July 22, 2014
WHICH IS BETTER: THE ARCHITECT OR HIS HOUSE?
Hebrews 3:1–11
Morgan Eseke
Central Truth
As the builder of all things, Christ alone deserves the glory. As believers, we have the privilege of being His house and representation on earth.
Key Verse | Hebrews 3:6
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. (Hebrews 3:6)
Hebrews 3:1–11
Jesus Greater Than Moses
1 Therefore, holy brothers, 1 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12 you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's 2 3:2 Greek his; also verses 5, 6 house. 3 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. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 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. 3 3:6 Some manuscripts insert firm to the end
A Rest for the People of God
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
8
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9
where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.
10
Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’
11
As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
Dive Deeper | Hebrews 3:1–11
When I was in college, my sister and I spent a summer studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain. My favorite place in the entire city was the Sagrada Familia -- a fabulous, neo-Gothic-style cathedral that towered over the center of town. It is truly the most intricately designed work of art I've ever seen. But as impressive as the Sagrada Familia is, no one would dare mention it without giving credit to its brilliant architect, Antoni Gaudí.
This is exactly the point that the author of Hebrews is trying to make to his Jewish audience, who had regarded Moses as the greatest of all men for most of their lives. While Moses was indeed a great, faithful man, Jesus Christ is God Incarnate and the creator of all things (including Moses). "[T]he builder of a house deserves greater honor than the house itself!" (Hebrews 3:3b, NET). Christ alone deserves our faithfulness, worship, and all the glory.
Like Moses, we as believers have the privilege of representing Christ here on earth as "His house." 1 Peter 2:5 says, "[Y]ou yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." It is encouraging to me that Peter describes us as stones -- parts of a whole -- rather than stand-alone houses. We are called to be living stones, together.
I'm not an architect, but I don't think the Sagrada Familia would be nearly as impressive if it were built out of only one piece of stone. Likewise, we are able to bring much more glory to God when we do it together.
As a united community of believers, we make up a house that is far more beautiful than any earthly edifice -- because Christ is our architect!
Discussion Questions
1. Do you ever find yourself worshiping something that God built rather than the Great Builder Himself?
2. How well are you representing Christ as "His house" on earth? Are you striving to represent Him in community with other Christ-followers?
3. A large portion of today's passage is a strong warning against unbelief. How does knowing that you are a part of a community of "living stones" help you "hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory" (Hebrews 3:6, NIV)?