1/26/03. Hebrew 3. Jesus has been declared to be superior to the prophets, to the angels and to the first Adam

Transcription

1 1 2 1/26/03 Hebrew 3 Jesus has been declared to be superior to the prophets, to the angels and to the first Adam Therefore, the author of Hebrews having established that Jesus is God as well as man, he proceeds to show that Jesus is superior to Moses and by implication Jesus is better than the Law. The reason being is that Grace is better than the Law, Jesus by the grace of God tasted death for everyone. Heb. 2:9e-f Remember Moses was revered by every Jew for he was the one who received the law from God. Moses was so associated with the law and the teacher of it, that they referred to the law as the law of Moses Acts 15:5 The entire exposition of Moses is to expose their personal unbelief in who Jesus is. 1. The Holy Spirit warns them not to harden their hearts as in the wilderness rebellion. vs The problem is the heart of unbelief. vs. 7, 10, 12, The author ties the sin of unbelief of these Hebrews by the superiority of Jesus over Moses as Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest before God, to their refusal to rest before God for their salvation, contrasting Jesus superior to Joshua. Heb. 3:1-4:13 4. The superiority is obvious, an earthly mediating High Priest to a heavenly High Priest and an earthly physical rest to a spiritual heavenly rest. 3:1-6 The superiority of Jesus over Moses. 3:1 The call to examine their past confession of Jesus. 1) Therefore once again looks back to the previous section, in view of the humiliation and exaltation of Jesus through His human incarnation as the Last Adam, who is a merciful and faithful High Priest pertaining to the things of God. Heb. 2:5-18 * This is the progressive and logical conclusion based on the previous progressive and logical arguments about Jesus. a) In view that Jesus is superior to the prophets. b) In view that Jesus is superior to the angels. 2) The Hebrew Christians are identified by four terms. a) They were holy brethren hagios adelphos identifying two things.

2 3 4 1)) Their position, sanctified and set apart. Heb. 2:11 2)) Their person, related to God s family, not only as Jews but now in Christ, literally of the same womb. Heb. 2:11,12, 13, 17 * This phrase appears only one other time in the New Testament. 1Thess. 5:27 c) They were partakers metochoi their privilege, partners and sharers. * The word appears six time is the New Testament, five appear in Hebrews and every one deals with an actual partaking not hypothetical as some teach. Lk. 5:7; Heb. 3:1, 14; 6:4; 12:8 d) A heavenly calling of the church, in contrast to the earthly reign for Israel. Heb. 2:10 1)) Calling klesis of the eleven times the word appears in the New Testament it always refers not to the invitation to go to heaven but the fact of their state and manner of being. 2)) The Old Testament saint had an earthly calling to an earthly temple and to reign in the Kingdom on earth, the Age to come but the New Testament saint is called to a heavenly kingdom as kings and priest in the heavenlies. * Paul says, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil. 3:14, 20 * No Jew or gentile, etc. Gal. 3:28; 6:15; Col 3:11 3) They are asked to consider the Apostle and High Priest of their confession, Christ Jesus. a) The exhortation is introduced by the word consider katanoeo which means to fix one s attention with eyes and mind, to gaze, so as to learn and comprehend. * The same word is used by Jesus when he says, Consider the lilies, consider the raven. Lk. 12:24, 27 b) The Commission of Jesus is given by the word apostle apostolo one sent forth, an ambassador, one who speaks and acts in full authority and power of his country. 1)) Being man, He was sent by God to man to speak and act for God the Father.

3 5 6 2)) Twenty-eight times John tells us in His gospel that Jesus was sent by the Father. * Jesus prayed, O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. Jn. 17:25 c) The position granted to Jesus was of High Priest, represented man to God. 2)) The High Priest was to go between, the mediator. *In Latin the word for priest is Pontifex meaning a bridge builder and the title of the Pope is Pontifex Maximus a)) Jesus had been made like unto His brethren. Heb. 2:17a b)) Jesus was a merciful High Priest in the things of God. Heb. 2:17b c)) Jesus made propitiation for the sins of the people. Heb. 2:17c d) This was the understanding of their past confession. 1)) The word confession homologia means to say the same thing by agreement, three of the six times it appears in the New Testament are found in Hebrews. Heb. 4:14, 10:23 * They had confessed their faith saying the same thing about Jesus, agreeing with the Father, that Jesus was the One sent from heaven and their High Priest, according to the Scriptures! 2)) They were to consider what they had said in the past about their perception and conviction as to the person and ability of Jesus to provide salvation for them. * Called a subjective genative! a)) Christ identifies Him as the anointed, Messiah. b)) Jesus identifies His humanity through the incarnation. 3)) Man is unable to approach God himself, Job knew this. Job 9:23-33; 19: :2 The compared faithfulness of Jesus to Moses. 1) Jesus was being faithful to God the Father Who appointed Him as Apostle and High Priest. vs. 2a a) The word faithful pistos means one who is trustworthy, reliable and is in the present tense, an established fact denoting character.

