Consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of Our Confession
Having shown that Jesus is greater than the prophets and angels, the writer now compares Him with Moses, one of the greatest figures in Israel’s history. He begins:
“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.” — Hebrews 3:1
The word “consider” means to fix our minds carefully upon Christ—to continually contemplate who He is. The writer acknowledges Moses’ faithfulness:
“…who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.” — Hebrews 3:2
However, Jesus deserves far greater honour. He explains:
“For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses…” — Hebrews 3:3
Why? Because:
“…he who built the house has more honor than the house.” — Hebrews 3:3
Moses faithfully served within God’s household. But Christ is the One who built God’s household. The writer continues:
“And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant…” — Hebrews 3:5
In contrast:
“…but Christ as a Son over His own house…” — Hebrews 3:6
Believers themselves are now God’s household:
“…whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.” — Hebrews 3:6
This reminds us that while we honour faithful servants of God, our ultimate focus must always be Jesus Christ. Every human leader points beyond themselves to Him. Christ alone is the Son, the Builder of God’s house, and the One who deserves our complete trust, worship, and obedience.
Do Not Harden Your Hearts
The writer now quotes Psalm 95 to warn believers through Israel’s wilderness experience. He writes:
“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…” — Hebrews 3:7–8
Israel repeatedly witnessed God’s mighty works. Yet:
“…they always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.” — Hebrews 3:10
As a result:
“So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” — Hebrews 3:11
The writer then applies this warning directly to his readers. He says:
“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” — Hebrews 3:12
Instead, believers should encourage one another:
“…exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” — Hebrews 3:13
Hebrews 3 teaches that unbelief rarely appears suddenly. Hearts gradually become hardened when God’s voice is repeatedly ignored. One of God’s great gifts to His people is the encouragement of fellow believers, who help us remain faithful and responsive to His Word.
Persevere in Faith Until the End
The writer now explains why perseverance matters. He writes:
“For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” — Hebrews 3:14
Again he repeats:
“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…” — Hebrews 3:15
The writer reminds us of Israel’s tragic example. Although they left Egypt:
“Now with whom was He angry forty years?” — Hebrews 3:17
It was with those who sinned in unbelief. Therefore:
“…they could not enter in because of unbelief.” — Hebrews 3:19
The problem was not God’s inability to fulfil His promise but Israel’s refusal to trust Him.
This reminds us that genuine faith continues trusting Christ throughout life’s journey. Perseverance does not earn salvation but demonstrates a living faith that continues to depend upon the Lord. Each day we are invited to hear His voice afresh and respond with obedient trust.
Deeper Waters
Hebrews 3 continues the writer’s magnificent presentation of the supremacy of Christ. Having demonstrated that Jesus is greater than the prophets, greater than the angels, and greater than Joshua’s predecessors, he now turns to Moses, the most revered human leader in Israel’s history. Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant, the deliverer from Egypt, and the recipient of God’s Law. Yet even Moses ultimately points beyond himself to Someone infinitely greater. The chapter also introduces one of Hebrews’ major themes: the necessity of persevering faith.
The chapter opens with an invitation:
**”Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.”**
The command to consider means far more than giving Jesus a passing thought. It calls us to fix their attention upon Him, carefully reflecting on His person and work. Throughout Hebrews, spiritual perseverance begins by keeping our eyes firmly upon Christ rather than upon circumstances.
Jesus is called:
**”the Apostle and High Priest.”**
An apostle is one who is sent. Jesus is the One sent by the Father into the world to reveal God perfectly (John 20:21). He is also the High Priest, representing His people before God. Thus Christ uniquely stands as both God’s perfect Messenger to humanity and humanity’s perfect Representative before God.
The comparison with Moses is carefully balanced. The writer does not diminish Moses’ greatness. Indeed, he affirms:
**”Moses also was faithful in all His house.”**
Moses faithfully fulfilled the role God assigned to him. However, Jesus deserves:
**”more glory than Moses.”**
The reason is profound:
**”he who built the house has more honor than the house.”**
Moses belonged to God’s household as a faithful servant. Christ is the Builder and Owner of that household. The distinction is not one of faithfulness but of identity. Moses was a servant within God’s plan; Jesus is the eternal Son through whom God’s entire redemptive plan exists.
