Review the overall book outline (link above) when beginning each section.
3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
wherefore - ie., considering all that has been said, thus far:
that Christ is better than the prophets and the angels. (ch.1)
that God, in Christ Jesus, partook of human flesh and blood,
to deliver us from our sin, by means of His death. (ch.2)
holy brethren - ie., children of God, through faith in Christ and His work of salvation (cp. 2:9-11)
partakers of the heavenly calling - ie., to be the sons of God (2:10; 1Joh 3:1-3).
The Hebrew readers were well aware of their heritage: National Israel partakes of the earthly calling and promises given to their patriarchs (Rom 11:29).
But now, Jews and Gentiles partake of higher heavenly promises, through faith in Christ. (cp. v.14; 2Pet 1:3,4)
consider {give careful, serious, prolonged thought to}...
the Apostle {'the One sent' with authority, with a message from God}...
The writer is speaking of Christ, who was sent from God.
and High Priest {who represents God before men, and men before God (cp. Heb 2:17,18)}...
of our profession {lit., confession (cp. this word as used in Rom 10:9-11)}.
3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses [was faithful] in all his house.
Jesus' faithfulness, to God who appointed Him as His Messenger and Priest,
is compared to the faithfulness of Moses, who also was appointed and sent by God to accomplish His specific purposes. Moses is rightly held in highest esteem by the Jews for his role in delivering Israel from Egypt, giving the Law, building the Tabernacle, etc.
Moses was faithful in his house - ie., in God's house or household
Some see this 'house' as referring primarily to the Tabernacle. However, in the book of Numbers, this word never refers to the Tabernacle elsewhere, but appears more that fifty times in reference to a household (eg., "the house of their fathers..." Num 1:2,18, etc.), meaning the people and possessions pertaining to their predecessors.
The point is: While others naturally gave attention to the interests of their own families, Moses was a trustworthy administrator of God's purposes for His people and possessions.
Moses ministered faithfully to the household of God. God honored Him above other prophets. Num 12:6-8
3:3 For this [man] was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
Jesus is better than (superior to) Moses.
3:4 For every house is builded by some [man]; but he that built all things [is] God.
3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
God the Son, ruling over His own house, is superior to Moses, a servant in God's house.
whose house (household) are we... (cp. Eph 2:19-22)
if we hold fast... unto the end.-
A characteristic of those who belong to His household is continuance in the faith. Despite opposition and persecution, they will remain joyfully confident {bold, outspoken} in expectation of God's promises.
However, some, who enjoy the company of the saints and the joy of their worship, have never trusted in the Lord for themselves. Such will fall away in difficult times. The Lord is able to keep His own. Joh 8:30-36; 6:60-71; 1Pet 1:3-6; 1Joh 2:19.
3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
wherefore- ie., since the word spoken by prophets, by angels and by Moses was important,
Excerpts from this passage are quoted several times in the remainder of ch. 3 - 4.
Each time, the writer of Hebrews highlights a different aspect of the passage.
Here, the emphasis is on the Person who is speaking. Note that...
Verse 7 attributes the Psalm, not to David, but to the Holy Spirit.
The Psalm instructs us to "hear His voice."
the LORD (see Psa 95:1-6) identifies Himself as the speaker,
with first person pronouns (8x in the final 3 verses of the Psalm).
3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
the provocation in the wilderness -
Near the end of Israel's journey from Egypt to the promised land, Moses sent twelve spies to search the land. (The account is in Numbers ch. 13-14.) The spies returned, reporting that the land was very good. But ten spies, fearful of giants and fortified cities, doubted that Israel could overcome them.
God told Israel to enter and possess the land of Canaan. He would give them victory.
But due to unbelief, the people refused to go, provoking God to anger. Therefore, He sentenced the nation to 40 years of wilderness wanderings, until that unbelieving generation would die off. Num 14:11,21-23
3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
tempted {GK=peirazo, to test to see whether a thing can be done}
proved {GK=dokimazo, to test to see whether a thing is genuine}
ie., They put Me to the test, doubting that I was able or willing to help them.
saw my works - They had ample proof of my abilities,
during their wilderness experience, which lasted...
forty years - In Scripture, the number forty often refers to a period of judgment.
