Hebrews 3
Summary for Heb 3:1-6: 3:1-6 a The author compares Jesus to Moses, setting Jesus forward as the supreme example of faithfulness. The great status of Moses, a revered figure in Judaism, is used to show the incomparable greatness of Jesus. 3:1 b dear brothers and sisters who belong to God: Literally holy brothers. Speakers and writers of the ancient world often addressed religious gatherings as “brothers” (Greek adelphoi), referring to both men and women.• think carefully about this Jesus: Focusing on Jesus is a primary means of persevering in the faith (2:9 c; 12:1-2 d).
• God’s messenger (literally God’s apostle): This description might be highlighting the Son’s role in bearing a proclamation of God’s name and message (2:12 e; Matt 10:40 f; Mark 9:37 g; Luke 10:16 h).
3:2 i Jesus was faithful to God and to the task to which the Father had appointed him (5:7-10 j; 12:1-3 k; Phil 2:5-11 l), just as Moses had been (Num 12:7 m). Many Jews of the first century regarded Moses as the greatest person in history, of even higher status than the angels.
Summary for Heb 3:3-6: 3:3-6 n Jesus deserves far more glory for two reasons. First, a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. The Messiah is the one who builds God’s house (see 2 Sam 7:13 o). The implication is that Moses is part of the house (i.e., God’s people) that God has built. Second, whereas Moses was a servant in God’s house, Christ, as the Son, is the heir in charge of God’s entire house. Sons have greater status than household servants.
3:6 p We are part of Christ’s house if we keep our courage. The author could not give unqualified assurance to those who were drifting away from Christ and the church. Those who persevere in the faith have assurance that they are part of God’s house (see 3:14 q; Rom 8:9 r, 17 s; 11:22 t; 2 Cor 13:5 u; Col 1:22-23 v).
Summary for Heb 3:7-19: 3:7-19 w This passage presents, “as a warning to us” (1 Cor 10:6 x), the negative example of those who wandered in the wilderness for forty years and died there. The wilderness wanderings represent disobedience to God and its consequences (see Num 32:7-11 y; Deut 1:19-35 z; Ps 106:24-26 aa).
3:8 ab Israel . . . rebelled and tested God in places such as Massah and Meribah, where there was a shortage of water (Exod 17:1-7 ac; Num 20:2-13 ad), and especially at Kadesh, where the disobedient Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land (Heb 3:10 ae; see Num 14:1-25 af; Deut 1:19-46 ag; Ps 106 ah).
Summary for Heb 3:9-10: 3:9-10 ai Despite seeing the miracles God had performed on their behalf, the people of Israel tested God’s patience by refusing to trust him in the wilderness (Num 14:11 aj, 22 ak). The essence of their rebellion was that their hearts always turned away from God—they did not desire to obey him. The result was that God was angry with them.
3:11 al Rebellion has consequences.
• God’s anger is not merely an emotional reaction; it is his just displeasure toward sin (John 3:36 am; Rom 1:18 an; 1 Thes 2:16 ao).
• God’s oath (see Heb 6:13-20 ap; 7:20-22 aq, 28 ar) was that they would never enter Canaan, the place of rest from their wanderings (Deut 1:19-46 as; 3:20 at; 12:10 au; Josh 1:13 av).
Summary for Heb 3:12-19: 3:12-19 aw The author of Hebrews discusses the terms heart, day, today, hear, enter, rest, unbelief, and oath, all drawn from Ps 95 ax. Bible teachers of the ancient world would cite and then explain an Old Testament text, often highlighting significant words from the text, just as preachers do today. This form of exposition was called midrash. 3:12 ay hearts ... not evil and unbelieving: An evil heart stubbornly sets its will against the Lord due to unbelief, causing a person to turn away from the living God.
3:13 az Using the word “today” from Ps 95:7 ba, the author challenges his hearers to warn each other every day against the deceptive and hardening power of sin.
3:14 bb For if we are faithful: Those who persevere in the faith have assurance that they are indeed part of God’s family (see 3:6 bc; Rom 8:9 bd, 17 be; 11:22 bf; 2 Cor 13:5 bg; Col 1:22-23 bh).
3:15 bi This verse again quotes Ps 95:7-8 bj, the exhortation from that portion of the psalm. It sums up the author’s own exhortation in Heb 3:12-14 bk, focusing on the importance of listening and responding favorably to God’s voice.
Summary for Heb 3:16-19: 3:16-19 bl These verses contain a rapid-fire series of questions and answers, a common rhetorical technique. The three questions follow the progression of ideas found in Ps 95:8-11 bm: The people of Israel rebelled against God, God was angry, and God took an oath that they would never enter his rest. The answers are taken from other Old Testament passages that focus on the Israelites’ rebellion in the wilderness (Num 14 bn; Deut 9 bo; Ps 106 bp). The author drives home the terrible cost of disobedience to God.
3:19 bq Unbelief and disobedience are closely associated in Hebrews and in the Old Testament passages being discussed (Num 14:11 br; Deut 9:23 bs; Ps 78:22 bt, 32 bu). As a consequence of disobedience, they were not able to enter his rest by entering the land of Canaan (Deut 3:20 bv; 12:10 bw; Josh 1:13 bx).
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