Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
In Hebrews 3, the author shifts focus from establishing Jesus' superiority over angels to highlighting His surpassing greatness compared to revered Old Testament figures like Moses. This chapter serves as both a theological cornerstone and a practical exhortation, urging believers to consider Jesus, remain steadfast in faith, and avoid the pitfalls of doubt and disobedience that plagued the Israelites in the wilderness. This chapter emphasizes the importance of perseverance in our faith journey and the vital role of Christian community in encouraging one another.
Jesus: Greater Than Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6)
The author begins by urging his "holy brothers and sisters, who share in a heavenly calling" (Hebrews 3:1), to "consider Jesus." Given who Jesus is and what he has done, you’ve got to look to him in the midst of your trials. He reminds them (and us) that God didn’t save them just so they could go to heaven. He saved them to partner with him in his kingdom agenda, to share in a heavenly calling—to be his companions in the messianic kingdom that is to come (see 11:16).
The author addresses Jewish Christians who held Moses in high esteem. Moses was indeed faithful, delivering God's word and overseeing the tabernacle. But Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder has more honor than the house (Hebrews 3:3). To illustrate Jesus' superiority, the author draws an analogy: Moses was a faithful servant in God's house, but Jesus is the Son over God's house (Hebrews 3:5-6). As the Son over the house, he has more say-so than a faithful servant. While Moses pointed to the great things God would do, Jesus Christ actually did those great things.
The author emphasizes that we are God's house, "if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we boast" (Hebrews 3:6). This isn't about earning salvation, but rather about experiencing the fullness of the blessings that come from it. Keep going with Christ until you reach the finish line. We must hold on to our confidence and the hope in which we boast (3:6)—not to obtain salvation but to obtain the blessings of salvation.
A Warning Against Unbelief (Hebrews 3:7-19)
The author transitions to a stern warning, drawing a parallel between the Hebrew Christians and the Israelites who wandered in the desert for forty years. He quotes Psalm 95 (Hebrews 3:7-11) to illustrate the dangers of a hardened heart. "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness" (Hebrews 3:7-8). This warning is this: do not harden your hearts (3:8)—that is, don’t tell God, “no.”
The author refers to Israel’s period of forty years in the wilderness after departing Egypt. Numbers 13–14 recounts how the Israelites refused to listen to God and enter the promised land of Canaan because they feared the inhabitants. As a result of that rebellion, God made them wander in the wilderness where they continued to rebel. Therefore, I was provoked, God said (3:10). He thus swore in his anger, They will not enter my rest (3:11).
The Israelites, despite witnessing God's miraculous deliverance from Egypt, doubted His ability to give them victory over the inhabitants of Canaan (Numbers 13-14). This lack of faith provoked God, leading Him to declare that they would not enter His "rest" (Hebrews 3:11), a reference to the promised land.
This serves as a powerful warning to New Testament Christians. God was angry because his chosen people did not know his ways (3:10). The Bible teaches that God’s ways with his people include three stages: deliverance, development, and destiny.
First, Israel experienced deliverance when God set them free from Egyptian bondage. Similarly, when he saved you—caused you to be born again in Christ—he delivered you. But his involvement in your life doesn’t end there. The second stage is development, in which he brings you into a deeper relationship with himself. This includes the trials and tests of life; there’s no development without these experiences. Most of the Israelites in the wilderness failed in the development stage because they wouldn’t trust God to provide for them. Remember: it is only when God comes through for you in tough times that you experience the blessings of trusting him.
Finally, the developmental process leads to destiny. This is where God wants you to wind up. But you can’t go from deliverance to destiny and skip development. God swore that the people would not enter his rest (3:11). The “rest” in view is a way of referring to their inheritance. He promised to give the people the land of Canaan. But because of their continual rebellion, they forfeited that inheritance.
The author warns his readers that if there is no development in their lives, they could miss out on their own inheritance—the spiritual blessings God has for them in history and in eternity. That’s why he says, Watch out. You can be saved but refuse to develop. In other words, you can end up in the bleachers rather than on the playing field.
Don’t waste the opportunities God gives you. How sad it would be not to be allowed to participate in his rule! Don’t do what they did and miss out on your destiny. In terms of your spiritual progress and kingdom rewards, then, don’t have an evil, unbelieving heart that allows sin to disconnect you from fellowship with God.