4 7 8 1)) Jesus emptied Himself, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born through the incarnation. * I have glorified You on the earth: Jn. 17:4 2)) Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world and did not draw back from the cup at Gathsemane, was raised and exalted to the Majesty on High. * Jesus said, I have finished the work which You gave Me to do. b) The context of the quote declares the distinction between Moses and other prophets, as to how God reveals Himself to them, Moses being the ultimate prophet of the Old Testament. Num. 12:7 1) This was when Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses and God stuck Miriam wit leprosy! 2) Moses being faithful, interceded for Miriam that God would forgiven her! 3) The parallel is unmistakable an of the vital to the context of the High Priesthood of Jesus! 2) Moses was also faithful in all his house. a) The house oikos refers to the house or family of God in the Old Testament, Israel, which existed before Moses. b) Moses did what God called him to do, to redeem them from Egypt, be their intercessor and give them the Law at Mount Sinai. 1)) Moses interceded for Aaron when he made the golden calf, for Yahweh wanted to kill him. 2)) Moses interceded for the people when they had broken the Law before it was given to them. 3:3 The distinction of Jesus from Moses. 1) The phrase For this One is in reference to Jesus who has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses. vs. 3a a) Due to the fact that Jesus is Apostle and High Priest appointed by the Father, equal to God. Heb. 3:1d, 2a b) Jesus was crowned with honor and glory, Moses only saw the glory of God. Heb. 2:9 c) Jesus is the off-shinnig of the Father, while the face of Moses reflected the shinning glory of Yahweh and then faded. Heb. 1:3 d) Jesus fulfilled the Law, while Moses only gave them the Law. 1)) I will send thee to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my people the

5 9 10 children of Israel out of Egypt. Ex. 3:10 2)) He that receives you receives me, and he that receives me receives Him that sent me. Matt. 10:40 2) The reason being, that He who builds the house has more honor than the house. vs. 3b * The teaching is from the lesser to the greater once again! a) Jesus is greater than Moses because He who built the house is greater than the house. * The house again represents the house of Israel. b) Jesus is greater than Moses by virtue of the fact that Moses was one of the many in the house of Israel, while Jesus built the house of Israel. 1)) Moses did not make Israel God s people, he was only entrusted to lead them but Jesus make us children of God. Heb. 2:10 2)) Moses could not look upon God and live, Jesus had been with the Father since eternity past. 3)) Jesus is God and is the exact representation of the Father who created all things. vs. 4, 1:2 3:4 The illustration of Jesus to Moses. 1) Every house has a human person as the builder. * In this case Moses had been chosen by God the Father to do a work for God in His house, Israel. vs. 2b 2) The contrast is progressive understanding. vs. 4b a) The word but marks the contrast. b) The One who builds all things is God. 1)) Jesus if faithful like Moses in that He fulfilled His commission from the Father. 2)) Jesus is counted worthy of more glory because He build the house of Israel. 3)) Jesus is greater than Moses because He being God builds all things and was the agent of creation, the nation of Israel and anything else existing. Heb. 12:2ab 3:5-6 The superiority of Jesus is in His relation to the Father. 1) Moses was faithful servant in all his house. vs. 5a a) The word servant therapon appear only one time in the New Testament and means service of affectionate nature and hearty character, not duty literally an attendant.

6 )) The word is used of angels and prophets in the LXX. 2)) The word is used of a physician s care for the sick. 3)) The quote of Moses faithfulness remember was the occasion when Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses for marrying an Ethiopian woman and God said there was no one like Moses, for He spoke to him face to face. Num. 12:7 b) Moses had been a faithful pistos as a servant leader in the calling on his life regarding his stewardship to lead and guide Israel for forty years, as stated earlier in verse two. 1)) Not as a diakonos one who runs errands for God. 2)) Not as a doulos bond servant by choice for life. 3)) But as one who loved God and the people * Remember the word for servant therapon appear only this time in the New Testament and means service of affectionate nature and hearty character, no duty but like a physician caring for the sick. 2) Moses was faithful in giving testimony of those things which were to be spoken afterwards. vs. 5b a) The certainly refers to all that God told Moses to impart and teach to the people, such as the ten commandments, the judgment, statutes and ordinances, both civil and religious, the pattern of the tabernacle. b) The context is the apostleship and High Priesthood of Jesus, therefore it has to refer to the fact that namely Moses was speaking and pointing them to the coming of Jesus! c) In direct prophecies of the prophet like himself, in types and in shadows of things to come, the entire Old Testament. Deut. 18:15, 18; Heb. 1:2; 8:5-6, 10:7 d) Jesus said, Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you--moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. Jn. 5: ) Jesus was a faithful Son over His own house. vs. 6a a) The contrast once again can not be missed, Moses was faithful servant in all his house, Israel, but Christ is faithful Son over His own house. 1)) Jesus is greater than Moses by virtue of His relationship to God

