THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #66 | THE LIFE OF MOSES #48
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3749
THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #66
THE LIFE OF MOSES #48
WHY IS JESUS CONSIDERED GREATER THAN MOSES IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS?
There is likely no Old Testament prophet more respected than Moses.
He was the lawgiver, the emancipator of Israel, and a worker of miracles.
Moses had the unique privilege of speaking to God “face to face, as one speaks to a friend” (Exodus 33:11).
Before he died, Moses commanded the Israelites to watch for the coming of another Prophet who would bear some resemblance to Moses: “You must listen to him” (Deuteronomy 18:15). Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17), emancipated us from sin and death (Romans 8:2), and was definitely a worker of miracles (Acts 2:22).
Hebrews 3:3 says that “Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses.”
Why has Jesus been given more glory than Moses?
1. One answer lies in His greater role.
Jesus has more glory because “the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself ”(v. 3). Jesus is the builder of the house, Moses is the house itself.
"For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses — as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself” (Heb. 3:3).
- Hebrews 3:3–4
The verse affirms the truth that God is supreme as the Architect and Creator of all things, both in the physical world and in His new creation, the church. This fact does not deny the deity of Christ but rather strongly implies that Christ, who was designated the builder of the house in 3:3, is indeed God Himself.
If God builds all things, especially the Church, then the one who builds the Church must also be the very Lord of the Universe.
In Scripture, the house is a metaphor for God’s people, the Church (1 Tim. 3:15). The Church includes both Old Covenant and New Covenant believers.
As mediator of the Old Covenant, Moses represents the house itself. He, because of his solidarity with Israel, is the house.
He has great honor as God’s faithful servant in the house.
But in the end, he is only a servant; he is only the house.
Jesus, however, is the builder of the house. As such, He deserves greater honor.
2. Second, Jesus is called the builder of the house because He is God Himself. Hebrews 3:4 makes this clear.
This teaching may sound heretical to Jews who have yet to accept Christ as their Messiah.
But the Book of Hebrews was written exactly for them - to consider a change of mindset as it is a matter of spiritual life or death.
It was also written to Jewish members of the early Church not to forsake their newfound faith in Christ and revert back to their former religion of works however good.
It is incumbent upon us to pray even now for their salvation - for Jesus is the way, the truth, the life to those who believe in His Name and are given in exchange His gift of eternal life.
