Jesus was an apostle and high priest

JESUS WAS AN APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Hebrews 3:1 1Therefore, holy brothers and sisters,
who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on
Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostleand high
priest.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
The Sublimest Contemplation
Hebrews 3:1
W. Jones
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, etc.
I. THE CHARACTERIZATION OF CHRISTIANS.
1. They are fraternal in relation. "Brethren." These Hebrew Christians were
brethren in a twofold sense to the writer of the Epistle - first, as being his
kindred according to the flesh; and next, as being of the same religious faith.
Every Christian is a member of a glorious brotherhood. We are brothers
inasmuch as we have all one Father and one elder Brother; we are animated
by one Spirit; we are tending to one home, our "Father's house." Letus
endeavorto realize this relationship, and to practicallyexpress its spirit.
"Love the brotherhood."

2. They are consecratedin character. "Holybrethren." By applying to them
the term "holy," the writer does not affirm that all those whom he was
addressing were in a state of sinless purity. The adjective conveys two ideas -
consecrationand transformation. Christians are holy because they have
consecratedthemselves to the Lord, and are being transformed into moral
resemblance to him.
3. They are exalted in privilege. "Partakersofa heavenly calling." This calling
"is the invitation given on the part of God and Christ to men, to come and
partake of the blessings proffered" in the gospel. In two sensesit is "a
heavenly calling."
(1) It is heavenly in its origin; a calling from heaven. The holy voices and
gracious invitations are from above. All saving influences and impulses are
from God.
(2) It is heavenwardin its end; a calling to heaven. Spiritual, sublime, eternal,
heavenly, are the blessings to which we are called. It is "the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus."The "partakers"ofthis calling are not those who have
merely heard the callto gospelblessings, but those who have both heard and
acceptedthat call.
II. THE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE LORD AND SAVIOR.
1. He is "the Apostle of our confession. There is here a comparisonof Jesus
with Moses.Moseswas sent" ofGod to be the emancipator, chieftain, and
ruler of the Israelites (see Exodus 3:10, 12, 14, 15). In this sense he was an
apostle of God. Jesus Christwas the Sent of God (see John 3:34; John 5:36,
37; John 6:29; John 10:36;John 17:18). He was sent on a still grander mission
of redemption (see Isaiah61:1-3). Moreover, the Jews designatedthe minister
of the synagogue,who had the charge of its affairs and presided over them, an
apostle. And in the verse following our text the writer goes onto speak of
Jesus and Moses as eachpresiding over the affairs of a house. In this sense
also our Lord is "the Apostle of our confession."He is sent, not only to
emancipate, but also to rule over his Church; to be both "a Prince and a
Savior."

2. He is "the High Priest of our confession. Here the comparisonis with
Aaron. As Aaron was high priest of the Jews, and, as such, made expiation for
the sins of the people, so our Savior has made atonementfor the sins of the
world by the offering of himself in sacrifice. Throughhim we approachunto
God. He maketh intercessionfor us. He pleads with us and in us and for us.
Through him we shall rise to heaven. As the Apostle, he is the Representative
of God to men; as the High Priest, he is the Representative of men with God.
3. He is Jesus. There is perhaps a reference here to Joshua, the greatgeneral
of the Israelites, who led them into the promised land. Thou shalt call his
name Jesus:for he shall save his people from their sins." How great, then, is
our Lord and Savior!
III. THE ATTITUDE WHICH CHRISTIANS SHOULD MAINTAIN
TOWARDS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOUR. "Wherefore, holy brethren...
considerthe Apostle and High Priest," etc.
1. The argument. "Wherefore,"i.e. becausewe have in Jesus such"a merciful
and faithful High Priest," sucha mighty and gracious Helper, we should
attentively considerhim. And such considerationwould be likely to strengthen
the Christian faith of any who were in danger of falling back into Judaism;
for they would find him a greaterApostle than Moses, a greaterHigh Priest
than Aaron, a greater"Captainof salvation" than Joshua. The greatprinciple
is this, that the greatestsafeguardagainstweariness, discouragement, and
apostasyis an earnestconsiderationofJesus;a believing, steadfast, looking
unto him.
2. The exercise. "Considerthe Apostle," etc. Contemplate him as "the Apostle
of our confession." How much greateris he than Moses!Moses did not lead
the people into the Promised Land, or even enter therein himself; but Jesus
has enteredheaven as our Forerunner, has led multitudes into its blessedness,
will lead all his people there. Contemplate him as "the High Priest of our
confession."How much greateris he than Aaron! Aaron's priesthood was
imperfect, typical, preparatory; but our Lord's is gloriouslyperfect. By his
sacrifice he has made full atonement; his intercessionis divinely efficacious.
Contemplate him as our Savior, "Jesus."He is "mighty to save;" "able to

save to the uttermost," etc. Here is the sublimest contemplation. In weakness
and weariness considerhim, and you will be strengthened and animated. In
darkness considerhim, and the night will shine even as the day. In sin
considerhim, and you will seek andobtain forgiveness. In sorrow consider
him, and the troubled heart will grow calm and restful. In death considerhim,
and his rod and staff will comfort you, and he himself will lead you through its
dark portals into the joys and glories of heaven. Let this be our constant
attitude - "looking unto Jesus." -W.J.
Biblical Illustrator
Wherefore, holy brethren.
Hebrews 3:1
The heavenly calling
A. B. Davidson, LL. D.

"Wherefore" connects generallywith chaps, 1., if., where Christ is Apostle
(Hebrews 1:1-3) and High Priest(Hebrews 2:9, &c.), though immediately with
"faithful" (Hebrews 2:17) and the closing words of chap. if. The author had in
view this comparisonwith Moses, and prepared the way for it by using
"faithful" in Hebrews 2:17. The author had calledbelievers "sanctified" and
"sons" (Hebrews 2:11-13);recalling this, and realising what it implied, he
addresses the Hebrews as "holy brethren." Further, he had setbefore them
what the greatsalvationwas to which they were destined (Hebrews 2:3), and
to which the Captain of their salvation had attained, even lordship over all
things in the world to come (Hebrews 2:5, &c.);and as called to this heavenly
world and already tasting its powers (Hebrews 6:5; Hebrews 2:4), he
addresses them as partakers of "a heavenly calling";that is, sharing in a call
to the possessionof the heavenly world to come. In the word "heavenly" there
is struck for the first time, in words at least, an antithesis of greatimportance
in the Epistle, that of this world and heaven; in other words, that of the
merely material and transient and the ideal and abiding. The things of this
world are material, unreal, transient; those of heavenare ideal, true, and
eternal. Heaven is the world of realities, of things themselves (Hebrews 9:23),
of which the things here are but "copies."There is the true Tabernacle
(Hebrews 8:2); the city that bath the foundations (Hebrews 11:10);the
heavenly Jerusalemand Mount Zion (Hebrews 12:22);the kingdom that
cannot be shaken(Hebrews 12:27, 28); the true "country" which the
patriarchs sought(Hebrews 11:16) — all the eternal real things of which the
things of this world are but shadows (Hebrews 10:1); and to these things we
are calledand are come, for this heavenly world projects itself into this
present life like headlands of a new world into the ocean. This world of
realities has been revealed, for Christ, who belongs to it, has come from it, and
has openedup the way to it by entering it through death as our Forerunner
(Hebrews 6:20) and High Priest (Hebrews 10:19). This real world is the abode
of God, where He is as He is in Himself. It is that which He has destined to be
put in subjection to man as his final possession(Hebrews 2:5-8). Being true
and consisting of things themselves, it cannotbe shaken, but remains after the
greatconvulsions under which things that are made pass away(Hebrews
12:27). Then it may be calledearth or heaven, for earth and heaven coincide.

(A. B. Davidson, LL. D.)
The causes ofmen's being holy, and of calling them so
W. Gouge.
This excellentprerogative of being holy cannot arise from men's selves. "Who
can bring a cleanthing out of an unclean? not one" (Job 14:4). "But every
goodand every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father
of lights" (James 1:17). This Father of lights communicateth holiness to men
two ways.
1. By imputing unto them the righteousness ofHis Son. Thus we are said to be
"made the righteousness ofGod in Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:21), and Christ is
said to "be made of God righteousness unto us" (1 Corinthians 1:30).
2. By conveying His Spirit into us, who altereth our nature and disposition,
and enableth us to perform the works of righteousness.In this respectHe is
not only calledthe Holy Ghost, but also the Spirit of holiness (Romans 1:4);
and sanctificationis said to be of the Spirit (2 Thessalonians2:13), because it
is wrought in us by the Spirit of God. Thus this excellenttitle "Holy" gives no
matter of boasting unto man (2 Corinthians 4:7); but it giveth great cause of
glorying in God. The apostle here giveth these Hebrews this title not so much
in regard of their parentage, because the root from whence they sprouted was
holy (Romans 11:16); for the partition wall betwixt Jew and Gentile was now
broken down, and all that were of the faith of Abraham were counted to be of
Abraham's seed(Galatians 3:7).The apostle therefore here gives them this
title —
1. In regard to their profession, wherebythey were distinguished from
profane persons.
2. In regard of his opinion of them; for he judged them to be true members of
the holy Church (1 Corinthians 6:11). Thus he usually styleth all to whom he
wrote "saints";that is, holy ones. How did the apostle know that they were

holy? By their holy profession;for the ground of judging others is not
certainty of knowledge, but the rule of love (1 Corinthians 13:7).
(W. Gouge.)
Directions to be holy
W. Gouge.
That we may be such "holy brethren" as are here set down —
1. Be well informed in the nature of holiness. If the mark be mistaken, the
more diligence we use, the further we shall be off from it. The faster a
traveller goes in a wrong way, the farther he may be from the place to which
he desires to go. The Jews, being ignorant of God's righteousness,and going
about to establishtheir own righteousness,were farthestoff from true
holiness.
2. "Cleanseyourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit." Thus may
you "perfectholiness in the fearof God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). It is a course
which all of all sorts observe for perfecting a thing, namely, first to remove the
impediments; thus physicians purge out peccanthumours, chirurgians draw
out festering matter, husbandmen stock up broom, briars, thorns, and all
noisome weeds.
3. Have specialcare of your company. Avoid the societyofunholy ones (Psalm
16:3). That this means is very powerful is evident (Proverbs 13:20;Proverbs
22:24, 25).
4. Be constantin using such means as God hath sanctified for attaining
holiness;for God will be found in His own way. The means are —
(1)Public;
(2)private;
(3)secret. Public means are the Word and Sacraments.

5. Be instant and constantin prayer, and that for the Holy Spirit which is
promised to those that ask Him (Luke 11:13). This Spirit it is which makes us
holy.
6. Be patient under crosses;for God cloth chastenHis, that they might be
"partakers ofHis holiness" (Hebrews 12:10).
(W. Gouge.)
Partakers ofthe heavenly calling.
The heavenly trilling
W. Gouge.
The calling of saints is here commended unto us by this attribute "heavenly."
It is here in this place attributed to saints' calling —
1. To distinguish it from earthly callings.
2. To show the excellencythereof;for excellentthings are calledheavenly;
great, deep, excellentmysteries are calledheavenly (John 3:12).
3. To declare the end of this calling, which is to bring us to a heavenly
kingdom (1 Thessalonians 2:12), namely, an inheritance incorruptible,
reservedin heaven (1 Peter1:4). This particular excellencyhere mentioned by
the apostle is of force to raise up our hearts unto heaven, seeking the things
that are above. It doth also instruct us how to walk worthy of this calling,
namely, by an inward heavenly disposition and an outward heavenly
conversation.
(W. Gouge.)
The superiority of Christianity
D. C. Hughes, M. A.