The writer continues:
**”Moses indeed was faithful… as a servant.”**
But:
**”Christ as a Son over His own house.”**
This distinction between servant and Son echoes the opening chapter of Hebrews. Moses faithfully pointed toward Christ, but Christ fulfils everything Moses anticipated. The Law given through Moses prepared the way for the grace and truth revealed in Jesus (John 1:17).
The writer then identifies believers as:
**”whose house we are.”**
The Church is now God’s dwelling place, not because of a physical building but because believers belong to Christ. This relationship is evidenced as believers:
**”hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”**
Hebrews repeatedly teaches that genuine faith perseveres. The emphasis is not that perseverance earns salvation but that enduring faith demonstrates the reality of God’s saving work within His people. The chapter then turns to Psalm 95, applying Israel’s wilderness experience as a warning for the Church. Three times the writer emphasises:
**”Today.”**
This word is central. God’s invitation is always present and urgent. Every generation faces the decision whether to respond to God’s voice with faith or unbelief. The warning:
**”Do not harden your hearts.”**
draws upon Israel’s rebellion at Meribah and Massah (Exodus 17; Numbers 14). Although Israel had witnessed the plagues, the Red Sea crossing, manna from heaven, water from the rock, and God’s continual guidance, they repeatedly refused to trust Him. Their greatest problem was not lack of evidence but hardness of heart.
The writer therefore warns:
**”Beware… lest there be… an evil heart of unbelief.”**
Biblically, unbelief is never merely an intellectual issue. It is fundamentally a heart issue. Unbelief refuses to trust God’s character despite His faithfulness. Throughout Scripture, faith involves confident reliance upon God rather than merely agreement with certain facts.
One of the chapter’s most practical commands is:
**”exhort one another daily.”**
Christian perseverance is not intended to be a solitary pursuit. God strengthens His people through mutual encouragement within the body of Christ. The local church exists not merely for worship but also for helping one another remain faithful. Isolation often makes believers more vulnerable to spiritual drifting.
The writer warns of:
**”the deceitfulness of sin.”**
Sin rarely appears in its true form. It promises satisfaction while producing bondage, promises freedom while leading to slavery, and promises life while bringing death. One reason believers need one another is because fellow Christians often recognise dangers that we ourselves may overlook.
Verse 14 has generated much theological discussion:
**”we have become partakers of Christ if we hold… steadfast to the end.”**
The writer is not teaching that believers earn salvation by perseverance. Rather, perseverance is the evidence of genuine participation in Christ. Those who truly belong to Him continue trusting Him because God’s preserving grace sustains them. This harmonises with Jesus’ teaching that His sheep continue following His voice because He keeps them securely in His hand (John 10:27–29).
The chapter closes by identifying the true reason Israel failed to enter the Promised Land:
**”they could not enter in because of unbelief.”**
The issue was not military weakness or geographical difficulty. God’s promises were entirely sufficient. Their failure lay in refusing to trust the God who had already demonstrated His power and faithfulness repeatedly.
This prepares the reader for chapter 4, where the writer explains the deeper meaning of God’s promised rest—a rest ultimately fulfilled in Christ Himself. Hebrews 3 encourages us to: co.ntinually fix their attention upon Jesus rather than merely admiring human leaders, – recognise Christ as the eternal Son who is greater than every servant of God, – respond immediately whenever God speaks through His Word, – guard their hearts against the gradual hardening that comes through unbelief, – encourage fellow believers regularly so that no one drifts from Christ, – remember that sin is deceptive and must never be underestimated, – persevere in confident faith throughout life’s journey, – and trust that God’s promises remain certain for all who continue looking to His Son.
Ultimately, Hebrews 3 points us to Jesus Christ, the faithful Son over God’s house. Unlike Israel in the wilderness, He trusted the Father perfectly. Unlike Moses, He is not merely a servant within God’s household but the divine Son who built it. Through His perfect obedience, He has opened the way into God’s promised rest. Therefore, every day that is called “Today,” believers are invited to hear His voice, trust His promises, encourage one another, and follow Him with steadfast faith until they enter the fullness of His eternal Kingdom.