Letter to the Hebrews Volume 19

Jesus Christ Far Greater than Moses Part 1


Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; KJV


To the true Israelite or Jew during those days 2,000 years ago, Moses was really the only man (besides the Patriarch Abraham) that heard from God, spoke to God, and spoke for God. As we see in the Old Testament, most of the Old Testament Prophets like Isaiah (who was killed by the Jews by being sawed in half tied between two trees), Jeremiah (who was throne into the bottom of an abandoned well) were disbelieved by the majority of the religious leaders of Israel as well as the body of Israelites also. Therefore, it was predictable that when this Man Jesus Christ came into the midst of the people declaring Himself to be sent by God and even further claiming Himself to come from the bosom of God, well that was blasphemy to the rigid, ritualistic, and righteous (self-righteous that is) Israelites at that time. As it is written, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." (John 1:18) (KJV) and as our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ declared from His own lips when praying to God the Father as recorded for us by the Apostle John, "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own Name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are." (John 17:11) (KJV), but the most definitive declaration by Him of who He was and where He was from is declared in  this discourse He had with some of the Jews as also recorded for us by the Apostle John, "Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the Prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I Am." (John 8:53-58) (KJV).


Therefore, it is by design that the writer of Hebrews seeks to illustrate to the Jewish convert to Christianity how much greater our Lord Jesus Christ is than was Moses, first with these words, "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;" (Hebrews 3:1) (KJV). The writer refers to them/us as 'holy brethren', meaning simply those set aside for God. The writer also declares them/us to be 'partakers', meaning simply partners or participants with God now through the Blood of Christ and sharers in the 'heavenly calling', that means, through the Gospel of Christ there is a call out to humanity to come to the Cross where He was slain for every individual human beings sin and partake in the call to come to heaven as an adopted child of God through Christ's Blood. When the writer calls them/us to consider Christ Jesus the Apostle (meaning He is the sent One to redeem, reclaim, and rescue us, as it is written, "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:12-14) (KJV)). Consider Christ Jesus our High Priest (meaning He is the preeminent spiritual authority in all the world and all the worlds He Himself created, as it is written, "Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17) (KJV)). The English word 'consider' is translated by the Greek word katanoeō meaning to observe fully: - behold, consider, discover, perceive.


Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "The titles he gives to Christ, whom he would have them consider, (1.) As the Apostle of our profession, the prime-minister of the Gospel Church, a messenger and a principal messenger sent of God to men, upon the most important errand, the great revealer of that faith which we profess to hold and of that hope which we profess to have. (2.) Not only the Apostle, but the High Priest too, of our profession, the Chief Officer of the Old Testament as well as the New, the Head of the Church in every state, and under each dispensation, upon whose satisfaction and intercession we profess to depend for pardon of sin, and acceptance with God. (3.) As Christ, the Messiah, anointed and every way qualified for the office both of Apostle and High Priest. (4.) As Jesus, our Saviour, our healer, the great physician of souls, typified by the brazen serpent that Moses lifted up in the wilderness, that those who were stung by the fiery serpents might look to Him, and be saved. We have the duty we owe to Him who bears all these high and honourable titles, and that is to consider Him as thus characterized. Consider what He is in Himself, what He is to us, and what He will be to us hereafter and for ever; consider Him, fix your thoughts upon Him with the greatest attention, and act towards Him accordingly; look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. Here observe, 1. Many that profess faith in Christ have not a due consideration for Him; He is not so much thought of as He deserves to be, and desires to be, by those that expect salvation from Him. 2. Close and serious consideration of Christ would be of great advantage to us to increase our acquaintance with Him, and to engage our love and our obedience to Him, and reliance on Him. 3. Even those that are holy brethren, and partakers of the heavenly calling, have need to stir up one another to think more of Christ than they do, to have Him more in their minds; the best of His people think too seldom and too slightly of Him. 4. We must consider Christ as He is described to us in the Scriptures, and form our apprehensions of Him thence, not from any vain conceptions and fancies of our own."


If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…