I. THE DISTINCTIONBETWEENTHE JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN
DISPENSATIONSIN RESPECT TO THEIR NATURE.
1. This distinction of nature is set forth in the word by which the apostle
designates the Christian's vocation. He terms it "the heavenly calling."(1)The
word rendered here "calling" must not be confounded with the gospel's
generalinvitation to salvation, but refers to that to which believers are
entitled through Christ Jesus.(2)It is termed "heavenly," not in respectto its
source, for Judaism and Christianity have a common origin. Both are of God,
in respectto the nature of the blessings proffered and the sphere where the
blessings are to be enjoyed.(3) The intimate and exalted fellowship of those
united under the banner of this "heavenly calling" is here noticeable:" Holy
brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling."(a)"Brethren" by kinship closer
and more enduring than that formed by natural bonds.(b) "Holy," in the
sense ofbeing setapart by God the Father, through Christ His Son. by the
Holy Spirit, to one heavenly and sacredaim — the service of God alone.(c)
"Partakers";literally, "holding things in common." Sharers togetherof the
privileges of the "heavenly calling."(4)Noticeable also are the terms applied
to the Lord in connectionwith the heavenly calling, and the earnest
exhortation of the apostle to due considerationof Christ in these offices.
"Considerthe Apostle and High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus."(a)
The word rendered " consider" means to observe well, to consider
attentively, to ponder thoughtfully.(b) The word "apostle" (literally, "one
sent"), as applied to our Lord here, is peculiar, this being the only place where
this specialterm is applied to Him. We may regardthe word "apostle" as
used to avoid ambiguity, and also at the same time to set forth our Lord as
having been "sent" ofGod, and therefore divinely authorised, as was
Moses.(c)The expression"the High Priest of our profession," suggestively
represents the Divine authority, and also the redemptive feature so prominent
in the Christian system.
II. THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN CHRIST AND MOSES IN THE
RELATION THEY SUSTAINED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE
DISPENSATIONS.

I. Christ is here representedas being the owner of the "house" He served,
Moses being only servantof the "house" he served.(1)Notice the significance
of the term "house." Its meaning, as applied to Christ's house, is given in ver.
6.(2)The sense in which Christ is, and Moses was not, ownerof the "house"
eachrespectivelyserved thus becomes obvious. The apostle, however, even
here, holds still prominently before us that it was in His capacityas " Son"
He also redeemed.
2. This ownershipin the "householdof faith" sustains the apostle in his next
position — that Christ has a higher claim to homage and honour than Moses.
3. The prominent and practicalcharacteristic here mentioned should not be
lost sight of in connectionwith Christ's superiority to Moses,namely, His
faithfulness.
III. PRACTICAL AND SOLEMN INFERENCESFROM THE PRECEDING
POSITIONS.
1. An earnestlessonfrom the history of the past (vers. 7-12).
2. Practicalcounselas to what they should do (ver. 13).
3. The only reliable evidence of our union with Christ (ver. 14).
4. The essentialimportance of every-day religion (vers. 15-18).
(1)To prevent hardness of heart. Heedlessnessis the beginning and the sure
evidence of hardness (ver. 15).
(2)To avoid that grieving of the Holy Spirit which is inevitably followedby
Divine judgment (vers. 16, 17).
5. The fearful cause of all defectionfrom God and of all sin againstGod —
"unbelief" (ver. 19).
(1)It was the cause of the first sin of our first parents in Eden.
(2)It was the cause of the first murder on record.
(3)It was the prolific cause ofall those terrible effects which culminated in the
destruction of all religious life in the antediluvians, with the exceptionof one

man, and led to the destruction of the whole race of mankind save Noahand
his family. Oh, what a hydra-headed, destructive monster is unbelief!
(D. C. Hughes, M. A.)
Considerthe High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus.
Christ to be appreciated
C. Clemance, D. D.
A young lady, a novice in art, said to her father, who was an accomplished
man of taste, "Father, I cannot enjoy the works of the old masters." "Then,"
said he "look at them till you can." Even so, if one were to say, "I cannot
appreciate the Cross," ourearnestreply would be, "Study it till you can."
(C. Clemance, D. D.)
Christ should be contemplated
A. C. Price, B. A.
It is recorded of a celebratedphilosopherthat, pursuing his investigations on
the subjectof light, he ventured on a bold experiment. Without the protection
of smokedglass, he turned his naked eye on the sun, and kept it fixed there for
awhile. When he removed it, such was the impression made upon his eyes,
that whicheverway he looked, upwards, downwards, right or left, he saw
nothing but the sun. The last thing he saw at night, the first thing he saw in
the morning, was the sun. What a blessedthing it would be for us if we had
some such view of Christ, if the glory and love of Him who died, and was
buried, and rose againfor us, Jesus Christour Lord, was thus impressedupon
our souls!
(A. C. Price, B. A.)

ConsiderJesus
T. R. Stevenson.
Hazlitt once copieda painting of Titian's, and showedit one evening to his
friends, Charles and Mary CowdenClarke. It was fine, but as he held the light
to it, and thus unconsciouslyshowedhis own intellectualhead, square
"potential forehead," and eyes full of earnestfire, they felt that he was really
the picture to gaze at. In like manner, Jesus lifts the light of truth to the
picture of duty, but He also grandly embodied it in His daily life.
(T. R. Stevenson.)
ConsiderJesus and banish frivolity
F. W. Farrar, D. D.
The wise picture-dealerat Oxford was right, who, handing to an
undergraduate the fine engraving of an ancient master, said, "Hang this on
your wails, sir, and it will soonbanish all the pictures of jockeys and ballet-
girls."
(F. W. Farrar, D. D.)
Priesthoodof Christ
J. Wells, M. A.
About a hundred years ago a Welshboy heard a sermon upon the priesthood
of Jesus Christ. It was a new idea to the boy, filling him with astonishment
and delight. The doctrine was so excellentand sweetto him, that without
delay he openedhis heart to it. To this day all the Welshrevere his memory,
for that boy became the Rev. Thomas Charles of Bala, the apostle of his native
land, the founder of day and Sabbath schools and of the Bible Society. And
such a faith in Christ will give you, too, a true and fruitful life.
(J. Wells, M. A.)

The advantages derived from considering Jesus
R. Boog, D. D.
I. The solemn considerationof Jesus Christ may wellRECONCILE YOU TO
ANY DIFFICULT OR TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES inwhich you may be
placed. Compared to His what are all the duties which we have to perform, or
any sufferings which we have to endure? How few have to "resistunto blood,
striving againstsin." Every repining thought must be subdued.
II. "Considerthe Apostle and High Priestof your profession," and you will
see in Him A MODELFOR YOUR CONDUCT, andwill learn how to act in
circumstances ofdifficulty or distress. Amid injustice and ill-treatment, which
so easily discompose the mind and render one's duty so peculiarly difficult,
Jesus has taught us how wisdom, integrity, and goodnesswould act. Now the
principles which formed the characterand governed the whole conduct of
Jesus are evidently these two — faith in Godand love to mankind. Clearly
discovering in His characterand conduct the wonderful efficacyof these
principles, we must fix them in our souls if we wish to fulfil the more difficult
duties of life or rest in composure and peace of mind amid its various ills.
III. To considerJesus will ANIMATE AND ENCOURAGE YOU AMID THE
DIFFICULTIES AND ILLS OF LIFE. He foresaw allthe extent of His
sufferings, and " in all things made like unto His brethren," He felt all the
depressionnatural to the human mind in such disheartening prospects;but
declining any exertion of supernatural powers, He resigns Himself to the
violence of wickedmen, with no other defence but that Divine grace and those
heavenly principles which the humblest of His followers may through His
mediation attain. And canHis admirable conduct be exhibited to us in vain?
Can it be contemplated without exciting our efforts and prompting our
imitation?
(R. Boog, D. D.)

The Christian and his Redeemer
U. R. Tibetans.
I. A DESCRIPTIONOF TRUE CHRISTIANS.
1. A common character:"Holy."
2. A common relationship: "Brethren."
3. A common privilege: "Partakers," &c. A callfrom heaven and to heaven.
II. A DESCRIPTION OF THE GREAT REDEEMER.
1. The Apostle of our profession. Sentfrom Godto us.
2. The High Priestof our profession. By Him we draw near to God, even as by
Him God draws near to us.
3. The Christ Jesus — the anointed Deliverer.
III. THE OBLIGATIONS OF TRUE CHRISTIANS TO THE GREAT
REDEEMER, itConsider." Men's characters are formed by their thinkings.
Meditation is the most constantand influential operation of our nature.
(U. R. Tibetans.)
The Advent call
DeanVaughan.
— "Consider," then, it is here directed, "the Apostle and High Priestof our
profession, Christ Jesus."Seeing whatHe is, according to the statements of
the two previous chapters; how great, how Divine, how human, how merciful,
and how faithful; how sufficient in His atonementfor sin, how experiencedin
His sympathy with the tempted; considerHim, fix your thoughts upon Him.
Now in what aspects are we here chargedto considerChrist?
1. As "the Apostle of our profession";that is, of our confession, orcommon
faith. An apostle means an emissary, or ambassador, orrepresentative — one

who comes to us with a messageorcommission, in this case from God
Himself. We ought to be transacting business with Him, if I might so express
it, every day; dealing with Him as to the concerns ofour life, inward and
outward, and consciousthat, in so doing, we are dealing also with God
Himself.
2. Again, the High Priest of our confession. You know how large a part of this
Epistle is occupiedwith the subjectthus introduced: the priesthood of Jesus
Christ as satisfying all those wants which any other priesthood could only
indicate and impress. "Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes" — why is it a
glad sound? It is not because we wantedan Apostle, and because we wanted a
High Priest? Put Christ out of sight altogetherfor a moment, and then see
how dark life is, the present and the future. See what it is to be consciousof
sin, and then suppose that there were no Christ, no Saviour, no Propitiation,
and no Intercessor!Yes, we know that we shall all want Him; as our Apostle,
as God's representative, that is; as our all-wise Teacher, ourRevealerof God
as He is, as the Personin whom as well as by whom God deals with our souls,
and bids us also to deal with Him; want Him also as our High Priest, our
Sacrifice and Propitiation for sin, our merciful Intercessor, our faithful
Advocate with God.
(DeanVaughan.)
Christians invited to considerChrist
Sketches ofSermons.
I. THE CHARACTERS ADDRESSED:" Holy brethren."
1. All real Christians are —
(1)Partakers ofthe same spiritual nature.
(2)Members of the same family.
(3)Interestedin eachother's welfare.
2. Christians are " holy" —

(1)By the dedicationwhich they have made of themselves to God.
(2)By the purification of their minds,
3. They are partakers of a calling —
(1)Heavenly in its origin.
(2)Heavenly in its end.
II. THE ADVICE GIVEN.
1. Christ was a Divine Messenger. He is a Divine Person. He was divinely sent
(John 4:34; John 5:23, and John 7:16).
2. Christ was a voluntary messenger. He came willingly (Hebrews 10:5-9). The
undertaking was arduous, but " He gave Himself for us."
3. Christ was a merciful messenger. He came not to destroy, but to save;and it
was all free, unparalleled mercy.
4. He is the High Priestof our profession.
(1)He made an atonement for sin (Hebrews 9:28).
(2)The Jewishhigh priest blessedthe people (Numbers 6:23-27).
(3)The Jewishhigh priest interceded for the people; and Christ ever liveth to
make intercessionfor us.
5. The advice given is, "Considerthe apostle," &c. Considerationis the
exercise ofthought, not a hasty glance atan object, but a deliberate exercise of
the mind. Hence we should considerChrist.
(1)That we know Him. The knowledge ofChrist is the most beneficial we can
possess;but no man can know Christ who will not considerHim.
(2)That we may be gratefulto Him. Our obligations to Christ should bind us
to be grateful to Him; but these obligations canbe knownonly by
consideration.

