The Book of
Hebrews 3
19 verses≈ 3 min1 personBSB
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In this chapter
Where we are
- 1–2The SonGod's final word, above the angels
- 3–4:13Enter His restGreater than Moses; today, hear HimChapter 3
- 4:14–7Our high priestTempted like us, a priest forever
- 8–10:18A new covenantOne sacrifice, once for all
- 10:19–13Run by faithHold on; fix your eyes on Jesus
Jesus Our Apostle and High Priest
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
Hebrews 3:1
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He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.
Question
Quick question
The writer opens the chapter by calling his readers to look at Jesus, and he gives Jesus two titles.
What two titles does Hebrews 3:1 give to Jesus?
Moses and Christ
Whiteboard
The writer takes God’s own praise of Moses from Numbers 12: faithful in all God’s house. He doesn’t lower Moses at all. Moses was a faithful servant inside the house, and his life pointed ahead. Christ is the Son over the house, worthy of greater glory, as the builder is greater than what he builds. And His house is His people.
For Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. And every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
In this chapter
Now Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be spoken later. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house.
And we are His house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.
Do Not Harden Your Hearts
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
“Today, if you hear His voice,
do not harden your hearts,
as you did in the rebellion,
in the day of testing in the wilderness,
where your fathers tested and tried Me,
and for forty years saw My works.
Therefore I was angry with that generation,
and I said,
‘Their hearts are always going astray,
and they have not known My ways.’
So I swore on oath in My anger,
‘They shall never enter My rest.’”
0:28
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
do not harden your hearts
Hebrews 3:8
Stylised map · locations approximate
On the map
Forty years in the wilderness
Psalm 95 looks back to Israel’s journey: out of Egypt, through the sea, to Mount Sinai, and on to the edge of Canaan. There, at the border, the people refused to trust God and go in. So for forty years they wandered in the wilderness, a people who “for forty years saw My works” and still hardened their hearts.
Pray
A soft heart today
The Holy Spirit still says, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Ask God to keep your heart soft toward Him: quick to listen, quick to trust, quick to obey. If there is something He has been showing you that you have put off, bring it to Him now. Today is the day to answer.
The Peril of Unbelief
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.
But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.
As it has been said:
“Today, if you hear His voice,
do not harden your hearts,
as you did in the rebellion.”
Hebrews 3:15
Reflect
As long as it is called today
The writer’s answer to hardened hearts is not to go it alone: “exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today.” Who in your life could use a word of encouragement to keep trusting Jesus? Write down a name, and what you could say to them today.
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Hebrews 3
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A verse to carry with you
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
Hebrews 3:1
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