The author urges believers to "encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness" (Hebrews 3:13). Encourage each another daily . . . so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.
One of the primary purposes of the local church is to create an environment in which believers can help each other persevere. This is why the New Testament emphasizes (and why churches should emphasize) the “one anothers”—the exhortations to care for and encourage each other (e.g., John 15:12; Gal 6:2; Eph 4:32; 1 Thess 5:11). If we want to be Christ’s companions, those who partner with him in his kingdom agenda, we must hold firmly until the end (3:14). To do that, we must help one another avoid sin’s deception.
The author emphasizes that perseverance is essential for those who "share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end" (Hebrews 3:14). Those who rebelled against and angered God in the wilderness disobeyed him because of unbelief (3:16-19). They didn’t reach their destination, Canaan, because of their lack of faith. Faith is acting like God is telling the truth. It’s one thing to say, “I have faith.” It’s another thing to demonstrate your faith in God by acting on it.
The chapter concludes by reminding us that those who disobeyed God in the wilderness did so because of unbelief (Hebrews 3:19). They failed to enter the promised land not because God was unable to deliver, but because their hearts were hardened by doubt and fear.
This, of course, is not always easy. But even when you don’t feel like it, you must keep following Jesus. You may fall down. If so, make sure you’re close to someone who can pick you up. If you see a brother or sister fall, pick him or her up. To reach your destiny—to be a special companion with Jesus at a whole different level—you have to operate by faith and keep going.
Practical Implications for Today
Hebrews 3 offers several practical implications for believers today:
- Consider Jesus: In the midst of trials and temptations, we must fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
- Cultivate a Soft Heart: We must be vigilant against the hardening effects of sin and cultivate a heart that is receptive to God's Word and His leading.
- Embrace Christian Community: We need the encouragement and support of fellow believers to persevere in our faith journey.
- Act on Our Faith: Faith is not merely intellectual assent, but a living, active trust that manifests itself in obedience and perseverance.
- Don't Neglect Development: You can be saved but refuse to develop. In other words, you can end up in the bleachers rather than on the playing field.
By heeding these warnings and embracing these principles, we can avoid the pitfalls of unbelief and experience the fullness of God's promises in our lives.
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
In Hebrews 3, the author shifts focus from establishing Jesus' superiority over angels to highlighting His surpassing greatness compared to revered Old Testament figures like Moses. This chapter serves as both a theological cornerstone and a practical exhortation, urging believers to consider Jesus, remain steadfast in faith, and avoid the pitfalls of doubt and disobedience that plagued the Israelites in the wilderness. This chapter emphasizes the importance of perseverance in our faith journey and the vital role of Christian community in encouraging one another.
Jesus: Greater Than Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6)
The author begins by urging his "holy brothers and sisters, who share in a heavenly calling" (Hebrews 3:1), to "consider Jesus." Given who Jesus is and what he has done, you’ve got to look to him in the midst of your trials. He reminds them (and us) that God didn’t save them just so they could go to heaven. He saved them to partner with him in his kingdom agenda, to share in a heavenly calling—to be his companions in the messianic kingdom that is to come (see 11:16).
The author addresses Jewish Christians who held Moses in high esteem. Moses was indeed faithful, delivering God's word and overseeing the tabernacle. But Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder has more honor than the house (Hebrews 3:3). To illustrate Jesus' superiority, the author draws an analogy: Moses was a faithful servant in God's house, but Jesus is the Son over God's house (Hebrews 3:5-6). As the Son over the house, he has more say-so than a faithful servant. While Moses pointed to the great things God would do, Jesus Christ actually did those great things.
The author emphasizes that we are God's house, "if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we boast" (Hebrews 3:6). This isn't about earning salvation, but rather about experiencing the fullness of the blessings that come from it. Keep going with Christ until you reach the finish line. We must hold on to our confidence and the hope in which we boast (3:6)—not to obtain salvation but to obtain the blessings of salvation.
A Warning Against Unbelief (Hebrews 3:7-19)
The author transitions to a stern warning, drawing a parallel between the Hebrew Christians and the Israelites who wandered in the desert for forty years. He quotes Psalm 95 (Hebrews 3:7-11) to illustrate the dangers of a hardened heart. "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness" (Hebrews 3:7-8). This warning is this: do not harden your hearts (3:8)—that is, don’t tell God, “no.”