(3)That we may keepHis commandments. No man can keepChrist's
commandments who neglects the advice in the text.
(4)That we may emulate His example.
(Sketches ofSermons.)
The considerationof the apostle-shipand priesthood of Christ inculcated
F. H. Fell, M. A.
I. THE CHARACTERS HERE PECULIARLY ADDRESSED.
1. "Holy brethren." Every one must possess holiness,not indeed in perfection:
but, as it were, the Christian's element, where he breathes with freedom and
with peace. Sin is the Christian's aversion, and therefore he looks forward
with joy to that period when he shall put off this body of sin, and be in
possessionofa holy and blessedstate in heaven.
2. The characters here addressedare described as "Partakersofthe heavenly
calling." Here we speak of the manner in which such are brought to this
brotherly love.
II. THE HIGH CHARACTER GIVEN IN THE TEXT OF CHRIST JESUS
1. "Apostle." The Redeemerofmankind, though one with the Father and the
Holy Spirit, is declaredto have come out from God in the capacityof a
servant. In His commissionto His disciples after the Resurrection, He
acknowledgedHis own apostleship. He says, "As My Father hath sent Me, so
send I you."
2. "High Priest." The high priest was to offer up the evening sacrifice and
prayer. Christ Jesus appears offering Himself a perfectsacrifice for sin.
III. THE DUTY RECOMMENDED. "Consider." As if he had said, do not
turn awayfrom Him, as though you had no interest in this great subject; but
let your attention be drawn off from everything else, that your soul may be
found resting here.

(F. H. Fell, M. A.)
The Apostle and High Priestof our profession
W. Amos.
I. THE AGENTS. Who are exhorted to considerChrist? The " holy brethren,
partakers of the heavenly calling." "Holy brethren." The terms define
sufficiently the class of persons to whom this exhortation is directly addressed.
It is a word, not for those who are without, but for those who are within. The
two terms are interesting separately, and in their union. If they do not certify
what all the worshippers are, they certainly declare whateachought to be.
You may detecthere the twofolddivision of duty, which from its fountain in
the decalogueflows down, and penetrates all the moral teaching of the
Scriptures. Christians get both the first and the second commandments
printed on their life. They love the Lord with all their heart, and their
neighbour as themselves. They are "holy" to God, and "brethren " to men.
Further, they are "partakers ofthe heavenly calling." It comes from above,
and invites them thither.
II. THE OBJECT.Whom should the holy brethren regard? "The Apostle and
High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus." "Ourprofession" is the religious
system which we adopt -the confessionwhich we make and maintain. It
indicates professionto God, and confessionone with another. We hold the
truth, and we hold it together. We hold to God by faith, and to our brethren in
love. It is not the truth in type and shadow, but the truth Himself unveiled —
God manifest in the flesh. Our profession, finally, is not self-righteousness,but
faith. It is not what I am able to do, but what God is willing to give. Our plea
is, not that our sins are small, but that our Saviour is great. "By grace are ye
savedthrough faith." Of this profession, the Apostle and High Priestis Christ
Jesus. Eitheroffice is important in itself; and the union of both in the person
of the Lord Jesus has a distinct and peculiar importance of its own. An apostle
is one sent out. Missionary, with which we have become so familiar in our
days, is the same word in another language. An inexpressible dignity is
connectedwith the mission of this Apostle. The sender, the sent, and the

errand, are all great. All our missions are copies of this great original. He is
High Priesttoo. It is His office to go into the holiestwith atoning blood, and
there plead for the rebellious. With His own blood our High Priest has entered
into the heavens, where He ever liveth to make intercessionforus. In His own
personalministry He was first Apostle and then High Priest. In the order of
time His missionas God's representative sent out to us was first accomplished,
and thereafterHis mission as our representative sentin to God. Throughout
His personalministry in the body He acted as Apostle; at His death and
resurrectionand ascensionHe became High Priest. When Jesus as our High
Priestpassedinto the heavens, His personalministry as our Apostle ceased;
but He has not left Himself without a witness. He has left that work to His
servants. He prescribed their task, and promised them aid (Matthew 28:20).
Not only every preacher, but every believer of the Word, is an apostle,
chargedand qualified to make it known. When He ascendedHe left on earth a
multitudinous ministry. Noris Divine commissionwanting to the meanest:
"Let him that heareth say, Come." In a similar manner the intercessionofthe
High Priestin heavenis reduplicated on the earth. "Brethren, n, pray for us,"
expresses the true instinct of the new creature in a time of need. All who
preach in any form to men also pray for them; and, besides these, a great
number of the Lord's little ones, who lack courage orskill to spake a word for
Christ, speak in secretto Him, for their neighbours and for the world. In view
of both these offices He said to His disciples, "It is expedient for you that I go
away." His ascensioninto heaven spreads both the apostleshipand the
priesthood over the world. In contactwith the earth's surface the sun would
be only a consuming fire; from the height of heaven it sheds down light and
heat on every land. So Christ, after the days of His humiliation were done, was
a "Light inaccessible andfull of glory."
III. THE ACT. How the holy brethren should regard Christ: "Consider
Him." ConsiderHim the Apostle. Well we may. When the heavens must open,
and a messengercome forth bearing the mind of Godto men, we have cause
to rejoice that the mission is intrusted to a partakerof our nature. It was
necessarythat we should meet God; to make the meeting possible, God
became man and dwelt among us. Consider Him who has brought out the
message, forHe is " gentle and easyto be entreated." ConsiderHim the High

Priest. He is before the throne, charging Himself with all the interests of His
people. He has power with God, and pity for man.
(W. Amos.)
ConsiderChrist
A. Maclaren, D. D.
I. We have here ONE GREAT COMPREHENSIVE COMMAND. The word
"consider" implies in the original an earnest, fixed, prolongedattention of
mind.
1. The first remark that I would make is that a Christian man's thoughts
should be occupiedwith his Saviour. How do you Christian people expect to
get any blessing from Jesus Christ? Does He not work by His truth? And can
that truth which sanctifies and saves produce effects if it is not appropriated
by the meditative occupationof our minds with it? What is all the gospelto
you unless it is consciouslypresentto your understanding, and through your
understanding is ruling your affections, andmoulding your will, and shaping
the outgoings ofyour life?
2. Then, that being premised, note how much practicaldirection as to the
manner of that occupationof mind and spirit with Christ lies in that single
emphatic word " consider."(1)There is surely implied, to begin with, that
such occupationmust be the result of conscious effort. Why, you cannot even
make money until, as you say, "you give your minds to business." A man
sitting at a desk cannoteven add up a column of figures correctlyif he is
thinking about a hundred other things. And do you think that the Divine
glories of Christ are to flow into a man's soul on condition of less
concentrationand attention?(2) But, still further, our gaze on Him must be
the look of eagerinterest;it must be intense as well as fixed. I do not wonder
at so many people thinking that there is nothing to interest them in the gospel.
There is nothing — and that because they do not come to it with awakened
eagerness,and so because they have no hunger it is tasteless.If we would hear
Christ, we must keepour ear attent unto His voice. To superficial

investigationno treasures are disclosed, we must dig deep if we would find the
vein where the gold lies. Still further, another requisite of this occupationof
mind with Christ and His work may be suggestedas included in the word.(3)
Our considerationmust be resolute, eager, and, also, steadyor continuous. A
hurried glance is as profitless as a careless one. You do not see much on first
going into a dark room out of the light; nor do you see much on first going
into the light out of the dark. It was Newton, I think, who, when askedas to
his method of working in attacking complicatedproblems, had only the simple
answerto give, "I keepit before me." Yes, that is the way to master any
subject of thought. The steady gaze will, by slow degrees,see orderwhere the
random glance saw only chaos. And we shall never see the glory of that light
which dwells betweenthe Cherubim if our visits to the shrine arc brief and
interrupted, and the bulk of our time is spent outside the tabernacle amidst
the glaring sand and the blazing sunshine. Let us fix our eyes on Him, our
Lord. Surely there is enoughthere to draw and satisfythe most prolonged
eagergaze. He is our Example, our Redeemer, our Prophet. In Him we see all
of God that man can apprehend, and all of man. In Him we behold our
wisdom, our strength, our righteousness.
II. THE GREAT ASPECTS OF CHRIST'S WORKWHICH SHOULD FIX
OUR GAZE. We have Himself proposedas the object of our thoughts.
1. He is the Apostle of our profession. No declarationwas more common on
our Lord's lips when on earth than that He was " sent of God." He is the sent
of God. And our loving thoughts are to lay hold upon this aspectof His nature
avid work, not to tarry in the simple manhood, fair and blessedas that is, but
to discern in Him the complete expressionof the Divine Will, the complete
fulfilment of the slow marching revelations of God, the perfect, final, eternal
word spokenof God among men.
2. Then we are to think of Him as our High Priest. "As Apostle," it has been
well said, "He pleads God's cause with us: as High Priest He pleads our cause
with God. The Apostolate and the Priesthoodof Christ are both included in
the one word — Mediator."

III. THE GREAT REASONS FOR THIS OCCUPATION OF MIND AND
HEART WITH CHRIST, OUR MEDITATOR. Theseare to be found in the
remaining portion of this verse.
1. Our relationto Christ and the benefit we derive from it should impel us to
loving meditation on Him. "Holy brethren."
2. The calling of which we are partakers should impel us to loving meditation.
God in Christ calls us to His service, to His love, to His heaven. Of this call all
Christian souls are recipients. Therefore it becomes them to set their thoughts
and love on that Saviour, through whom they receive it at the first, and
continue to feel its quickening impulse and its immortal hopes.
3. Further, the avowalwhich we have made concerning Him should impel us
to loving, steadfastcontemplation. He is "the Apostle and High Priest of our
profession," or, perhaps, more accurately"of our confession."Our creed
avows that Christ is everything to us. Alas! alas!how many of us proclaim in
our lives that He is nothing. If these tremendous sentences are believedat all
by us, what means this languid, occasionalhalf-heartedgaze upon Him?
Surely, if we believe them, we should never turn away from beholding that
face, so gentle and so Divine, radiant with the brightness of God, and soft with
the dewy pity of a brother and a priest! Is your life in accordancewith your
confession?If not, what is the confessionbut a blasphemy or a hypocrisy?
And what does it avail except to make the life more criminal in its
forgetfulness of your Saviour?
(A. Maclaren, D. D.)
ConsiderChrist
R. M. McCheyne.
When a traveller passesvery rapidly through a country, the eye has no time to
rest upon the different objects in it, so that, when he comes to the end of his
journey, no distinct impressions have been made upon his mind. This explains
how it is that death, judgment, eternity, make so little impression upon most

men's minds. More souls are lost through want of considerationthan in any
other way. The reasonwhy men are not awakenedis, that the devil never
gives them time to consider. He beguiles them awayfrom simply looking to
Jesus:he hurries them awayto look at a thousand other things. But God says,
Look here, considerthe Apostle and High Priest of your profession;look unto
Me, and be be saved.
I. BELIEVERS SHOULD LIVE IN DAILY CONSIDERATIONOF THE
GREATNESSAND GLORY OF CHRIST, OH, could I lift you away back to
that wonderful day, and show you Jesus calling all the angels into being,
hanging the earth upon nothing; considerHim, and see if you think He will be
a sufficient Saviour. I can as little doubt the sureness and completenessofmy
salvationas I can doubt the sureness ofthe solid earth beneath my feet. And
where is Jesus now? All poweris given to Him in heavenand on earth. Oh,
could you and I pass this day through these heavens, and see whatis now
going on in the sanctuary above — could you see the Lamb, surrounded by all
the redeemed, the many angels round about the throne, and were one of these
angels to tell you, "This is He that undertook the cause oflost sinners —
considerHim — look long and earnestlyupon His wounds — upon His glory
— and tell me do you think it would be safe to trust Him? Do you think His
sufferings and obedience will have been enough?" Yes, yes, every soul
exclaims, Lord, it is enough! Oh, rather let me ever stand and gaze upon the
Almighty, all-worthy, all-Divine Saviour, till my soul drinks in complete
assurance thatHis work undertaken for sinners is a finished work.
II. CONSIDERCHRIST AS THE APOSTLE, OR MESSENGER OF GOD.
NOW Christ is an Apostle, for God ordained and sent Him into the world. Oh,
could I lift you away to the eternity that is past; — could I bring you into the
council of the EternalThree; and as it was once said "Let us make man"; —
could I show you how God from all eternity designed His Son to undertake for
poor sinners; — could I show you the intense interestwith which the eye of
God followedJesus through His whole course of sorrow, and suffering, and
death. Oh, sinner, will you ever doubt any more whether God the Father be
seeking thy salvation?
III. CONSIDER CHRIST AS THE HIGH PRIEST OF OUR PROFESSION.

