Paul's Epistles – Hebrews – Part 4: Jesus is Greater than Moses

Paul's Epistles – Hebrews – Part 4:

Jesus is Greater than Moses

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org | Online Audio Files

SERMON INTRODUCTION

The “official” writer of this epistle is unknown. However, I obviously believe it is Paul since I have included it in the “Paul’s Epistles” Sermon Series.

I believe there is enough evidence from early scholars to agree this was more than likely Paul’s work.

Last week we examined Paul’s writings on Jesus, the Son being Greater than Angels.

This week, Paul will give a warning for listeners to pay attention, and the fact that Jesus was made fully human.

Last week we read as Paul warned us to pay attention

TODAY’S SERMON

“Jesus is Greater than Moses”

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Hebrews 3:1-6

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. ² He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.³ Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.⁵ “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,”^[a] bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. ⁶ But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

The overall message of this epistle to the church is;

“The Cure for Lacking Boldness or Courage in your Christian Faith and Backsliding is a Right beginning for the Glory and Work of Christ”

I. FIX YOUR THOUGHTS ON JESUS

a. Therefore holy brothers and sisters who share in the heavenly calling

                                                                 i. Speaking to all who have correctly answered the call

                                                              ii. In other words, all believers

1. God calls us to Him

2. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

b. Fix your thoughts on Jesus

                                                                 i. He is our Apostle and High Priest

                                                              ii. He was faithful to God just as Moses

1. Like the Hebrews, we can sometimes have our eyes on things other than Christ.

2. Distractions, feelings, emotions, or perhaps when storms come, we look to the wrong things for our strength, comfort, peace.

3. We must fix our thoughts on Jesus

4. Consider Him

a. In the splendor of His glory – Isaiah 6:1-3

b. The wonder of His incarnation – John 1:1, 14

c. In the majesty of His works and teachings – John 7:46

d. In the greatness of His work – Hebrews 10:12

e. In the power of His return and reign – Luke 1:32-33

c. For Christ must be the focus

                                                                 i. Paul carefully, with guidance from the Holy Spirit, compares Christ Jesus and Moses, showing that they were both appointed by God as Apostles and High Priests

                                                              ii. However, Jesus is greater, and must be our focus, for there is salvation in no other

                                                           iii. Moses represented the Old Testament, which points to the Messiah

                                                            iv. Jesus is the Messiah, and the New Covenant is found ONLY in Him

II.      JESUS IS GOD, THEREFORE GREATER THAN MOSES

a. The difference between Christ Jesus and Moses

                                                                 i. Christ Jesus is worthy of more glory

                                                              ii. Because He who built the house has more honor than the house

                                                           iii. Paul revealing Moses is part of the house (God’s House/Church)

                                                            iv. However, Christ Jesus (The Lord) is maker of that house, therefore greater

1. We see this explained in some of Paul’s other letters where he shows believers as the Church (house) and Christ as “head” of the church

b. The Lord built the house

                                                                 i. And Moses was Apostle and High Priest of this house

                                                              ii. But Christ Jesus the Lord was creator of this house

c. Every house is built by some man, but He who built all is God

                                                                 i. Paul explaining why Christ must be the focus, not Moses

  

ILLUSTRATION:

In the early 90’s I worked in a van customizing shop. We had three shifts, and a few “supervisors”. One day the supervisor called a meeting, and stated we would be working “until all the vans on the line were finished”. It was Friday, and we had already been working 10 hour days all week. The attitude went down-hill fast.

However, a man spoke up saying, “No, we have worked all week, and we deserve to leave on time tonight. We can pick things back up tomorrow.” And we got to leave on time.

You see, the supervisor ran things, but when the son of the owner spoke, even the supervisor had to listen.

This is Paul’s point. Moses was a great man, serving God and His Will, however, the Son is now here and therefore greater.

This is why we must put Christ first.

III.   WE ARE HIS HOUSE

a. Moses was a faithful servant in all God’s house bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future.

                                                                 i. Moses was the great Law Giver as it relates to God

                                                              ii. This includes the Law, ceremonies, feasts, etc…which all pointed to Christ and the Cross, who was to come

b. But Christ is a faithful Son over God’s house

                                                                 i. Here is the clear distinction between the Old Testament House of God, and the New Testament House

c. And we are His house

                                                                 i. The Church

                                                              ii. The followers of Christ Jesus

d. If indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

                                                                 i. The condition in this verse is “IF”

                                                              ii. This speaks to the fact that as long as we hold firmly to our confidence in Christ and the Cross, we are His house

CONCLUSION – are you putting christ jesus first?

Matthew 7:24-27

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

We must build our lives on the strong foundation, Christ Jesus

The Word states, “…everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Proverbs 24:3 “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.”

We must be wise and build upon the rock, by hearing the Word of God AND putting that Word into Practice.

James 1:22 “…be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

Many deceive themselves by hearing the word, but not living it.  They “know” what the Word says, but they do not live it…

They deceive themselves because they believe just because they have heard the Word they are built upon the rock.

These are the ones who claim to be believer’s, yet are destroyed in every storm simply because they do not live what they hear.

Let us put Christ first in all things, hearing His Word, living His Word, thus, being like Wise Men, we too will build the house of God by becoming part of the body of believer’s called the Church.

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