The author refers to Israel’s period of forty years in the wilderness after departing Egypt. Numbers 13–14 recounts how the Israelites refused to listen to God and enter the promised land of Canaan because they feared the inhabitants. As a result of that rebellion, God made them wander in the wilderness where they continued to rebel. Therefore, I was provoked, God said (3:10). He thus swore in his anger, They will not enter my rest (3:11).
The Israelites, despite witnessing God's miraculous deliverance from Egypt, doubted His ability to give them victory over the inhabitants of Canaan (Numbers 13-14). This lack of faith provoked God, leading Him to declare that they would not enter His "rest" (Hebrews 3:11), a reference to the promised land.
This serves as a powerful warning to New Testament Christians. God was angry because his chosen people did not know his ways (3:10). The Bible teaches that God’s ways with his people include three stages: deliverance, development, and destiny.
First, Israel experienced deliverance when God set them free from Egyptian bondage. Similarly, when he saved you—caused you to be born again in Christ—he delivered you. But his involvement in your life doesn’t end there. The second stage is development, in which he brings you into a deeper relationship with himself. This includes the trials and tests of life; there’s no development without these experiences. Most of the Israelites in the wilderness failed in the development stage because they wouldn’t trust God to provide for them. Remember: it is only when God comes through for you in tough times that you experience the blessings of trusting him.
Finally, the developmental process leads to destiny. This is where God wants you to wind up. But you can’t go from deliverance to destiny and skip development. God swore that the people would not enter his rest (3:11). The “rest” in view is a way of referring to their inheritance. He promised to give the people the land of Canaan. But because of their continual rebellion, they forfeited that inheritance.
The author warns his readers that if there is no development in their lives, they could miss out on their own inheritance—the spiritual blessings God has for them in history and in eternity. That’s why he says, Watch out. You can be saved but refuse to develop. In other words, you can end up in the bleachers rather than on the playing field.
Don’t waste the opportunities God gives you. How sad it would be not to be allowed to participate in his rule! Don’t do what they did and miss out on your destiny. In terms of your spiritual progress and kingdom rewards, then, don’t have an evil, unbelieving heart that allows sin to disconnect you from fellowship with God.
The author urges believers to "encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness" (Hebrews 3:13). Encourage each another daily . . . so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.
One of the primary purposes of the local church is to create an environment in which believers can help each other persevere. This is why the New Testament emphasizes (and why churches should emphasize) the “one anothers”—the exhortations to care for and encourage each other (e.g., John 15:12; Gal 6:2; Eph 4:32; 1 Thess 5:11). If we want to be Christ’s companions, those who partner with him in his kingdom agenda, we must hold firmly until the end (3:14). To do that, we must help one another avoid sin’s deception.
The author emphasizes that perseverance is essential for those who "share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end" (Hebrews 3:14). Those who rebelled against and angered God in the wilderness disobeyed him because of unbelief (3:16-19). They didn’t reach their destination, Canaan, because of their lack of faith. Faith is acting like God is telling the truth. It’s one thing to say, “I have faith.” It’s another thing to demonstrate your faith in God by acting on it.
The chapter concludes by reminding us that those who disobeyed God in the wilderness did so because of unbelief (Hebrews 3:19). They failed to enter the promised land not because God was unable to deliver, but because their hearts were hardened by doubt and fear.
This, of course, is not always easy. But even when you don’t feel like it, you must keep following Jesus. You may fall down. If so, make sure you’re close to someone who can pick you up. If you see a brother or sister fall, pick him or her up. To reach your destiny—to be a special companion with Jesus at a whole different level—you have to operate by faith and keep going.
Practical Implications for Today
Hebrews 3 offers several practical implications for believers today:
- Consider Jesus: In the midst of trials and temptations, we must fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
- Cultivate a Soft Heart: We must be vigilant against the hardening effects of sin and cultivate a heart that is receptive to God's Word and His leading.
- Embrace Christian Community: We need the encouragement and support of fellow believers to persevere in our faith journey.
- Act on Our Faith: Faith is not merely intellectual assent, but a living, active trust that manifests itself in obedience and perseverance.
- Don't Neglect Development: You can be saved but refuse to develop. In other words, you can end up in the bleachers rather than on the playing field.
By heeding these warnings and embracing these principles, we can avoid the pitfalls of unbelief and experience the fullness of God's promises in our lives.