Hebrews 3
No rest for the sinner
Jesus Is Boss of This House
1We’re a spiritual family called by God and devoted to him. Because of this, we need to take Jesus seriously. He came to us like an apostle, with a message from God. And he works on our behalf like a high priest, who represents us before God. 2Jesus did everything God asked him to do, just as Moses did when God put him in charge of all his people.3Jesus deserves even more respect than Moses, just as a builder deserves more praise than the house he built. 4There’s a builder for every house built. But God made the builders. He made everything else too. 5Moses was a servant. He did everything God asked him to do for the people. Moses taught ideas that others would dust off and talk about many years later. 6But Jesus was the Son. Not only did he do everything God asked him to do for the people, but he’s the boss, head of the spiritual household. We’re living under his roof, and we need to believe that with hope and confidence.
Rebels Against God
7Do what the Holy Spirit says.“If you hear my voice,
like you did when you turned against God in the badlands.
9That’s where your ancestors tested my resolve
in spite of witnessing 40 years of my miracles.
10I became angry with this generation.
I said, ‘They always leave me.
They don’t even know me.’
11So I made a promise,
‘They’ll not rest in peace at my house.’” [1]
You Got to Believe
12Dear family, be on the lookout for anyone among you who’s a terrible human being. That includes any unbeliever who has the bad habit of saying no to the living God. 13Encourage each other. Do it as much as the day is long. Do it so sin won’t trick people into turning against me and getting stubborn about it. 14We believe in the Messiah. If we can hang on to that confidence all the way to the end, we’ll share in everything with him. 15Remember what God told you:“If you hear my voice,
don’t stubbornly ignore it
like you did when you turned against God.” [2]
Footnotes
Psalm 95:7-11
Psalm 95:7-8
Moses and most of the entire generation of people that followed him out of Egypt died before getting to the Promised Land, which is now Israel and Palestinian Territories (Numbers 32:13). Joshua and Caleb were exceptions.
Discussion Questions
- 1
In what ways does the writer, in Hebrews 3:1-6, say Jesus is more important than Moses? And why do you think he does that?
- 2
The writer is telling a story in Hebrews 3:7-11 that won’t make much sense to many readers today. You have to know the story to be able to read between the lines. What do you know about the story? There are hints in Hebrews 3:16-19.
- 3
LIFE APPLICATION. We’re supposed to “be on the lookout for anyone among you who’s a terrible human being. That includes any unbeliever who has the bad habit of saying no to the living God” (Hebrews 3:12). Most of us know a mess of those folks. What do we do with them when we find them?
- 4
LIFE APPLICATION. This chapter’s last word points to Moses and the Jews stuck in the badlands for a generation. “They didn’t believe. So, they didn’t get to where they were going” (Hebrews 3:19). That’s not especially subtle. It implies, “If you don’t believe, you’re not going to make it to the happy afterlife.” How would that go over in a sermon in your church?
Maps/Guides
