Hebrews 3:1-2, 5
Jesus Is Bettter than Moses
Outline:
I. \\#1:1-3\\ Meet the New Speaker
II. \\#1:4-8:6\\ The New Is Better
A. \\#1:4-14\\ Jesus Was MADE Better than the Angels
1. \\#1:4\\ With a better NAME.
2. \\#1:5\\ With a better RELATIONSHIP.
3. \\#1:6\\ With WORSHIP, even from the angels.
4. \\#1:7-8\\ With a SCEPTER and a THRONE.
5. \\#1:9\\ With a better ANOINTING.
6. \\#1:13\\ With a better POSITION.
7. \\#2:5\\ With a KINGDOM.
B. \\#2:1-4\\ Listen to the New Spokesman
C. \\#2:5-8\\ Jesus Was MADE Better than the Angels
D. \\#2:5-18\\ Jesus Was Honored Because:
1. \\#2:5-8\\ Jesus was born, honored because He was THE
Man.
a. He was a Man who had the RIGHT to reclaim the
Dominion.
b. He was THE Man who COULD reclaim the Dominion.
2. \\#2:9\\ Jesus died, honored because He paid the debt.
3. \\#2:10-11\\ Jesus suffered, honored because He made one
both the sanctified and the Sanctifier one.
4. \\#2:14-18\\ Jesus became the Comforter, honored because
He took on Him the nature of mankind.
E. \\#3:1-6\\ Jesus Better than Moses
In these verses, the writer of Hebrews moved on to tackle what I
think was a much harder topic than the one he just finished.
1. The writer’s first topic was to tell the Hebrews that Jesus
was greater than the angels.
a. I have never understood why the writer picked angels and
proceeded to spend two chapters describing our Jesus was
better than the angels.
b. I do understand that angels have been, are, and will be
major players in God’s kingdom, especially in the Old
Covenant and the Tribulation.
c. Angel seems to have four primary duties:
(1) They accompany God, offering praise and worship.
(2) They verify for God - Sodom and Gomorrah.
(3) They judge for God - Sodom and Gomorrah and the
Tribulation.
(4) God used them to deliver messages. (Old Covenant
continued until Jesus died so that includes the
messages about Jesus’ birth.)
(5) \\#He 1:14\\ calls them ministering spirits sent
for to minister to the saints.
d. But the Jews, beginning in the 2nd Century BC, gave them a
promotion.
https://readingacts.com/2010/01/30/why-does-hebrews-start-with-
angels/
(a) I have heard that Jews will not dump water out a
door or window with apologizing to the angels
because they believe there are so many of them
around that it is not possible to do so without
getting an angel wet.
(b) The Midrash, one of the Jewish commentaries,
says, "No blade of grass grows without an angel
telling it to ‘Grow!’"
(c) They believe that a good angel and a bad angel
will follow the people home on the Sabbath. If
they find the house set up as it should be, the
good angel pronounces a blessing on the house.
If not, the bad angel pronounces something of
a curse.
https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/judaism/2002/04/angels-in-jewish-
tradition.aspx
2. His second topic is to tell us that Jesus is better than
Moses. He will make but two thoughts in these verses:
I. \\#He 3:1-2,5\\ Jesus is more faithful than Moses - That’s the
overall thought, but he will do it with two smaller thoughts.
A. \\#5\\ Moses was a servant.
Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of
the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and
High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him,
as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his
house, as a servant, for a testimony of those
things which were to be spoken after;
1. Notice that Moses was not called God’s leader but the
people’s servant.
a. He was a servant in his own house, the house that he
himself built.
(1) \\#2\\ "his" is not capitalized.
(2) The translators did not think this was a
reference to God’s house.
(3) Everyone is a servant in God’s house, but this
was the house that Moses was building, Israel.
b. That is clearly a New Testament teaching.
(1) James and John’s mother had asked Jesus to make
her sons to sit on His right and left hands when
in the kingdom. Jesus told her that was not His
decision to make, but the other disciples were
"much displeased with James and John."
(2) So Jesus called them together for a little
conference.
Mark 10:42 But Jesus called them to him, and
saith unto them, Ye know that they which are
accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise
lordship over them; and their great ones exercise
authority upon them.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but
whosoever will be great among you, shall be your
minister:
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest,
shall be servant of all.
45 For even the Son of man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his
life a ransom for many.
c. Side Trail - If you ever get an opportunity to
consider a man to be your pastor, one of the many
things I would encourage you to watch for would be
his attitude in being served and his willingness to
serve.
(1) In my opinion, there are some great preachers who
would not make good pastors.
(2) If they are more concerned about what they will
get than how they can help, look for another.
(3) Moses did not just lead the people of Israel, he
served them!
d. However, I also note that God doesn’t want our service
to steal the joy of God’s presence.
(1) On one occasion, Moses complained about the
weight of this task.
Num 11:11 And Moses said unto the LORD,
Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and
wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight,
that thou layest the burden of all this people
upon me?
12 Have I conceived all this people? have I
begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me,
Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father
beareth the sucking child, unto the land which
thou swarest unto their fathers?
13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all
this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give
us flesh, that we may eat.
14 I am not able to bear all this people alone,
because it is too heavy for me.
15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I
pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour
in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.
(2) Moses was a man who carried a load heavier than
even a spirit-filled man could carry.
(a) But it was not God who told Moses that he
needed help, it was Moses that told God.
(b) The all-knowing God did not disagree with
Moses, but immediately moved to take some
of the load off of Moses’ shoulders
(c) Yet God did not do anything until Moses
figured it out for himself.