7 13 14 the Father, He is His Son, therefore God. * Jesus once again is ascribed deity. Heb. 1:2-3, 6, 8, 11-12; 2:9, 10, 17 2)) Jesus is greater than Moses also by His rightful office of Messiah, Christ means anointed equivalent to Messiah in the Hebrew. 3)) Jesus is greater than Moses by virtue of the fact that He is the head of all leaders, including Moses due to the fact that he was one of and in the house of the nation of Israel. 4) The house is identified for us, we are not left to our own interpretation, Whose house we are, vs. 6b a) The church, the people of God, the community of God s redeemed, comprising both Jew and Gentile as one body, the church the bride of Christ. b) We the church are God s building. 1Cor. 3:9 c) We the church are living stones as a spiritual house through Christ. 1Pet. 2:5 d) We the church are the house of God. 1Tim. 3:15; 1Pet. 4:17 1)) Jesus said, I will build My church Matt. 16:18 * Unless the Lord builds he house, they that build it labor in vain. Ps. 127:1 2)) The Law came by Moses, grace and truth by Jesus Christ. Jn. 1:17 5) The explanation of one who is part of the house of God and Christ the Son is given, If we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. * This is one of the most accurate definitions of Christian faith holding fast the confidence, and rejoicing of the hope in Jesus being our Apostle and High Priest before God! a) The phrase if we hold fast katecho is a nautical term, to hold one s course towards, to retain from going away, appearing three times in Hebrews and translated made towards shore. Acts 27:40; Heb. 3:6, 14; 10:23 1)) In fact it is used of restraining the appearance of the Anti-christ. 2Thess. 2:6, 7 2)) We mentioned the cognate to take heed prosecho means to pay close attention, implying danger of drifting. Heb. 2:1

8 15 16 * To the end is said to be omitted in the better manuscripts, they are talking about The Vaticanus but they do not tell you that it is found in over 5,000 other ones, yet it appears again in verse fourteen. 3)) He in no way is drifting or thinking Jesus is less than Moses, they are the ones, yet he includes himself. * Once again Paul the author identifies himself with these Hebrew Christians we. b) Two things we are to hold our course on, that we might enjoy our life in Christ, not simply to endure!. 1)) The confidence perrhesia all speech, freedom of speech, boldness with freedom of speech as to Who Jesus is, The Apostle and High Priest, the God-Man, the Messiah of God, having no confidence in the flesh or Law. Phil. 3:3, 20 * Appears four times in Hebrews. Heb. 3:6; 4:16; 10:19, 35 2)) The rejoicing kauchema means boasting of the hope firm bebaios steadfast and stable to the end, appearing five times in Hebrews! Heb. 2:2; 3:6, 14; 6:19; 9:17 * There those who say the warnings do not apply to us today because it was written to Hebrews under the law. a)) First these are Hebrew Christians who had excepted Christ, this is indisputable. b)) Second there is no mention of law in chapter three and four only the Holy Spirit says, His voice. Heb. 3:7, 15; 4:7 * Jesus is the blessed hope. Titus 2:13 * Christ in you the hope of glory. Col. 1:27 3)) You have a seeming paradox of divine work and human responsibility. Phil. 2 :12-13 a)) We must be oh so careful not to ignore these warning as Calvinist do leaning so much to the sovereignty of God that there are no conditions to the elect! b)) The other mistake is to lean so much on human will that the sovereignty of God is ignored! c)) To him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you

9 17 18 faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy... Jude 24 3:7-11 The example of Israel s unbelief. 3:7-9 The reflection to Israel s history of rebellion against God. 1) This called a parenthetical passage, it illustrates their dangerous position, quoting the Psalms again. vs. 7-11; Ps. 95:7-11 a)you could read verse seven Therefore to verse twelve, Beware but their historical past is necessary to make the warning effective and applicable. b) Therefore again is the conclusion of what proceeds. 2) The Holy Spirit is the speaker and the author of Scripture, in the present tense, He still speaks. Vs. 7b a) Holy Spirit said separate me Barnabas... Acts 13:2; 2Tim. 3:16-17 b) Spirit speaks expressly and warns of a sporadic departures from the faith. 1Tim. 4:1 c) He is the comforter, the one to come alongside and assist the believer. Jn ) The urgency is marked by the word Today, if you will hear His voice. vs. 7c-d * Too often men and women put of their obedience to the conviction of the Holy Spirit till tomorrow and at times till it is too late to avoid severe consequences! 4) The specific imperative of the Holy Spirit is, Do not harden your heart as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness. vs. 8 *This is a parallel to their situation. a) Meribah means strive or contention. b) Massah means temptation. c) Moses smote the rock once. Ex. 17:1-7 d) Moses struck the rock twice, instead of speaking to the rock, misrepresenting God. Num. 20:13 * Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar are other examples! 5) Their father tested Yahweh. vs. 9 a) Tested peirazomai means to test to see what good or evil may be in a person. b) Tried dokimazo means o test a person for the purpose of approving if he meets the test. c) They did this for 40 years! * At Kadesh-Barnea they refused to enter the land. Num

