Page 36 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

2. The "rest" in 3:7-4:13 (cf. Ps. 95:7-11).

C. The argument develops as follows.
1. Moses was part of God's house/household, but Jesus was the builder of the house/household
2. Moses is a servant in the house, while Jesus is a family member
3. Moses failed to bring in God's rest, while Jesus did not fail

D. The theological thrust of the literary unit is a warning to be obedient and faithful. Jesus was obedient
and faithful, but the Israelites were not. The Mosaic covenant had consequences for disobedience which
were severe. How much more dire are the consequences of rejecting or violating the new covenant (cf.
2:1-4)?

E. This section is typological. It views the New Testament as the new, spiritual exodus!

3:1"consider Jesus" This is an AORIST ACTIVE IMPERATIVE. It means to consider thoughtfully (cf. 10:24). In
context this implies comparing His person and work with the leaders of the Mosaic covenant.

"the Apostle and High Priest" These two titles deal with Jesus' superiority over Moses as official
messenger and Aaron as the Levitical high priest. Chapters 3 and 4 deal with Jesus' superiority over
Aaron. Since the Greek terms for "messenger" and "angel" are the same, "apostle," which was a Greek
term "to send," may relate to both angels sent by God to serve those being saved (cf. 1:14) and to Jesus
sent by God to redeem those who are being saved (cf. John 3:17). This is the only place in the New
Testament that Jesus is called "the Apostle," although John uses the verb over and over to refer to Him
being "sent" from the Father (cf. John 3:17,34; 5:36,38; 6:29,57; 7:29; 8:42; 10:36; 11:42;
17:3,18,21,23,25; 20:21).

"our confession" This is the Greek term homologia, which is a compound of "to say" and "the same."
The readers had made a confession of their faith in Jesus Christ. Now they must hold fast this
confession/profession (cf. 4:14; 10:23). This is one of the main issues of the book.

3:2 "He was faithful to Him who appointed Him" In context the emphasis is on:
1. the Father's choosing and equipping Jesus for an assigned redemptive task (cf. Mark 3:14)
2. Jesus exercising faith (PRESENT PARTICIPLE) in the Father as believers are to exercise faith.

He is truly one with mankind. However, one possible etymology for "appointed" is "create." Arius used
the VERB "appointed" in his controversy with Athanasius to assert that Jesus was the highest creation (cf.
Prov. 8:22) of God, but not deity Himself (cf. Acts 2:36; Rom. 1:4; Col. 1:15). This fourth century
controversy produced the clear teaching of one divine essence, but three eternal personal
manifestations, Father, Son, and Spirit (the Trinity). These three divine persons have eternally made up
the one true God (cf. John 1:1-18).

3:5-6 "but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house" Jesus a son (cf. 1:2; 3:6; 5:8; 7:28) is contrasted
with Moses, the servant (cf. 1:2; 3:5; 5:8; 7:28; Exod. 14:31; Num. 12:7). Moses was a faithful servant (cf.
Num. 12:7), but Jesus was a family member!

3:5 Moses spoke of Christ in Deut. 18:18-19 (cf. 1 Pet. 1:11). This repeats the truth of 1:1.

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