your hosts completely and I declare you to be my enemies. I command you satan and your hosts to leave me now, according to the word of God. I place (by faith) the Blood of Jesus on my doorposts; I draw the Bloodline of Jesus around family, my friends, possessions, properties and myself. In Jesus name, amen" catcmo2006 would like to: Thank You for allow in this site,group sites, web sites and other prayer sites as well in holding one another up for prayer's being totally united in everyone around this world, it's about Jesus Christ first and prayers,intecessory prayer's and at other times about this vast world we live in today which this old world as we all know it is slowly departing to be reaching our home in glory.