As there were forty years in the wilderness from Kadesh-Barnea to Canaan (Num 14:33,34), so there were forty years between Calvary and the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans (in 70 AD). Hebrews was written during this latter interval, partly to warn the Jews, who believed in Jesus, not to turn back from following Him, lest they too come under God's judgment for unbelief.
3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, {cp. Psa 78:40} and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; {cp. Psa 78:37} and they have not known my ways. {cp. Psa 103:7; Jer 4:22}
they have not known my ways {lit., 'Yet, they took not knowledge of my ways.'}
ie., Even after 40 years, under His chastening and His continuing gracious and miraculous provision and protection, the people, still in unbelief, did not know the Lord, or understand His purposes. cp. Mat 15:8,9
3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
In regards to ancient Israel in the wilderness, the place of rest which God provided was the Land of Promise, Canaan (eg., Deu 12:8-10). The present and future significance of 'rest' for God's people will be developed later (in ch. 3 - 4).
But it is evident that:
''Today, many Christians are in a wilderness experience due to unbelief. The wilderness is a place of death, unrest, aimlessness, and dissatisfaction.'' [McGee]
Here, the point is that when God's people do not believe God's Word, they will not experience the blessings which He desires to give them. Rather, they will experience the effects of His wrath due to their unbelief.
3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
take heed - cp. the warning against neglecting "so great salvation" (Heb 2:1-4).
unbelief {GK= apistia} (cf. GK=pistos, faithful, in v.2)
To the original readers of Hebrews, the day of opportunity for national Israel was about to close with the fall of Jerusalem. Under pressure from their countrymen, some Jews, who had professed faith in Jesus as their Messiah, were in danger of turning back from Him.
exhort one another {GK=parakaleo, encourage, comfort, come alongside to strengthen}
The Holy Spirit is the Comforter (GK=parakletos, Joh 14:16). Believers are to join with Him in strengthening their brothers in the Lord, lest they become...
hardened {GK=skleruno, obstinate, unreceptive (to God's will and way)}...
through the deceitfulness of sin.-
God's Word is Truth. Disobedience to God often seems right and reasonable to the natural mind. But our minds, by nature, are in a state of delusion, due to 'sin' {GK=hamartia, lit., a missing of the mark; error, cp. v.10}.
Examples:
Israel, in the wilderness -
The assessment of unbelief: Any attempt to enter Canaan is unreasonable. There are giants in the land. We must take responsibility to protect our women and children. It would be better for us to return to Egypt. We doubt God's promise of victory.
Jewish Christians, at the time Hebrews was written -
Why should we continue against such opposition and persecution from our countrymen? If Jesus really is the Messiah, would He allow our nation to be so divided? It would be much easier to rejoin our families in the old traditions. Can we truly trust Jesus Christ as the promised Redeemer?
A struggling new believer, today -
My old friends think I'm crazy for becoming a Christian. My fleshly lusts are still strong. Perhaps I should return to my old ways, which were only natural, weren't they? Can Christ really deliver me from all sin?
of salvation (cp. 2:3, as spoken by Christ "at the first")
of our confidence {v.14; GK=hupostasis, 'a standing under' (pressure), endurance, substance}
True members of Christ's household will continue in the faith (cp. v.6). Their standing is secured by the One who is the beginning... the Author and Finisher of our faith. Heb 12:2
3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Again Psa 95:7,8 is quoted. A series of questions draw out and emphasize certain points.
3:16 For some {Who}, when they had heard, did provoke:{?} howbeit {Did} not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.{?}
The words and punctuation, in braces {} above, indicate an alternate translation.
Read each line, as a question, beginning with the word in {braces}.
Answer: The entire nation provoked God's anger.
The two exceptions (Joshua and Caleb) did not diminish the national sin.
The offensiveness of their sin was heightened by their recent supernatural deliverance from Egypt.
3:17 But {and} with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
Answer: Yes, all who sinned perished.
3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
believed not {GK= apeitho, obeyed not, agreed not, were unpersuaded}
Outward disregard of God's Word gives evidence of inward unbelief.
Answer: All, who refused to obey (God's command to enter Canaan), were refused entrance.
3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
They were not kept out of Canaan by their sins of idolatry and fornication
(eg., when they made the golden calf), but rather by unbelief.