1. ConsiderHim making atonement. Now the atonementhas been made,
Christ has died, His sufferings are all past. And how is it that you do not enjoy
peace? It is because you do not consider.
2. ConisiderChrist as making intercession.
(R. M. McCheyne.)
The Apostle and High Priest
D. Hunter, B. D.
I. THE APOSTLESHIP OF CHRIST. In its exact and original significationan
apostle is "one who is sent," i.e., the bearer of a message from some one.
There have been many revelations of God, differing in kind, differing in
degree and completeness. The greatestand most complete revelation of God is
in Jesus Christ. In the teaching of Christ, in pregnant saying, or parable, or
discourse, we have a revelationconcerning God which it had not entered the
mind of man to conceive.
II. THE HIGH-PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. The essentialidea of a priest is
that he comes betweenman and God; and the essentialidea of a priesthood is
that of a class ofmen who act as mediators betweenGod and men. The priest
offered sacrifices, orconducted religious ceremonies, but he did these things
not for himself, but for the worshippers. If it be true that without blood there
is no remissionof sins, it is also true that without an intervening priest, there
was no shedding of sacrificialblood, and therefore no remission. Carry these
thoughts with you then, and you will see why Christ is calledthe High Priest
of our profession. High Priest, because He stands for mankind before God:
High Priest, because He has made one all-sufficient sacrifice for the sins of
men: High Priest, because He does for men what they could not and cannotdo
for themselves. Christ's priesthood means that we have a way by which we
may approachthe eternal and all-holy Father. They who are conscious of
their own unworthiness may plead the worthiness of Christ, may rest with
confidence on the sympathy of Him who wore our humanity as a brother-
man. Christ's priesthoodfurther means that a sacrifice bus been made by

which the defilement of sin is removed, and a new relation begun between
men and God. Christ's priesthood means that in His crucifixion, from which
He did not shrink, there was given to men a means of reconciliationwith God.
And, once more, Christ's priesthood means that there is in heaven One who
pleads continually for pardon for sinful men. To what now, I ask, should these
considerations ofthe apostleshipand priesthood of Christ tend? The writer of
this Epistle uses them to add point to his exhortation, and to warn against
unbelief. I know that some among you are fully aware ofthe responsibilities of
belief, and shrink from doing or professing anything which seems to go
beyond your powerto practise. Have you ever thought of the responsibilities
in which the want of belief may involve you? Have you ever, amid your doubts
and hesitations, consideredthis, that by your doubts and hesitations you are
practically denying that the revelation of God in Christ is a revelationto you;
that you are practically saying, "Christ's sacrifice was no sacrifice, so faras I
am concerned." True it is that they who enter into the temple, have their
responsibilities;but are they free from responsibility who stand at the
threshold and will not enter in? And the same considerations may be used to
quicken and sustainour faith. Christ is our Apostle; therefore we have a sure
knowledge ofGod. Christ is our High Priest; therefore, we have in our hearts
the assuranceofDivine love, and the abiding hope of Divine forgiveness.
(D. Hunter, B. D.)
The study of Jesus
J. W. Burn.
I. THE SUBJECT FOR STUDY.
1. Considerthe personof Jesus. Christianity is Christ; and if Christ be not
God. Man our religion is the dream of sanguine enthusiasts or the fraud of
ingenious impostors.
2. Considerthe offices ofJesus.
(1)In His Divine-human capacityJesus is the Apostle of our confession.

(2)As Apostle Jesus has a mission. He is High Priest.
II. THE STUDENTS.
1. Confessors.Practicalconfessionis the living up to all we believe, and the
carrying out of all that that belief involves.
2. Holy brethren. Christ was born and died that He might communicate His
Holy Spirit, by whose regenerating, adopting, and sanctifying work we arc
made holy, the sons of God, and His brethren.
3. Partakers ofa heavenly calling.
(1)Walk worthy of it.
(2)Make it sure.
III. THE METHOD OF STUDY AND THE SPIRIT IN WHICH IT IS TO BE
PURSUED.
1. As for the method, the word "consider" is descriptive of the posture of the
earneststudent who abstracts his attention from every other object, and pores
over the thing in hand with unflagging industry until he has masteredit.(1) To
our study of Jesus we must give undivided attention. We know so little of
Christ, in spite of all our prayer and meditation, because we think of so much
else while we are trying to think of Him.(2) Our study must be deep. Just as
nature is grand or commonplace according as our reading is profound or
superficial, so is it with the great subjectof Christian study.(3) Our study
must be patient and persistent. That knowledge is not worth much, and is
often worth less than nothing, which is acquired in a few weeks'scamperover
a mighty continent.
2. The spirit.(1) Reverential.(2)Humble boldness.
(J. W. Burn.)
ConsiderChrist fully
H. W. Beecher.

If you wish to look at a portrait of Raphael's, what would you think to see only
the foreheaduncovered, and then only the eyes, and so on, until all the
features had been separatelyseen? Couldyou gain a true idea of the picture
as a whole? Yet this is the way men look at the picture of Christ in the
Gospels, reading a few verses and mottoes here and there, and never
considering the life in its wholeness andharmony.
(H. W. Beecher.)
ConsiderChrist intently
W. Jones, D. D.
Considernot lightly, as they that do not mind the thing they look upon. Their
eyes are upon it, but their mind is on another matter. Look on Him with the
sharp eye of your mind. Considerthat in Him all the treasures of wisdom lie
hid. He is a rich storehouse,in whom ye may find all the pearls and jewels of
wholesome doctrine. In Him there is salvation, and in no other; therefore all
other teachers setaside, listen to Him. When the judge of assizes gives the
charge, all that be in the shire-house, especiallythey that be of the great
inquest, consider seriouslywhat is spoken. When the king makes a speechin
the Parliament-house, the whole House considers earnestlywhat he says.
Christ Jesus, the King of kings, speaks to us in the ministry of the Word, yet
few considerthe excellentthings that be spoken. The Queen of Sheba
consideredSolomonwell, all that he spake or did. Behold, here is a greater
than Solomon. Therefore let us diligently consider what He says. If they were
matters of no moment, we were not to be blamed, though we did not consider
them; but being of such weight, touching the eternal salvationof our souls,
what madmen be we, that we considerthem no better. If one should talk to us
of gold and silver, we would considerwhat he says. Christ speaks to us of that
which surpassethall the silver in the world, yet we regard Him not. Let us
considerHim now, that He may considerus hereafter when He comes with
His holy angels.
(W. Jones, D. D.)

Of Christ as an Apostle
W. Gouge.
I. THE GENERALFUNCTION OF CHRIST, as a Prophet, Apostle, and
Minister of the Word of God, was to make known the will of the Father unto
His people.
II. HIS SPECIALCALL to that function was immediate from the Father.
Christ thus saith of Himself (John 20:21). Oft does Christ make mention of
this that His Father sent Him. Where Christ saith to the Jews (John 5:37;
John 6:46; John 1:18).
III. THE PRIVILEGES which belongedto an apostolicalfunction, and in a
most eminent manner appertained unto Christ, were these.
1. Christ laid the foundation, for He first preachedthe gospel(Genesis 3:15).
Yea, Christ Himself was the very foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11). He is also
the chief corner-stone (Ephesians 2:20).
2. The whole world was Christ's jurisdiction. No limits were set to His
function (Psalm 2:8; Ephesians 2:17).
3. He had His gifts immediately by the Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Luke 2:20).
4. He receivedthe Spirit more abundantly than any other (John 3:34;
Colossians 2:3, 9; John 1:16).
5. He could not but have infallible assistancein that He was the very truth
itself (John 14:16; Luke 4:18).
6. He also must needs have power of giving gifts, in that He was the prime
Author of all gifts (Ephesians 4:7; John 20:22).
7. About miracles He had mote powerthan ever any other.
8. Vengeance especiallybelongethunto Christ (Romans 12:19). When the
apostle delivered the incestuous personover to Satan, he did it in the name
and with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 5:4).

(W. Gouge.)
Christ the only Apostle and High Priestof our profession
E. Deering, B,D.
Where Christ is said here to be the Apostle and High Priestof our profession,
we must learn this: that we that be Christians profess no other teacher, nor no
other Saviour, but that Christ is both our wisdomand our justification; His
word is ours, His doctrine is ours, His wisdom is ours, we profess not one jot
whereofHe hath not been an Apostle unto us; and whosoeverhe be that
teachethus other things than what Christ hath taught us already, he is not of
our professionnor of our brotherhood. And more than this, we are sure he
teachethnothing but vain illusions and imaginations of men; for all treasures
of wisdom and true knowledge are hit" in Christ. And seeing it hath pleased
Him to be our Apostle, who is the Son of God, the brightness of His glory, the
ingraven form of His substance, the Heir of all things, the Makerof heaven
and earth, far greaterthan angels, how unthankful be we if His doctrine be
not our profession;nay, how mad be we, if we will change Him for any other
or for all other. Whatsoeverglorious names they bring, of fathers, doctors,
councils, we neither know them nor their names. If they be ministers of Christ
unto us, their feet are beautiful, and their names are honourable, it they be
their own ministers, we know them not, nor all their glory. Now where the
apostle callethChrist the High Priest of our profession, as we have learned
before, if He be our Apostle, we have no other teacher. So we learn here, if He
be the Priestof our profession, no part of the office of His Priesthoodwe may
give to another, but profess it clearly that He is our priest alone. And as the
priest is ordained to make sacrifice for sin, and to be a mediator betweenGod
and man, so all this work we must leave wholly unto Him, receive no other,
upon whom we will lay this reconciliation, to purge our sins, and to bring us to
God, but Christ alone.
(E. Deering, B,D.)

Open Christian profession
A. Saphir.
Let us look at the word "profession."We are very apt to undervalue things
with which abuse and danger are connected, and which may be easily
counterfeited. There is such a thing as a mere outward hypocritical
profession;but is that a reasonwhy we should not attachimportance to
confessing Christ? With the heart we are to believe unto righteousness, and
with the mouth we are to confess that Jesus is the Lord. It may be a mere lip-
utterance to say, "I believe in Jesus";it may be only a form to sit down at the
Lord's table; but as the outward expressionofan inward reality, it is a great
and blessedfact. Let us not be secretdisciples;let us not come to Jesus merely
by night, ashamedto bear testimony to the gospel. Our confessionofChrist in
the outward Church, in the congregationof professeddisciples, in the
ordinances of Christ's institution, let us not undervalue it! Remember with
gratitude that you have publicly professedChrist; that into the Church of
Christ you have been receivedby baptism, and acknowledgedatthe Lord's
Supper as a brother and partakerof the heavenly calling. Let the
remembrance of this be to us continually helpful, and stimulate us to adorn
the doctrine of the gospelby a Christ-like life and walk.
(A. Saphir.)
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(1) Wherefore.—The address whichhere begins (the first direct address in the
Epistle) bears the same relation to all that has preceded, as Hebrews 2:1-4
bears to the first chapter. In particular, the contents of the secondchapter are
gatheredup in this verse, almostevery word of which recalls some previous
statementor result.

