C+C Edmonds CG Discussion Guide
Text: Hebrews 3:1–6
Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Summary
Hebrews 3:1–6 calls believers to fix their attention on Jesus because of who he is and what he has done. Jesus is described as the apostle and high priest of our confession. As apostle, he is sent by the Father with a purpose and perfectly represents God to humanity. As high priest, he offered himself as the once-for-all sacrifice for sin and, because he was raised from the dead, continually intercedes for believers before the Father.
Moses is honored as the greatest of the Old Testament Hebrews: divinely chosen, the greatest prophet, lawgiver, historian, humble, apostolic, and priestly in his intercession for Israel. Yet even as an exemplary servant who was faithful in all God’s house, Moses ultimately exists to testify to someone greater. Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house. Jesus is identified with God as the builder of all things and is the Son who rules over God’s house, not merely a servant within it.
Because Jesus faithfully accomplishes the Father’s will, believers have real confidence and hope. His faithfulness means eternal security, a decisive defeat of the devil, ongoing help in weakness and suffering, and a guaranteed future in which all pain, sin, and death are removed. At the same time, Hebrews 3:6 holds out a sober “if”: believers are God’s house if they hold fast their confidence and hope. Scripture holds together both the call to persevere and the assurance that Jesus himself holds his people fast. In light of this, Christians are called to fix their eyes on Jesus, be faithful in the good works he has prepared for them, and hold fast to their gospel confidence and hope to the end.
Key Takeaways
Discussion Questions
Practical Applications
Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Summary
Hebrews 3:1–6 calls believers to fix their attention on Jesus because of who he is and what he has done. Jesus is described as the apostle and high priest of our confession. As apostle, he is sent by the Father with a purpose and perfectly represents God to humanity. As high priest, he offered himself as the once-for-all sacrifice for sin and, because he was raised from the dead, continually intercedes for believers before the Father.
Moses is honored as the greatest of the Old Testament Hebrews: divinely chosen, the greatest prophet, lawgiver, historian, humble, apostolic, and priestly in his intercession for Israel. Yet even as an exemplary servant who was faithful in all God’s house, Moses ultimately exists to testify to someone greater. Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house. Jesus is identified with God as the builder of all things and is the Son who rules over God’s house, not merely a servant within it.
Because Jesus faithfully accomplishes the Father’s will, believers have real confidence and hope. His faithfulness means eternal security, a decisive defeat of the devil, ongoing help in weakness and suffering, and a guaranteed future in which all pain, sin, and death are removed. At the same time, Hebrews 3:6 holds out a sober “if”: believers are God’s house if they hold fast their confidence and hope. Scripture holds together both the call to persevere and the assurance that Jesus himself holds his people fast. In light of this, Christians are called to fix their eyes on Jesus, be faithful in the good works he has prepared for them, and hold fast to their gospel confidence and hope to the end.
Key Takeaways
- Jesus is our faithful Apostle and High Priest - As our apostle, Jesus was sent down from Heaven to be our savior and as our resurrected high priest, he intercedes for us before the throne of God.
- Jesus is the Builder - Jesus is the one who is building His house, the church. He invites us in and uses us to build His kingdom.
- Jesus is Greater than Moses - While Moses was the greatest of all Hebrews and God himself described him as faithful, Jesus is even greater than Moses because while Moses was faithful as a servant, Jesus is faithful as a Son.
Discussion Questions
- The passage describes Jesus as both "apostle" and "high priest." What do these two roles tell us about Jesus' work on our behalf? How are they different yet complementary?
- What does it mean practically for you to 'fix your attention' on Jesus rather than passively think about Him, and what distracts you most from this focus?
- How does knowing that Jesus is currently interceding for you before God's throne change the way you approach prayer or struggle with sin?
- Whether it is fighting your own sin, experiencing the brokenness of the world, or facing the accusations of the enemy, how does Jesus' faithfulness help you endure the struggles you face?
- If Jesus uses us to build His kingdom, what steps is he inviting you to take to be a part (or a greater part) of that process?
- How do you reconcile the parallel truths in scripture that believers are called to hold fast to Jesus but Jesus is ultimately the one that holds fast to us?
- Verse 6 says "we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope." What practices or habits help you hold fast to Jesus when life gets difficult or confusing?
Practical Applications
- Fix your eyes - Schedule daily time this week for Scripture reading, prayer, and meditation on Jesus (be specific about when and how long)
- Be faithful - Identify one area where God is calling you to greater faithfulness and take one concrete step this week
- Hold fast - Memorize Hebrews 3:1-2 or write down one truth about Jesus' faithfulness to review daily