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STUDY Hebrews 3:1-6 (click here for notes)
COLLEEN MOORE TINKER

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant n all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. (NIV)

Jesus: Apostle and Priest

"Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling" begins this chapter.

1. Who are the "holy brothers", and what constitutes their holiness? (see Heb. 2:11, Eph. 5:25,26)

2. What is the "heavenly calling" which the "holy brothers" share? (see Romans 8:28, 30; 11:29; 1 Cor. 1:9; Gal. 1:6, 15; Ephesians 4:1,4; 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Tim. 1:9; Hebrews 9:15; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 1:10)

3. What is an apostle, and why does this passage call Jesus an apostle? (see Matt. 10:40; 15:24; Mark 9:37; Luke 9:48; John 4:34; 5:24, 30, 36-38; 6:38)

4. What is a high priest, and why does Hebrews make such a point of calling Jesus our high priest? (Leviticus 16; Hebrews 10:11; 13:11-12;)

Similarities of Jesus and Moses

"He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house."

1. Who appointed Moses, and what does the phrase he "was faithful in all God's house" mean? (see Numbers 12:6-8)

2. Both Jesus and Moses were sent to lead God's people from bondage to freedom. Compare the bondage from which each was to lead people, and compare the promise to which each was to bring God's people. (see Exodus 12:31-42; 13:11; 34:10-28; Psalm 95:10-11; Hebrews 2:14-15; 4:3-9; Gal. 3; 5:1)

Jesus Greater than Moses

"Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself." (v. 3)

1. Why is Jesus "worthy of greater honor than Moses"? (Numbers 12:7)

2. Why is Jesus compared to the "builder" and Moses to the "house"? (Gen 1:1)

3. What statement is the author of Hebrews making about Jesus' identity by equating him with the "builder" and then by stating "God is the builder of everything"? (v. 4)

4. What exactly was "the house" over which Moses was faithful?

Servant and Son

"Moses was faithful as a servantbut Christ is faithful as a son" (v. 5&6)

1. What exactly did the denotation "servant" imply about Moses? (Ex. 14:31; Numbers 12:7,8; Isaiah 41:8, 9; 42:1, 2; Psalm 136:22)

2. In what ways did Moses testify "to what would be said in the future?"

3. What is significant about Moses being a SERVANT IN God's house and Jesus being a SON OVER God's house? (Heb. 1:2; 2:6-8)

4. What qualifies us to be "his house"? (v. 6; 1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 2:20-22; Hebrews 3:14; 4:14; Romans 11:22)

Security

1. What does v. 6 mean when it says, "And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast"? (Heb. 6:11, 18, 19; 10:23, 35-39)

Application

1. What about the contrast between Moses and Jesus impacts you the most?

2. How have you experienced freedom from bondage?

3. What impact has being part of God's house had on you?

Commitment

1. In what ways are you NOT faithful as a member of God's house?

2. In what areas of your life are you not holding onto your courage and your hope?

3. What worry, fear, or resentment do you need to admit to Jesus, asking him as your Builder to replace that weakness with his Holy Spirit and with his healing?

4. Praise God for knowing you better than you know yourself, and ask him to help you know what you need to know and to show you what issue(s) in your life he wishes you to submit to him.