The book of Hebrews builds its case for the supremacy of Christ step by step. Chapter one shows Jesus greater than the angels. Chapter two warns believers against drifting from the solid foundation of Christ and Gospel truth. Now in chapter three, the writer compares Jesus to Moses—the towering hero who led the Hebrew people out of slavery into a covenant relationship with God.
For a first-century Jewish audience, Moses was legendary, the bedrock hero of their faith. The deliverer from Egypt, the lawgiver at Sinai, the shepherd of God’s people through the wilderness. No one compared to Moses. And yet Hebrews 3:1-3 issues a striking invitation:
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 the house has more honor than the house itself.
Both Moses and Jesus were faithful servants sent by God to deliver His people. Both endured opposition and rejection. But Jesus is “counted worthy of more glory than Moses.” Later in Hebrews we learn that “by faith” Moses “considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward” (Hebrews 11:26). He didn’t yet know Jesus by name, but like Christ, Moses became a salvific figure—exchanging the comforts of Egypt for a life of suffering with God’s covenant people, a people often stiff-necked and resistant to His leading.
But just as Moses faced grumbling and rebellion in the wilderness, so Christ is often met with drifting hearts and stubborn unbelief. The warning is the same: do not turn back, but hold fast.
Moses built something temporary—a tabernacle in the wilderness, a foreshadowing of something better yet to come. But Jesus was the master builder and cornerstone of an eternal house not made with hands, not bound by walls or borders, but made up of people redeemed from every nation, tribe, and tongue.
As Peter put it: “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5). And to the church in Philadelphia, John heard the Lord say: “The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God” (Revelation 3:12).
This is the house Jesus builds—not a structure designed by David or raised by Solomon, but one fashioned by God Himself.
The comparison continues with a sober reminder. Israel rebelled against Moses in the wilderness, hardening their hearts and forfeiting entry into the Promised Land. That tragedy becomes the urgent warning of Hebrews 3:
Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.
What was at stake in Moses’ day was entry into Canaan. What is at stake now is infinitely greater—an eternal rest in Christ, the inheritance for all who believe. To reject Jesus is to repeat Israel’s rebellion, wandering in unbelief and forfeiting the promise of God’s rest.
The danger isn’t only external—it’s within. “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12).
Here the writer may be thinking of Cain, and others who went down the same path—Cain’s jealousy turned to murder (Genesis 4), King Saul’s pride and disobedience led to his downfall and untimely death (1 Samuel 15–16), and Ananias and Sapphira’s deceit brought sudden judgment (Acts 5). In each case, unbelief opened the door to greater sin. God warned Cain: “Sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it” (Genesis 4:7). The warning is just as urgent today: do not drift into hardness of heart.
But Scripture also gives us examples of those who persevered. Joshua and Caleb trusted God’s promise when others gave in to fear (Numbers 14). Hannah poured out her heart before the Lord in trust, even in her barrenness (1 Samuel 1). Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, bore witness to Christ even as the stones fell (Acts 7). And many more are remembered in Hebrews 11.
These were not perfect people, but they leaned toward God. They held fast in faith and entrusted themselves to the Lord. Their perseverance reminds us that God is faithful to sustain His people and strengthen their resolve to the end.
Assurance of Salvation
We must remember that in Hebrews 3, the audience is addressed as ‘you who share in a heavenly calling’ (v. 1), and further clarified: ‘We are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope’ (v. 6).” It is written to saints, the elect.
These stern warnings do not mean salvation is fragile or easily lost. Holding fast is not the means of staying saved—lest our salvation, which was bought by the blood of Christ and freely offered by grace, become something earned, a ground for boasting. Rather, holding fast is the evidence of genuine discipleship. God holds His children securely, and one of the ways we know we belong to Him is that—by grace—we keep coming back, refusing to be satisfied apart from Him.
The exhortations in Hebrews are not meant to unsettle the elect but to anchor them. God’s sovereign grip and our responsibility to persevere are both true, even if we cannot fully reconcile the mystery this side of heaven.
What matters is the call: Consider Jesus. Hold fast. Don’t drift.
How then do we keep from drifting? By walking together. “Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).
Faith was never meant to be sustained in isolation. We need Gospel Community—the church. Iron sharpens iron, and a cord of three strands is not easily broken. The ministry of presence matters. We are strengthened when we gather regularly to worship and hear the faithful preaching of God’s Word, when we submit to godly leaders, when we freely share and exercise our gifts, when we give generously of our tithes and offerings, and when we humbly give and receive both encouragement and correction from brothers and sisters in Christ. These are not merely boxes to check, but the marks of a healthy Christian faith—when, by God’s grace, we do all things wholeheartedly as unto the Lord.
The urgency of Hebrews echoes an earlier moment in Israel’s story. At the close of his life, Joshua saw the people drifting back toward the gods of Egypt and the nations around them. He urged them: “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14). Then came his defining declaration: “Choose this day whom you will serve … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (v. 15).
Moses built a house that was only a temporary shadow. Joshua declared for his house a clear allegiance. Stephen, Hannah, Joshua, and Caleb all bore witness with their lives that God is faithful to those who hold fast. But Jesus builds the eternal house of God—made of living stones, held together by His Spirit, and destined to endure forever.
Choose today to belong to that house, and hold fast until the end.