10 19 20 d) They at first followed Moses and then rebelled, you have followed Jesus and now you are tempted to rebel also! 3:10-11 The consequences of the rebellion. 1) God judged them, Therefore I was angry with that generation. vs. 10a 2) God reveals the reason for the sin, They always go astray in their heart. vs. 10b-c * To be lead astray from the right way. 3) God states the sad outcome of such a life, And they have not known My ways Vs. 10d * The word known ginosko means to know by experience, thereby grieving and, incensing God, going their own way! 4) God swore in His wrath that they would not enter His rest. vs. 11 * At Kadesh Barnes, they refused to believe God! 3:12-19 The personal warning against such unbelief. 3:12 The exhortation to the believer. 1) The warning is personal and applicable to the believer by the words Beware brethren. vs. 12a-b * The word beware blepete means to watch constantly, again the oratorical imperative. 1Cor. 10:12 2) The reason is lest there be an evil heart in departing from the living God. vs. 12c a) He is not accusing them of such a heart but only warning them of the danger that would lead them to depart from the living God. Heb. 10:31 1)) Unbelief apistia means unfaithful or faithless but the context does not mean a lack of faith as much as once having believed and turned away by disobedience and refusal to believe God. (Lenski) 2)) Departing aphistemi means to withdraw or fall away, the aorist infinitive expresses actuality, definiteness. (Lenski) b) Unbelief is a refusal to believe the clear and final revelation of God, Jesus, which can lead to departing from the living God, while thinking that they are returning to the living God! c) The word evil is poneros, which means evil in active opposition to good, corrupting others. d) My people have committed two evils... Jer. 2:13

11 :13 The responsibility of every believer. 1) They are to exhort one another daily, while it is called Today vs. 13a-c a) The word exhort parakaleo means to call to one s side and used of the Holy Spirit, like a someone running alongside a long-distant runner and exhorting him to finish the race despite fatigue and exhaustion. * Caleb and Joshua exhorted the people! b) The word Today appears three times in the chapter, this danger was theirs. vs. 7, 13, 15; Heb. 4:7 c) Whenever the Holy Spirit speaks to us we should obey immediately! 2) The reason is Lest any of you be hardened skleruno through the deceitfulness of sin. vs. 13d a) Hardened skleruno means to render obstinate, stubborn. b) Sin is enticing and self-fulfilling and blinds us to think we are in control and alright. Why? lest we be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin deceitfulness apate trick, stratagem. 3:14 The reason for the exhortation. 1) For we have become partakers metochoi of Christ, the statement of fact. a) These are not unbeliever. Heb. 3:1; 6:4; 12:8 b) Beacon s commentary says regarding the word become ginomai is in the perfect tense, indication a present state based on a past but sustained in the present only if our confidence is maintained clear to the end of the Christian life. 2) If we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. a) The word if this time has a greater emphasis not ean but eanper, meaning if indeed, or absolutely if we maintain our confidence. Beacon Com. b) The word confidence hupotaseos means that on which anything is based or hoped assurance. c) It is used in secular documents for the ownership of a person s property, a Title Deed. 3:15-16 The repeated exhortation. 1) Here is the bottom line, if the Holy Spirit is speaking to you, Today, regarding Christ who is greater than Moses, harden

12 23 24 not your heart as those in the rebellion in the wilderness! vs. 15 * Nun ) They were without excuse, having heard, the rebelled, all who came out of Egypt led by Moses. vs. 16 3:17-19 The repeated warning. 3:17 The personal reminder of the prize paid. 1) With whom was He angry forty years? With those who sinned. vs. 17a-b 2) The punishment was that they died in the wilderness? vs. 17c * Those who sinned against light! 2) The sin of unbelief for God to do for me what I can not do for myself is costly in life, leading to discouragement and a defeated life! a) Unbelief in Christ, who is greater than Moses, is disobedience to the greater light. b) Disobedience brings forth death, departing from the living God. 3:18 The personal reminder of God s judgment on them. 1) And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 2) Those who did not obey, were those who did not believe God! 3:19 The personal reminder of the consequences. 1) So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. * Their children inherited the land, those who they feared would die!