jesus greater than moses (verses 1-5)In the first five verses, we see how Jesus is greater than Moses, and while that might be the title in your Bible, afterward, IT GIVES US THE REASONS WHY Jesus is the greatest. In verse 1, it says to keep our thoughts FIXED on Jesus whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. Then, it tells us about what Jesus actually DID. Jesus was faithful to the one appointed Him (God the Father), just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. Jesus had been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. In verse 4 it gives us a little picture to think of in our minds: a house. And God is the builder of that house because GOD IS THE BUILDER OF EVERYTHING. Moses was faithful as a servant in ALL GOD'S HOUSE, bearing witness to what would be spoken in the future, meaning that his faithfulness reaped its reward for the future generations to come. Then it goes into comparison with Christ, who is the Son over God's house, and we are HIS HOUSE if we indeed hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. So why is Jesus greater than Moses (in the Bible)? Well, because Jesus is the builder of a house, and therefore has greater honor than the house itself. Moses, just like us, was part of God's house. Now, don't just think, ''Oh, we are JUST God's house.'' God's house has a great responsibility, and He is right there alongside us to help us as we go through life. As God's house, we must remain faithful to God and hold firmly to the confidence and hope of God's Word. warning against unbelief (verses 7-19)Next, we come to a warning against unbelief. Now, don't just skip through this part and think of it as "another warning from God." God's warnings are vital to us. They give us lessons to learn from people earlier in the Bible, and though it may seem like a HARD CONVICTION TO US, the conviction is there to strengthen and build our faith. Now.. let's get into the warning GOD HAS FOR US. In verses 7-11, it gives us a little bit of what the Holy Spirit says. Read along in your Bible: 7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. 10 That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" These verses talk about when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. It first tells us that when we hear from God or the Holy Spirit, we are not HARDEN our hearts neither turn away from what God wants to say. But, that's what the Israelites did in rebellion during the time of testing in the wilderness. They tried to "test" God, and with that, they saw what God did. God says how THIS IS WHY He was angry with that generation. Their hearts went astray. They did not know GOD'S WAYS, and instead, they settled for their own. So God declared an oath of anger that they shall never enter HIS REST. So brothers and sisters (as it says in verse 12), we are not to have a sinful, unbelieving heart. But may we encourage one another DAILY, as long as we do it TODAY- don't put it off sharing the Word! We encourage others so that sin's deceitfulness may harden none of us. We have come to share in Christ if we hold to our original conviction TO THE VERY END. In verse 15, it says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." This chapter ends with some "was it not?" type questions, such as: "Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?" Then it ends by saying that now we see that they could not enter into God's presence because they had unbelief of what God could do. They tested God, hardened their hearts, and went into 40 years of rebellion because they didn't accept the CORRECTION and CONVICTION of the Lord. discussion questions and applicationHere are some discussion questions to think about as you go throughout your week. Your answer will help you determine your application of what you got out of this chapter!
1. Jesus is the greatest of them all because He is the builder of the house (us). Since we are the house, how are YOU going to live out the responsibility of being faithful to the Lord? That can be serving another person, sharing an encouraging message that has been on your heart, or anything else God wants you to do! 2. The second part of this chapter talked about CONVICTION and CORRECTION from the Holy Spirit. It also gave us the example of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for forty years because they refused to accept what God had to say. Therefore, they went into rebellion. With that said, when conviction comes from the Holy Spirit, how are you going to REACT to it? Do you have a teachable heart, or do you just ignore it? Ask God to help you have an open heart to what He has to say because not only will it build your faith and walk with Him, but it will also equip you to share the Gospel. Blessings, Hope D. Author and Founder of Meditate Hope
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