Holy brethren.—United in one brotherhood in virtue of a common sonship
(Hebrews 2:10) and of a common brotherhood (Hebrews 2:11) with Jesus,
Him “that sanctifieth” (Hebrews 2:11).
Partakers.—ThroughHim who “took part” of our earthly nature (Hebrews
2:14) we are partakers of a “heavenlycalling” (Hebrews 2:10) as God’s sons.
The Apostle and High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus.—The bestMSS.
omit “Christ”;and it is impossible not to feel how fitly the personalname
“Jesus”is used after the later verses ofHebrews 2. Here only is the name
Apostle directly given to our Lord; but the thought is present in Hebrews 2:3,
and in the many passagesin which Jesus designatesHimselfas the Sent of
God, using the word from which Apostle is derived (John 3:17; John 5:36, et
al.; especiallyJohn 17:18;John 20:21). There is very little difference between
Apostle and Prophet, thus applied; but the one brings into relief the mission,
the other the office and position. Eachpresents a thought complementary of
that containedin high priest: “as Apostle Jesus pleads the cause ofGod with
us; as High PriestHe pleads our cause with God” (Bengel). The next verse
renders it probable that the two terms containa reference to the special
mission of Moses andthe priesthood of Aaron; our Christian confessionlooks
to One mediator.
MacLaren's Expositions
Hebrews
CONSIDER JESUS
Hebrews 3:1THE kinds of considerationenjoinedin these two exhortations
are somewhatdifferent. The former of them is expressedby a word which
means fixed attention and close scrutiny. It is employed, for instance, by our
Lord in His injunctions to considerthe ravens and the lilies, and by Peterin
his accountof his vision of the greatsheet let down from heaven, upon which,

when he had fixed his eye, he considered. Sucha fastenedgaze of awakened
interest and steadycontemplation, the writer would have all who are
partakers of the heavenly calling to direct upon Jesus.
The other exhortation refers to a specific kind of contemplation. The word
might almost be rendered ‘compare,’for it means to weigh one thing in
relation to another. It is the contemplationof comparisonwhich is meant.
What or whom is the comparisonto be drawn between? Jesus,as the Leader
of the greathost of the faithful, and ourselves. The main point of comparison
is to be found in the difficulties of the Christian life. Think what he has borne
and what you have to bear; how He bore it and where, having borne it, He is
now. The Captain has sustainedthe whole brunt of the assaultand has
conquered. Think of Him and be brave, and lift up the hands that hang down,
and confirm the feeble knees.
So, then, throwing these two injunctions together, we may regardthem as
impressing upon us an all-important exercise ofmind and heart, without
which there canbe no vigorous Christian life, and which, I fearme, is
woefully neglectedby the average Christian to-day.
I. I ask you to think first of this gaze of the Christian soul ‘Consider the
Apostle and High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus.’
I have said that the word implies an awakenedinterest, a fixed and steady
gaze;and that is almostthe Alpha and the Omega of the Christian life. So to
live in the continual contemplation of Jesus our Pattern and our Redeemeris
the secretofall Christian vitality and vigour. There must he no languid look,
as betweenhalf-opened eyelids, as men look upon some objectin which they
have little interest, but there must be the sharpened gaze of interested

expectancy, believing that in Him on whom we look there lie yet undiscovered
depths, and yet undreamed-of powers, which may be communicated to us.
There must be not only the sharpened look of contemplation, but there must
he a very considerable protraction of the gaze. You will never see Jesus Christ
if you look at Him only by snatches for a moment, and then turn awaythe eye
from Him, any more than a man who comes out from some brilliantly lighted
and dazzling room into the darkness, as it at first appears, of the midnight
heavens, cansee their glories. The focus of the eye must be accommodatedto
the objectof vision, before there can be any realsight of Him. We must sit
before Him, and be content to give time to the gaze, if we are to getany good
out of it. Nobody sees the beauties of a country who hurries through it in an
express train. These passing glances, whichare all that so many of us can
spare for the Master, are of little use in revealing Him to us. You do not feel
Mont Blanc unless you sit and gaze and let the fair vision soak into your souls,
and you cannotunderstand Jesus Christ, nor see anything in Him, unless you
deal with Him in like fashion.
But if there be this steady and protracted contemplation of the Lord, then,
amidst all the bustle of our daily life, and the many distractions which we all
have to face, there will come sudden flashes of glory and the clouds will lift
often, and let us see the whole white range in its majesty and sublimity. They
who know what it is to come apart into a solitary place, and rest awhile with
Him, will know what it is to bear the vision with them amid all the distractions
of duty and the noise of the world.
There is no way by which we can bring an unseen person to have any real
influence upon our lives except by the direction of our thoughts to Him. So if
you professing Christian men and women will give your thoughts and your
affections and the run of your minds to everything and everybody rather than
to your Master, there is no wonder that your religion is of so little use to you,

and brings so little blessing or poweror nobleness into your lives. The root of
weakness lies in the neglectof that solemnand indispensable duty to consider
Jesus, in patient contemplation and steadfastbeholding.
Now such thoughts as these, as to the relation betweenthe protracted gaze
and a true realisationof the Master’s presence,castlight upon such a question
as the observance ofthe Sunday. I do not care to insist upon anybody keeping
this day sacredfor devout purposes unless he is a Christian man. I would not
talk about the obligation, but about the privilege., And this I say, that unless
you have a reservoiryou will have empty pipes, and the watersupply in your
house will fail And unless you Christian men and women use this blessed
breathing time, which is given to us week after week, in order to secure that
quiet, continuous contemplationof the Master, which is almost impossible for
most of us amidst the rush and hurry of the week day, your religion will
always be a poor thing.
I know, of course, that we may be taunted with concentrating and clotting, as
it were, devout contemplations into one day in seven, and then leaving all the
rest of the week void of Christ, and may be told how much better is worship
diffused through all life. But I am sure that the shortestway to have no
religion at all is to have it only as a diffused religion. If it is to be diffused it
must first be concentrated;and no man will carry Jesus Christ with him
throughout the distractions of daily life who does not know what it is to be
often in the secretplace of the MostHigh, there in the silence of fixed spirit, to
‘considerJesus Christ.’
Then let me remind you, too, that such a gaze as this is not to be attained
without decisive effort. You have to cut off sidelights;just as a man will twist
up a roll of paper and put it to his eye and shut Out everything on either side,
if he wants to see the depth of colourin a picture. So we have to look away
from much if we would look unto Christ, and to be contentedto be blind to a

greatdeal that is fascinating and dazzling, if we would be clearsightedas to
the things that are far off. The eye of nature must be closedif the eye of the
Spirit is to be opened. And if we are to see the things that are, we must
resolutelyshut out the false glories ofthe things that only do appear. For these
are perishable, and the others are real and eternal.
II. Secondly, notice here a little more particularly the objectof the Christian
gaze.
We may dwell briefly in this connectionupon the predicates of our Lord in
these two verses. According to the true reading of the first of them we are to
considerJesus. The first thing that is to rivet our interestedand continuous
contemplation is the manhood of the Lord. That name Jesus is never used in
this epistle, and seldomin any part of the New Testament, without the
intention of especiallyemphasizing the humanity of Christ. It is that fair life,
as it is unrolled before us in the pages of the Gospels, to which we are to look
for illumination, for inspiration, for pattern and motive of service, and for all
companionship in suffering and victory in warfare. ‘ConsiderJesus,’our
Brother, the Man that has lived our life and died our death.
Note that we have to considerHim in His offices, ‘the Apostle and High Priest
of our profession.’This is the only instance in scripture in which the name
‘Apostle’ is given to our Lord. And of course it is here employed not in its
technical, but in its wider and etymologicalsense. It means ‘one who is sent.’
The contrastfloating in the writer’s mind is apparently betweenJesus and
Moses;the two men both of whom, though in different fashion, were God’s
messengersto found a polity. Perhaps anothercontrastis floating in his mind,
such as he has drawn out at length in the first chapter of this greatepistle,
betweenthose by whom ‘at sundry times and in divers manners God spake
unto the fathers’; and Him ‘by whom in these lastdays, He has, once for all,
spokenunto us.’ Possiblythere is also a contrastbetweenJesus Christ the

Lord of the angels, and the ministering spirits who, the previous context tells
us, ‘are sent forth to minister to them that shall be heirs of salvation’The
name thus lifts Christ above Moses,prophets, angels, and sets Him on a
pedestal, as the sole and single Revealerof the will of God to the world. The
Father sanctifiedand sent Him into the world to be the one communicator of
His perfectName. The completeness anduniqueness of our Lord’s revealing
mission are expressedin that title.
The other side of what is needful for communion betweenGod and man is
expressedin the other designation, ‘the High Priest.’Two things go to make
complete communion - God’s revelationto us and our approach to God.
Christ is the Agent of both. As the subsequent context - where this idea of
High Priestis more fully developed - distinctly shows, the main ideas
connectedwith it in the writer’s mind here, are intercessionand sympathy. So
on the one hand, as Apostle, He brings God to us; and on the other hand, as
Priest, He brings us to God; and makes the goldenlink by which heavenand
earth are united, and God tabernacles with man.
It is this Christ - not merely in His manhood, but in that manhood interpreted
as being the medium of all revelationpossible to the world, and as being, on
the other hand, the medium of all the accessthat sinful men canhave to God -
it is this Christ whom we are to consider, not merely in the sweetness and
gentleness andholiness of His lovely Manhoodas recorded in the gospels, but
in these mighty offices of which that Manhoodwas the discharge and the
expression, whereby Goddwells with man, and sinful men can dwell with
God.
We hear a greatdeal in these days about Christianity being Christ and not
doctrines. I say, too, Christianity is Christ, but I sayit is the Christ whom
these greattruths proclaim to us that we have to grasp. And it is not enough to
considerJesus from a mere humanitarian point of view, nor will the

considerationof Him be peace and power and holiness and life to men, unless
they considerHim as the ‘Apostle and High Priestof their profession.’
And again, we have to considernot only the Manhoodin itself, and the offices
which that Manhood discharges,but also the sorrows through which it passes.
That is the force of the secondofmy two texts. We have to think of that Lord,
who is the Leaderof all the great hostof the faithful, whose praises have been
sung in the magnificent roll-call of the eleventh chapter; and to turn away
from their lesserstruggles, andpaler beauties, and less complete victories. We
have to think of what Jesus Christ bore, of what was laid upon Him, of how
He bore it, and of how He has been exalted now to the right hand of God.
Compare our difficulties and trials with His, and think that these are the
pattern for us; and that we have to tread the path which He trod. Then
considerhow insignificant ours are in comparisonwith His. The whole fury of
the tempestbroke upon Him. It is only the tail of the storm that comes to us.
The whole force of the blow was sustainedunfalteringly by the steadfast
Christ. It is only the blunt sword which has glancedoff His strong shoulder to
smite us.
‘We need not seek a resting place
Where He we loved had none.’
And if we will ‘considerHim that endured,’ sorrow and difficulty and
opposition in our Christian life will dwindle into a very little thing, and will
become a tokenthat as is the Masterso is the servant.
III. Lastly, notice the blessings of this gaze.

