Hebrews 3:1-15

Christ Superior to Moses

3¹ So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, ² faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, ³ but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. ⁴ Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. ⁵ Moses did a good job in God's house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. ⁶ Christ as Son is in charge of the house.

A Rest for the People of God

⁷ That's why the Holy Spirit says, Today, please listen; ⁸ don't turn a deaf ear as in "the bitter uprising," that time of wilderness testing! ⁹ Even though they watched me at work for forty years, your ancestors refused to let me do it my way; over and over they tried my patience. ¹⁰ And I was provoked, oh, so provoked! I said, "They'll never keep their minds on God; they refuse to walk down my road." ¹¹ Exasperated, I vowed, "They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest." ¹² So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. ¹³ For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. ¹⁴ If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul. ¹⁵ These words keep ringing in our ears: Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear as in the bitter uprising.

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Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hebrews 3:1-15

Commentary on Hebrews 3:1-6

(Read Hebrews 3:1-6)

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.

Commentary on Hebrews 3:7-13

(Read Hebrews 3:7-13)

Days of temptation are often days of provocation. But to provoke God, when he is letting us see that we entirely depend and live upon him, is a provocation indeed. The hardening of the heart is the spring of all other sins. The sins of others, especially of our relations, should be warnings to us. All sin, especially sin committed by God's professing, privileged people, not only provokes God, but it grieves him. God is loth to destroy any in, or for their sin; he waits long to be gracious to them. But sin, long persisted in, will make God's wrath discover itself in destroying the impenitent; there is no resting under the wrath of God. "Take heed:" all who would get safe to heaven must look about them; if once we allow ourselves to distrust God, we may soon desert him. Let those that think they stand, take heed lest they fall. Since to-morrow is not ours, we must make the best improvement of this day. And there are none, even the strongest of the flock, who do not need help of other Christians. Neither are there any so low and despised, but the care of their standing in the faith, and of their safety, belongs to all. Sin has so many ways and colours, that we need more eyes than ours own. Sin appears fair, but is vile; it appears pleasant, but is destructive; it promises much, but performs nothing. The deceitfulness of sin hardens the soul; one sin allowed makes way for another; and every act of sin confirms the habit. Let every one beware of sin.

Commentary on Hebrews 3:14-19

(Read Hebrews 3:14-19)

The saints' privilege is, they are made partakers of Christ, that is, of the Spirit, the nature, graces, righteousness, and life of Christ; they are interested in all Christ is, in all he has done, or will do. The same spirit with which Christians set out in the ways of God, they should maintain unto the end. Perseverance in faith is the best evidence of the sincerity of our faith. Hearing the word often is a means of salvation, yet, if not hearkened to, it will expose more to the Divine wrath. The happiness of being partakers of Christ and his complete salvation, and the fear of God's wrath and eternal misery, should stir us up to persevere in the life of obedient faith. Let us beware of trusting to outward privileges or professions, and pray to be numbered with the true believers who enter heaven, when all others fail because of unbelief. As our obedience follows according to the power of our faith, so our sins and want of care are according to the prevailing of unbelief in us.