Page 35 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

Study Section 6: Chapter 3 – The Supremacy of Jesus to Moses

6.1 Connect

In chapter 1 the author clearly pointed out that Jesus was supreme over all creation
because is is God. In Chapter 2, the author introduced that Jesus was superior because not
only was He God, but he was God in the flesh. Remember who he is writing to: the
Hebrews. They were Jews and had been raised to believe that were special because they
received the covenant through Moses. In chapter three we are going to see that the author
not only declares Jesus supreme, but He is superior to Moses and the Law that came through him. To
understand this chapter, we need to know a little bit about the priesthood of Aaron. Let’s learn
together...

6.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to define the ways the Jesus is superior to Moses and the
Mosaic Covenant.

2. The student should be able to explain why Jesus would be called and apostle in this chapter.

3. The student should be able to explain what it means to persevere in one’s faith to the end.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN, Read Hebrews Chapter 3 from your Bible...

6.3 Chapter 3 The Supremacy of Jesus to Moses

Hebrews 3:1–4:13 acts almost as an interlude in the writer’s argumentation. Even as the
writer is anxious to get to his discussion of the one who purifies mortals from sin (1:3) and
state how our high priest, Jesus, is now in heaven (4:14), he needs to apply what has been
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learned thus far in Hebrews 1–2.

CONTEXTUAL GUIDE: HEBREWS 3:1-4:13

A. This section deals with Jesus' superiority over the twin leaders of the Mosaic Covenant, Moses and
Aaron, who were brothers and Levites. This leads us into the practical discussion of the Melchizedek
priesthood of Heb. 4:14-7:28.

B. This section is a rabbinical play on two concepts:

1. "the house of God," in 3:1-6 (cf. Num. 12:7-8; 2 Samuel 7)

33 Kaiser, (pp. 362–363).

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