First, let us consider Him for calmness amidst a world full of noise and
confusion. We live in a time and in a city where life is very crowded; and the
pressure of every day is almost more than some of us can bear. There is no
relief from the continual agitationabout trifles, from the hurry and bustle of
this community and this country, as continuous, and in the truest point of
view as aimless and insignificant as the running of ants upon an ant hill -
exceptwe live in the daily contemplationof Jesus Christ. Nothing will quiet a
man like that. It gives a certain sense ofremoteness, and a very positive
conviction of insignificance, to what else is intrusively and obtrusively near,
and fallaciouslyappears to be important to us. Christ’s voice quiets the storm.
‘On my soul
Looks Thy fair face and makes it still.’
If you would have inward calmness, without which life is busy slavery,
‘considerJesus.’
Again, that gaze will help us to a fixed confidence amidst the fluctuations of
opinion. We live in a day of unrest, when the foundations are being re-
investigated, and the Tree of Life can scarcelygrow becausemen are digging
it up to look at its roots. Let us try to remember that the vital centre of all is
Jesus, that faith is independent of criticism, and that if we can realise His
presence in our lives in these great capacitiesofwhich I have been speaking,
and as the Companion of our difficulties who has trodden the same path that
we have to tread, then we can look very quietly upon all the unsolved
questions which are important in their place, but which, howeverthey are
answered, do not touch that central fact and our possible relation to Him.
‘Consider Jesus,’andthen you will be able to say, ‘The things which can he
shakenare removed that the things which cannotbe shakenmay remain.’

Ceremonies, churches, creeds, have all of them a human element, which will
go. The divine Christ is the permanent in Christianity.
I might turn the word of my text in another direction for a moment, though it
is a digression. After unbelieving theories have done their worst, I would say
to the men who advocate them, ‘ConsiderChrist.’ Look at that fair vision.
Where did it come from? Account for Him on any hypothesis but the truth of
these four gospels. Accountfor His influence in the world on any hypothesis
but His divine mission. You may talk till Doomsday, but you have to reckon
with Jesus Christ, and to explain Him. Until you do, you have not established
your negations. The reef on which so many goodly ships of unbelief have
struck, and where their hulls lie broken and coveredwith the drifting sands of
oblivion, is waiting for many a flaunting theory of today. ‘Consider Christ.’
That shatters anti-supernatural religion.
And, lastof all, let us do it for diligence in service and patience in suffering. If
we lay that fair image upon our hearts, it will lead to love, and love will make
us toil in His service. If the sensitive plate be laid in the sunshine it will receive
the image of the sun. If we considerHim, thereby, and not without such
consideration, shallwe become like Him.
As for our suffering and toils and difficulties, how they dwindle, and how easy
patience is when we think of Him! Simon the Cyrenian had to carry the Cross
after Christ, but we have only to carry a very little, light one, when compared
with that which He bore and which bore Him. We compare our suffering with
His, and are silent. We have to think of what He deserved and we deserve, and
the blush comes to our cheeks. We have to remember how He bore, and how
we have borne, and we are ashamed of our fretfulness and petulance. We have
to think of Him at the right hand of God. The poor fighters in the arena can
lift their eyes to the place where the Emperor sits betweenthe purple curtains,
and with the flashing axes of the guard round Him, and remembering that He,

throned there, was once wrestling here as we are, and that we shall be throned
with Him, the thought will make us bear the blows, and run the race, and face
the lions. So, dear brother, the sure means of calmness amidst agitation, of
confidence amidst the fluctuations of a restless age, ofstrenuous warfare, of
diligent service, and patient endurance, lies here in the considerationof
Christ. If we try to keepHim before our eyes life will be blessed. The secretof
joy and peace on earth is the considerationof the Masterby faith, and to see
Him as He is will be the heaven of heaven. Here, the condition of holiness, joy,
peace, power, is ‘consider Jesus’;and yonder the Charter of new felicities and
new capacities willbe, ‘Behold the Lamb.’ If we set Him at our right hand we
shall not be moved, and shall walk in the light of His countenance onearth,
and He will setus at His right hand in the heavens, where His servants shall
serve Him and see His face;and His name shall be in their foreheads.
BensonCommentary
Hebrews 3:1. The apostle, in the first chapter of this epistle, having affirmed
that Jesus ofNazareth, by whom the gospelrevelationwas given to mankind,
is God’s Son, in a peculiar sense;a sense in which no man or angelis his son;
and having proved, from the JewishScriptures, that God had constituted this
his Sonthe Heir or Lord of all things, because by him he made the worlds;
and in the secondchapter, having answeredthe objections which were, or
might be, brought for invalidating the claim of Jesus to be God’s Son, and
having thereby given full effect to the direct proofs which establishedhis
claim; he, in this third chapter, proceeds to show what is implied in Christ’s
being the Heir or Lord of all things; which is the third facton which the
authority of the gospelrevelationdepends. A proper accountof this matter
was necessary;1st, Becausethe title of Jesus to remove the Mosaic economy,
and to substitute the gospeldispensationin its place, was founded on the
powerwhich he possessedas the Son of God and Heir of all things; 2d,
Becausemany of the Jews, in the persuasionthat the law of Moseswas of
perpetual obligation, and that its sacrificeswere realatonements for sin,
rejectedJesus as an impostor for pretending to abolishthese institutions.

Wherefore — Seeing the author of the gospelis so excellent a person,
(Hebrews 1,) and so highly advancedabove all others, men and angels,
(Hebrews 2:7-8,) holy brethren — By giving this appellationto those to whom
he wrote, it is evident he addressedhis epistle, not, as Macknightsupposes,
chiefly, if at all, to the unbelieving Hebrews, but principally, if not only, to
such as had embraced the gospel, and were really made new creatures in
Christ; partakers ofthe heavenly calling — The calling of the gospel, which
came from heaven, and is intended to bring men to heaven, including the
preaching of the word, and the various means of grace, wherebymen are
brought to believe in Christ. Consider the Apostle — The messengerofGod,
sent immediately from him to preach that gospelto you which you profess to
believe; the highest office this in the New Testament;and High-Priest — This
was the highest function in the Old Testamentchurch. As an Apostle, or
God’s messenger, he pleads the cause of God with us; and as High-Priest, he
pleads our cause with God. Both are containedin the one word Mediator. He
compares Christ as an apostle, with Moses;as a priest, with Aaron. Both these
offices, which Mosesand Aaron severallybore, he bears together, and far
more eminently; of our profession — Of the religion we profess, of which
Jesus is called the Apostle, because he was sent by God to reveal it; and the
High-Priest, because we receive its blessings through his mediation. By thus
calling upon them to considerChrist Jesus in these characters, the apostle
seems to intimate that the believing Hebrews had not sufficiently adverted to
the nature and quality of the person and offices of Christ, and for that reason
were kept in the entanglements of Judaism; therefore he exhorts them to fix
their minds attentively on the sublime subject.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
3:1-6 Christ is to be consideredas the Apostle of our profession, the
Messengersentby God to men, the greatRevealerof that faith which we
profess to hold, and of that hope which we profess to have. As Christ, the
Messiah, anointedfor the office both of Apostle and High Priest. As Jesus, our
Saviour, our Healer, the greatPhysician of souls. Considerhim thus. Consider
what he is in himself, what he is to us, and what he will be to us hereafterand
for ever. Close and serious thoughts of Christ bring us to know more of him.
The Jews had a high opinion of the faithfulness of Moses, yethis faithfulness

was but a type of Christ's. Christ was the Masterof this house, of his church,
his people, as well as their Maker. Moseswas a faithful servant; Christ, as the
eternal Sonof God, is rightful Owner and SovereignRuler of the Church.
There must not only be setting out wellin the ways of Christ, but stedfastness
and perseverance thereinto the end. Every meditation on his person and his
salvation, will suggestmore wisdom, new motives to love, confidence, and
obedience.
Barnes'Notes on the Bible
Wherefore - That is, since Christ sustains such a characteras has been stated
in the previous chapter; since he is so able to succourthose who need
assistance;since he assumedour nature that he might be a merciful and
faithful high priest, his characterought to be attentively considered, and we
ought to endeavorfully to understand it.
Holy brethren - The name "brethren" is often given to Christians to denote
that they are of one family. It is "possible,"also, thatthe apostle may have
used the word here in a double sense - denoting that they were his brethren as
"Christians," and as "Jews."The word "holy" is applied to them to denote
that they were setapart to God, or that they were sanctified. The Jews were
often calleda "holy people," as being consecratedto God; and Christians are
holy, not only as consecratedto God, but as sanctified.
Partakers ofthe heavenly calling - On the meaning of the word "calling," see
the notes at Ephesians 4:1. The "heavenlycalling" denotes the calling which
was given to them from heaven, or which was of a heavenly nature. It
pertained to heaven, not to earth; it came from heaven, not from earth; it was
a calling to the reward and happiness of heaven, and not to the pleasures and
honors of the world.
Consider- Attentively ponder all that is said of the Messiah. Think of his
rank; his dignity; his holiness;his sufferings; his death; his resurrection,
ascension, intercession. Think of him that you may see the claims to a holy
life; that you may learn to bear trials; that you may be kept from apostasy.
The characterand work of the Son of God are worthy of the profound and
prayerful considerationof every man; and especiallyevery Christian should

reflectmuch on him. Of the friend that we love we think much; but what
friend have we like the Lord Jesus?
The apostle - The word "apostle" is nowhere else applied to the Lord Jesus.
The word means one who "is sent" - and in this sense it might be applied to
the Redeemeras one "sent" by God, or as by wayof eminence the one sent by
him. But the connectionseems to demand that; there should be some allusion
here to one who sustaineda similar rank among the Jews;and it is probable
that the allusion is to Moses, as having been the greatapostle of God to the
Jewishpeople, and that Paul here means to say, that the Lord Jesus, under the
new dispensation, filled the place of Moses andof the high priest under the
old, and that the office of "apostle" and"high priest," instead of being now
separated, as it was betweenMoses and Aaron under the old dispensation,
was now blended in the Messiah. The name "apostle" is not indeed given to
Moses directlyin the Old Testament, but the verb from which the Hebrew
word for apostle is derived is frequently given him. Thus, in Exodus 3:10, it is
said, "Come now, therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh." And in
Hebrews 3:13, "The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you." So also in
Hebrews 3:14-15, of the same chapter. From the word there used - ‫חלׁש‬
shaalach- "to send." The word denoting "apostle" -‫חללׁש‬ shaliyach- is
derived; and it is not improbable that Moses wouldbe regardedas being by
way of eminence the one "sent" by God. Further, the Jews applied the word "
- ‫חללׁש‬ shaliyach- "apostle,"to the minister of the synagogue;to him who
presided over its affairs, and who had the generalcharge ofthe services there;
and in this sense it might be applied by way of eminence to Mosesas being the
generaldirector and controllerof the religious affairs of the nation, and as
"sent" for that purpose. The object of Paul is to show that the Lord Jesus in
the Christian system - as the greatapostle sent from God - sustaineda rank
and office similar to this, but superior in dignity and authority.
And High Priest - One greatobject of this Epistle is to compare the Lord
Jesus with the high priest of the Jews, andto show that he was in all respects
superior. This was important, because the office of high priest was what
eminently distinguished the Jewishreligion, and because the Christian
religion proposedto abolish that. It became necessary, therefore, to show that
all that was dignified and valuable in that office was to be found in the