(d) The same kind of thing happened in the New
Testament.
(3) Remember when Mary, Martha, and Lazarus had a
dinner for Jesus and Martha got upset with Mary
because she was not helping.
(a) Martha asked Jesus to set Mary straight.
(b) I will not say that Jesus rebuked either one
of the ladies, but He did refuse Martha’
request.
(c) He told Martha that Mary had figured out
that Jesus was not going to be around much
longer and that "she hath chosen the better
thing."
(d) It was better to enjoy the presence of God
than to be busy with things.
(e) Of course there are "things" that must be
done, but God does not want us to sacrifice
the joy of His presence for things.
(f) But I noticed Jesus did not tell Martha,
Now if you knew what was good for you, you
would put that skillet down and join Mary."
(g) Jesus wanted Martha, like Moses, to figure
that out for herself.
(4) Several things need to be said here:
(a) First, there are very few people who will
ever be able to claim they are wearing
themselves out for God.
i. Most are wearing themselves out for
the world so much so that they don’t
have time for God.
ii. No Christian has the right to be so
busy in this world that they have no
time to serve God.
iii. We all gave that right up the day we
got saved.
(b) Second, if you are too busy doing the things
of God that you cannot enjoy the presence of
God, God wants you to figure that out.
e. I would also say to you that if you ever get a pastor
that serves the flock, make it your personal
responsibility to do what you can to keep him from
doing more than a spirit-filled man can do.
(1) I am not talking about myself now.
(2) No preacher has a lighter load or an easier life
than I have, but not all good servants of God
have it that easy.
(3) Some flocks will make demands of their pastor day
and night, never let him rest, never give him
time to be with his family, never give him time
to prepare his messages, and then rail at him
when he does not do everything they think he
should.
(4) Now, just like I am not talking about me, neither
am I talking about you.
(5) I am just telling you, if you get the opportunity
to have a pastor with a servant’s heart, you
carry what you can carry so that he doesn’t have
to carry it.
2. So first, notice Moses was the people’s servant, then
notice that Moses was faithful.
a. The Bible does not say that Moses was perfect.
b. He wasn’t.
(1) I think Moses had a short temper.
(2) I think that’s why he smote the rock the second
time.
(3) No doubt, he had other issues.
c. But he was faithful.
d. I give you what I believe was the first Bible verse
I ever memorized:
1Co 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards,
that a man be found faithful.
(1) If you are going to serve God, you are going to
have to be faithful to the things of God.
(2) We have a lot of good people in our church, but
not very many who are faithful.
(3) I love you, but there are a lot of attenders and
very few servants.
(4) Those I can count on…
(a) …to be here Sunday morning, Sunday night,
Wednesday night.
(b) …to complete a task when it hits a snag
which requires more than they figured.
(c) …or even to stay with an obligation they
commit to doing.
(5) I am not trying to berate anyone, but most of our
people will help only if nothing else comes up.
(a) That is what you tell me.
(b) That is not God’s faithful servant.
e. Moses was given a task by God that he neither wanted
nor asked for, but he was faithful.
3. All of that was Moses, but Jesus was a more faithful
Servant than Moses!
a. Jesus was a better than Moses!
b. Jesus ASKED FOR and WANTED to be the Sacrifice for
sins!
c. He would have been Something if the Father had asked
Him to be the Sacrifice and the Son had agreed; but
the Son asked the Father!
(1) Remember, though Jesus was in the form of God,
He wanted to be more and to do more.
(2) He wanted to be human so He could die.
(3) He wanted to be weak so He could suffer.
(4) He wanted to be like us so He could comfort us.
d. Jesus is better than faithful Moses!
B. \\#3:3-4\\ Jesus is entitled to more glory than Moses.
Heb 3:3 For this man (Jesus) was counted worthy
of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath
builded the house hath more honour than the house.
4 For every house is builded by some man; but he
that built all things is God.
1. To that, every believer should say, "Amen."
2. But I find it interesting that the writer did not
elaborate on that more.
a. All he really said is that Jesus is entitled to more
glory over Moses as the architect and builder is
entitled to more glory than the house he builds.
b. That seems logical to me.
(1) If I am impressed with the production, I should
be more impressed by the producer.
(2) If I am impressed by a meal, I should be more
impressed with the cook.
(3) If I am impressed with a building, I should be
more impressed by the builder.
c. If the servant of the house is impressive, how much
more so is the Son of the house impressive!
d. Surely, the Son is worthy of more glory than the
servant!
3. However, that is all the writer says. Could he not have
said so much more? I think so.
4. He could have reminded us that:
a. Jesus didn’t just meet God at the burning bush. Jesus
was the God at the burning bush.
b. Jesus didn’t just receive the wordssent from God.
Jesus was the Word sent from God.
c. Jesus didn’t just deliver the people from Pharaoh’s
bondage. Jesus delivers people from Satan’s bondage.
d. Jesus did not just defeat Pharaoh and his armies.
Jesus will defeat the devil and all of the world’s
armies.
e. Jesus didn’t just smite the rock to bring forth water.
Jesus was the Rock that was smitten to produce the
well of Living Water.
5. Friend, even without taking the time to figure it just
how, every believer should be able to agree that Jesus
is entitled to more glory than Moses!
a. Sadly, some of these folk could not.
(1) Some because they were lost.
(2) Others because they were frighten.
b. But let us take our voices and make up for them.
c. Let us praise the name of Jesus for He is worthy of
all honor and glory and praise and majesty.
d. And if that is in any way difficult for you, here is
an altar, and I suggest you come to it!
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