Christian system. This was done by showing that in the Lord Jesus was found
all the characteristicsofa high priest, and that all the functions which had
been performed in the Jewishritual were performed by him, and that all
which had been prefigured by the Jewishhigh priest was fulfilled in him. The
apostle here merely alludes to him, or names him as the high priest, and then
postpones the considerationof his characterin that respectuntil after he had
compared him with Moses.
Of our profession- Of our religion; of that religion which we profess. The
apostle and high priest whom we confessedas ours when we embracedthe
Christian religion.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary
CHAPTER 3
Heb 3:1-19. The Son of God Greaterthan Moses, Wherefore Unbelief towards
Him Will Incur a Heavier Punishment than Befell Unbelieving Israelin the
Wilderness.
As Moses especiallywas the prophet by whom "God in times past spake to the
fathers," being the mediator of the law, Paul deems it necessarynow to show
that, greatas was Moses, the Son of God is greater. Ebrard in Alford
remarks, The angelof the covenantcame in the name of God before Israel;
Moses in the name of Israelbefore God; whereas the high priest came both in
the name of God (bearing the name Jehovahon his forehead)before Israel,
and in the name of Israel (bearing the names of the twelve tribes on his breast)
before God (Ex 28:9-29, 36, 38). Now Christ is above the angels, according to
the first and secondchapters because (1)as Sonof God He is higher; and (2)
because manhood, though originally lowerthan angels, is in Him exalted
above them to the lordship of "the world to come," inasmuch as He is at once
MessengerofGod to men, and also atoning Priest-Representative ofmen
before God (Heb 2:17, 18). Parallelwith this line of argument as to His
superiority to angels (Heb 1:4) runs that which here follows as to His
superiority to Moses (Heb 3:3): (1) because as Sonover the house;He is above
the servantin the house (Heb 3:5, 6), just as the angels were shownto be but
ministering (serving) spirits (Heb 1:14), whereas He is the Son (Heb 3:7, 8);

(2) because the bringing of Israel into the promised rest, which was not
finished by Moses, is accomplishedby Him (Heb 4:1-11), through His being
not merely a leader and lawgiver as Moses,but also a propitiatory High Priest
(Heb 4:14; 5:10).
1. Wherefore—Greek, "Whence,"that is, seeing we have such a sympathizing
Helper you ought to "considerattentively," "contemplate";fix your eyes and
mind on Him with a view to profiting by the contemplation (Heb 12:2). The
Greek word is often used by Luke, Paul's companion(Lu 12:24, 27).
brethren—in Christ, the common bond of union.
partakers—"ofthe Holy Ghost."
heavenly calling—coming to us from heaven, and leading us to heavenwhence
it comes. Php 3:14, "the high calling"; Greek "the calling above," that is,
heavenly.
the Apostle and High Priest of our profession—There is but one Greek article
to both nouns, "Him who is at once Apostle and High Priest"—Apostle, as
Ambassador(a higher designationthan "angel"-messenger)sentby the
Father (Joh 20:21), pleading the cause of God with us; High Priest, as
pleading our cause with God. Both His Apostleship and High Priesthoodare
comprehended in the one title, Mediator[Bengel]. Though the title "Apostle"
is nowhere else applied to Christ, it is appropriate here in addressing
Hebrews, who used the term of the delegates sentby the high priest to collect
the temple tribute from Jews residentin foreign countries, even as Christ was
Delegateofthe Fatherto this world far off from Him (Mt 21:37). Hence as
what applies to Him, applies also to His people, the Twelve are designatedHis
apostles, evenas He is the Father's (Joh 20:21). It was desirable to avoid
designating Him here "angel," in order to distinguish His nature from that of
angels mentioned before, though he is "the Angel of the Covenant." The
"legate ofthe Church" (SheliachTsibbur) offered up the prayers in the
synagogue in the name of all, and for all. So Jesus, "the Apostle of our
profession," is delegatedto intercede for the Church before the Father. The
words "of our profession," mark that it is not of the legalritual, but of our
Christian faith, that He is the High Priest. Paul compares Him as an Apostle

to Moses;as High Priest to Aaron. He alone holds both offices combined, and
in a more eminent degree than either, which those two brothers held apart.
profession—"confession,"corresponds to God having spokento us by His
Son, sent as Apostle and High Priest. What Godproclaims we
confess.Hebrews3:1-6 Christ is showedto be more worthy than Moses.
Hebrews 3:7-19 We must be carefultherefore not to follow the example of
the obstinate and unbelieving Israelites in the wilderness.
Severaluses the Holy Ghost makes, from the beginning of this chapter to the
end of chapter four, {Hebrews 3:1-4:16} of the gospeldoctrine of God the Son
incarnate, set by the Father in office, to deal for sinners towards Godas their
greatProphet. The counselhe giveth is comprehended in; {Hebrews 3:1-6}
and as directing these Hebrews to their duty, so further explaining and
confirming his office to them, by comparing of him with Moses,and setting
him as above angels, so above him; and to be so valued, esteemed, and
preferred by these Hebrews:seeing this great gospelProphetwas for a little
while made lower than the angels in his humanity, and it was infinitely
beneficialto us upon the accountof what he suffered in it in our stead, and
purchased by it for our good; therefore should those who are partakers of it,
being related in the flesh to him as Hebrews, descending with them from
Abraham, consider, but much more as Christians, believing and adopted in
him to be God’s children, and sanctified by his Spirit, 1 Peter1:1-5 2 Peter
1:1.
Partakers ofthe heavenly calling;and made thus a Christian fraternity by the
heavenly calling of them out of the world by the gospel;when by his Spirit he
enlightened their minds, and renewedtheir wills, and made them obedient to
it, so as for the temper of their souls they are made holy, and for their

condition happy; the work of God’s power and mercy eminently appearing in
it: God therein preventing man, so as he influenceth him to hear him from
heaven, walk worthy of heaven, and at lastto restin heavenfor ever.
Consider; katanohsateimports not a bare single actof the mind, to think on,
or understand, but a repeatedone, to think againand again, expressedby that
periphrasis of laying it to heart, pressing on their spirits the due effort of faith
and obedience arising out of this observation, Isaiah52:15.
The Apostle; God’s Messenger, his own Son sent from heavento be incarnate,
with authority to execute in his human nature his prophetical, as all his
offices, and with authority to send forth his apostles to do their part, John
20:21;which is no more than is intimated in that title, the Messengerofthe
covenant, Isaiah42:19 Malachi3:1; that was, to propose it to and confirm it
with them. This was he by whom MosesdesiredGod’s message might be sent
to them, Exodus 4:13; and whom he foretoldshould bring it, Deu 18:15 Acts
3:22,23.
And High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus:the Son is the greatgospel
High Priest, to deal in all matters with God for them, Hebrews 2:17. The
offices divided among other persons in the Old Testamentchurch were all
united in his person, he doth transcendthem all, being a High Priestpeculiar
to the calledand sanctifiedones of God, of which all preceding were faint
resemblances andtypes; he, the most excellentMinister of the Christian faith
and religion professedby them, being anointed unto all these offices in the
flesh by the Father with the Holy Ghost, Hebrews 1:2; and being Jesus a
Saviour, our Emmanuel, God on our side, saving his people from their sins,
and re-uniting them to God, Matthew 1:21,23Jo 17:21-23.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Wherefore, holy brethren,.... The apostle calls the Hebrews "brethren", not
because they were of the same natural stock and lineage, but because they
were in the same spiritual relation; they all had the same Father, belongedto
the same family, were the adopted sons of God, the brethren of Christ, of one
another, and of the apostle;and they were "holy", not by birth, nor by their
external separationfrom other nations, but through sanctificationof the
Spirit; and they were so by profession, and in the opinion of the apostle:
partakers of the heavenly calling; by which is meant not any business, or
employment of life; nor a call to any office in church or state;nor a mere
external call by the ministry of the word; but an internal specialcallof grace,
to the enjoyment of the blessings of grace here, and to glory hereafter;and
which is not according, to works, but according to the grace ofGod, and is by
powerful, efficacious, andirresistible grace:and this is said to be "heavenly",
because the grace by which the saints are calledis from heaven, and it is to
heaven they are called; and the means of their calling, the Gospel, is from
heaven; and this epistle epithet is used to show the excellencyoftheir calling,
and to distinguish it from all others: and this the Hebrews are said to be
"partakers of";which shows, that God had not utterly castoff that people,
and yet that they were not the only persons that enjoyed the grace of the
effectualcalling, they were but partners with others; and that the saints are
alike sharers in this blessing, they are calledin one hope of their calling;and it
denotes the truth and reality of it: the duty they are exhorted to is,
to considerthe apostle and high priest of our profession, ChristJesus;the
Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, read, only
"Jesus";who is called "the apostle", becausehe was sent of God to preach the
Gospel, work miracles, and do the will of God, particularly to obtain
redemption and salvationfor his people, which mission does not suppose any
inequality of persons, or change of place, or any compulsion or disrespectto
Christ, but love to men; and is to be understood of him as in office as
Mediator, and shows his authority, and that he was no impostor. The high
priest among the Jews was, on the day of atonement, consideredas "an
apostle", or"messenger" (s);for so the elders of the sanhedrim address him
on that day, saying,

"Lord high priest, we are the messengersofthe sanhedrim, and thou art "our
apostle", or"messenger",and the messengerofthe sanhedrim.''
And it follows here, and "the high priest of our profession";which may be
understood either objectively, whom they professed, both by words or deeds;
for a professionofhim should be public, visible, and sincere;or efficiently, he
being the author, sum, and substance of the religion, faith, and Gospelwhich
was professedby them: and he is to be "considered" inthe greatness and
dignity of his person, as the Sonof God; and in his wondrous grace and love in
assuming human nature, and dying for his people; and in the relations he
stands in to them as a Father, husband, brother, friend; and in his several
offices, as Mediator, and particularly as sentof God, to be the Saviour of
sinners; and as the high priest, who has offered himself a sacrifice, andever
lives to make intercession;and all this to encourage the saints to hold fast
their professionof him.
(s) Misn. Yoma, c. 1. sect. 5.
Geneva Study Bible
Wherefore, {1} holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, considerthe
{a} Apostle and High Priest of our {b} profession, Christ Jesus;
(1) Having laid the foundation that is to say, declaredand proved both the
natures of one Christ, he gives him three offices, that is, the office of a
Prophet, King and Priest, and concerning the office of teaching, and
governing, compares him with Moses and Joshua from Heb 3:1-4:14, and with
Aaron concerning the priesthood. He proposes that which he intends to speak
of, with a grave exhortation, that all our faith may be directed towards Christ,
as the only everlasting teacher, governor, and High Priest.
(a) The ambassadoror messenger, as in Ro 15:8 he is called the minister of
circumcision.
(b) Of the doctrine of the gospelwhich we profess.

PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers ofa heavenly calling,
considerJesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession(NASB:
Lockman)
Greek:Hothen, adelphoi hagioi, kleseosepouranioumetochoi, katanoesate
(2PAAM) ton apostolonkaiarxierea tes homologias hemonIesoun,
Amplified: SO THEN, brethren, consecratedand set apart for God, who
share in the heavenly calling, [thoughtfully and attentively] considerJesus, the
Apostle and High PriestWhom we confessed[as ours when we embracedthe
Christian faith]. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
KJV: Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider
the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, ChristJesus;
NLT: And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are bound for
heaven, think about this Jesus whomwe declare to be God's Messengerand
High Priest. (NLT - Tyndale House)
Phillips: So then, my brothers in holiness who share the highestof all callings,
I want you to think of the messengerandHigh Priestof the faith we hold,
Christ Jesus. (Phillips: Touchstone)
Weymouth: Therefore, holy brethren, sharers with others in a heavenly
invitation, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest whose
followers we profess to be.
Wuest: Wherefore, brethren, set-apartones for God and His service,
participants in the summons from heaven, considerattentively and
thoughtfully the Ambassadorand High Priestof our confession, Jesus,
(Eerdmans)
Young's Literal: Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling,
considerJesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.

THEREFOREHOLY BRETHREN:Hothen adelphoi hagioi: (Colossians
1:22; 3:12; 1Thessalonians 5:27;2Timothy 1:9; 1Peter2:9; 3:5; 2Peter1:3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10; Revelation18:20)
Meditations on "ConsiderJesus" by Octavius Winslow…
Hebrews 3:1 Devotional
Preface
ConsiderJesus– in Lowliness of Birth
ConsiderJesus– in the Elevationof Rank
ConsiderJesus– in the Possessionof Wealth
ConsiderJesus– in the Straitness ofPoverty
ConsiderJesus– in the Exercise ofInfluence
ConsiderJesus– in Filial Subjection
ConsiderJesus– in Obedience to Divine Law
ConsiderJesus– in Obedience to Human Law
ConsiderJesus– the Object of Popular Favor
ConsiderJesus– the Object of Popular Hate
ConsiderJesus– as Without Deceit
ConsiderJesus– as Temptedby Satan
ConsiderJesus– as Afflicted
ConsiderJesus– Our Paymaster
ConsiderJesus– as Forsakenby Man
ConsiderJesus– as Forsakenby God
ConsiderJesus– in Loneliness

ConsiderJesus– as NotAlone
ConsiderJesus– in Soul-trouble
ConsiderJesus– in Communion with God
ConsiderJesus– in the ForgivenessofInjury
ConsiderJesus– in the Exercise ofPraise
ConsiderJesus– in the Avoidance of Offence
ConsiderJesus– in Sickness
ConsiderJesus– in the Anticipation of Death
ConsiderJesus– in IntercessoryPrayer
ConsiderJesus– in Bereavement
ConsiderJesus– as Receiving Sinners
ConsiderJesus– in His Atoning Blood
ConsiderJesus– in the PowerofHis Resurrection
ConsiderJesus– in His SecondAppearing
Therefore is literally "from which", meaning that the following arguments
could be deduced from the conclusions the writer had reachedin the
preceding passages.
Wuest - By the use of the word “wherefore,”the writer draws a conclusion
from the preceding argument. Having shown that Messiahis better than the
prophets and the angels, he asks his readers to considerHim in relation to
Moses.He calls them “holy brethren.” (Hebrews - Wuest's word studies from
the Greek New Testament)
Spurgeon- Luther says, "WhenI think of what Christ suffered, I am ashamed
to call anything that I have endured, suffering for His sake."He carriedHis
heavy cross, but we only carry a sliver or two of it; He drank His cup to the
dregs, and we do but sip a drop or two at the very most. “Considerhim.”

Considerhow He suffered far more than you can ever suffer, and how He is
now crownedwith glory and honor; and so you are to be like Him, descend
like Him into the depths of agony, that with Him you may rise to the heights of
glory.
F B Meyer writes that "The contrastbetweenthe third and fourth chapters of
this epistle is very marked. The former is like a drear November day, when all
the landscape is drenched by sweeping rain, and the rotting leaves fall in
showers to find a grave upon the damp and muddy soil. The latter is like a still
clearday in midsummer, when nature revels in reposeful bliss beneaththe
unstinted caresses ofthe sun. There is as much difference betweenthem as
betweenthe seventhand eighth chapters of the Epistle to the Romans. But
eachchapter represents an experience of the inner Christian life. Perhaps the
majority of Christians live and die in the third chapter, to their infinite loss.
Comparatively few pass overinto the fourth. Yet why, reader, should you not
pass the boundary line today, and leave behind forever the bitter,
unsatisfactoryexperiences whichhave become the normal rule of your
existence? Come up out of the wilderness, in which you have wanderedso
long. Your sojourn there has been due, not to any desire on the part of God,
or to any arbitrary appointment of his, or to any natural disability of your
temperament; but to certaingrave failures on your part, in the regimen of the
inner life. The antipodes of your hitherto dreary experiences is Christ, the
unsearchable riches of Christ; to be made a partakerof Christ: for Christ is
the PromisedLand that flows with milk and honey, in which we eat bread
without scarceness, andgather the grapes and pomegranates and olives of
rare spiritual blessedness.
Holy brethren - This phrase occurs only here in NT. This use would seemto
indicate that the author regards his Jewishreaders as believers.
Wuest - The word “holy” here does not have particular reference to a quality
of life but to a position in salvation. The Greek wordmeans “setapart for
God.” Thus, the basic idea of the word is that of a set-apart, a separated
position with reference to God. The term “holy brethren” here refers to the
New Testamentbelievers, the saints, set-apartones. We must remember in
this connectionthat this epistle is addressedto the professing Church, made

up of realbelievers and also of those who gave only an intellectual assentto
the Word. The writer, knowing in his heart that some were not saved, yet
addresses them upon the basis of their profession, not upon that of his own
estimation of their spiritual status. But the words “holy brethren” could be
used of the Old Testamentsaints. Therefore, to distinguish these from the
former, the writer adds the words “partakers ofthe heavenly calling.”
Holy (for more in depth discussionclick hagios)describes everysaint's
position in Christ. We are setapart from the secular, profane, evil and
dedicatedto the worship and service of God.
The fundamental idea of "holy" is separationfrom sin, consecrationto God,
devotion to service of Deity, sharing in God’s purity and abstaining from
earth’s defilement.
Even among the pagans the idea of hagios was one dedicatedto the gods and
the worshipper of the pagan god acquired the characterof that pagangod and
the religious ceremonies connectedwith its worship. For example, the Greek
temple at Corinth housed a large number of harlots who were connectedwith
the "worship" of the Greek god. It is not surprising that the "set-apartness"
of the Greek worshipperwas licentious and totally depraved.
The believer in the Lord Jesus is setapart for God by the Holy Spirit, out of
the First Adam with the latter’s sin and condemnation, into the Last Adam
with the latter’s righteousness and life. Thus, the worshipper of the God of the
Bible partakes of the characterof the God for whom he is setapart. This is
positional sanctification, anact of God performed at the moment a sinner puts
his faith in the Lord Jesus (1Cor1:2). The work of the Holy Spirit in the
yielded saint, in which He sets the believer apart for Godin his experience, by
eliminating sin from his life and producing His fruit, a process which goes on
throughout the believer’s life, is called progressive sanctification(1Thes 5:23)
(Click for a discussionof the Three Tenses ofSalvation). Although the saint
lives in the world, the man who is hagios must always in one sense be different
from the world and separate from the world. His standards are not the
world's standards

Spurgeon- What wonderful titles! “Holy brothers,” made brothers in holiness
and made holy in our brotherhood—“sharers in a heavenly calling”—called
of God from among the worlds. Our occupationand our calling henceforth is
to serve the Lord. Heavenly calling means a call from heaven. If man alone
call you, you are uncalled. Is your calling of God? Is it a callto heavenas well
as from heaven? Unless you are a strangerhere, and heavenis your home, you
have not been calledwith a heavenly calling. For those who have been so
calleddeclare that they look for a city which has foundations, whose builder
and makeris God, and they themselves are strangers and pilgrims upon the
earth.
Brethren (adelphós from a = denoting unity + delphús = womb) is literally
those born from same womb and figuratively generallydenotes a fellowshipof
life basedon identity of origin, e.g., members of the same family (the same
"delphus" or womb so to speak.
So the writer appeals to his readers as those who have been separatedfrom
the mass of humanity by the new birth and who are thus blood bought and
heaven bound and owing an allegiance to the One they had confessed.
PARTAKERS:metochoi: (Hebrews 3:14; Romans 11:17; 15:27;1Corinthians
9:23; 10:17; 2Corinthians 1:7; Ephesians 3:6; Colossians1:12;1Timothy 6:2;
1Peter5:1; 2Peter1:4; 1John1:3)
Partakers (3353)(metochos from metecho = have with, describing
participation with another in common blessings from metá = with, denoting
association+ écho = have) describes one who shares with someone else as an
associate inan enterprise or undertaking. It speaks ofthose who are
participators in something. Business partner, companion. Participating in.
Accomplice in. Comrade. It means to be one who has a share in the possession
of something. Here it describes those who share in a Heavenly calling or have
held, or will hold, a regalposition in relationto the earthly, Messianic
Kingdom.

Wuest says metochos "speaksofone who is associatedwith others in a
common task or condition. Here the word designates the saints as those who
are associatedwith one another in a heavenly calling." (Ibid)
Metochos is used 6 times in the NT…
Luke 5:7 and they signaledto their partners in the other boat, for them to
come and help them. And they came, and filled both of the boats, so that they
beganto sink. (Luke uses metochos to describe "partners" in fishing)
Hebrews 1:9 "Thouhast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;Therefore
God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee With the oil of gladness above Thy
companions."
Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers ofa heavenly calling,
Hebrews 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the
beginning of our assurance firm until the end;
Hebrews 6:4 Forin the case ofthose who have once been enlightened and
have tastedof the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy
Spirit,
Hebrews 12:8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become
partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
It is notable that although metochos is used to describe believers in Hebrews
3:14 it explains that these are those who hold fastto the end, the point being
that one proves he is a true partaker by holding fast to the end!
In Hebrews 3:6 and Hebrews 3:14 the writer describes perseverancein the
faith as proof that one has become a partakerof true salvation. What would
be the opposite of persevering? In Hebrews 6:6 (note) it would be falling away
from the faith which would equate with no evidence of salvation. Stated
another way, the one who does not persevere in the faith, does not show that
they have fallen out of partaking in Christ, but that they had never become a
partakerof the free gift of salvationin Christ Jesus. It seems clearthat the

writer does not believe one can be in Christ and then out of Christ at a later
time.
OF A HEAVENLY CALLING: klêseôsepouraniou:(Romans 1:6,7 - Romans
1:6-7 The Calledof Christ; 8:28-30;9:24; 1Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 4:1,4;
Philippians 3:14; 1Thessalonians 2:12;2Thessalonians 1:11;2:14; 1Timothy
6:12; 2Timothy 1:9; 1Peter5:10; 2Peter1:10; Jude 1:1; Revelation17:14)
Wuest on heavenly calling - Paul speaks ofthe “calling from above,” that
effectualcall into salvationwhich comes from heavenand is to heaven(Phil.
3:14-note). This expressionin Hebrews 3:1 speaks therefore ofthe Church.
Israelhas an earthly calling and an earthly destiny. The Church has a
heavenly calling and a heavenly destiny. Thus does the writer mark the Jews
to whom he was writing, as belonging to the Church and as distinct from
Israel. (Ibidi)
This phrase ("heavenlycalling") is found only here in the NT. The writer
alludes to this "heavenlycalling" later in this epistle writing that Jesus "is the
mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has takenplace for the
redemption of the transgressions thatwere committed under the first
covenant, those who have been calledmay receive the promise of the eternal
inheritance." (Hebrews 9:15-note)
For more in depth discussionof Calling = click either klesis orCalled = kletos)
Calling (2821)(klesis - word study) means a calland was used for an
invitation to a banquet. In the NT the word is used metaphorically of the call
or invitation to come into the kingdom of God with all its privileges. Here
"klesis"refers to the divine callby which Christians are introduced into the
privileges of the gospel. God’s invitation (klesis)to man to acceptthe benefits
of His salvationis what this calling is all about, particularly in the gospels. It is
God’s first act in the application of redemption according to His eternal
purpose (Ro 8:28). A distinction is made betweenGod’s calling and men’s
acceptanceofit (Mt 20:16).
Klesis - 11x in the NT - Rom. 11:29;1 Co. 1:26; 7:20; Eph. 1:18; 4:1, 4; Phil.
3:14; 2 Thess. 1:11;2 Tim. 1:9; Heb. 3:1; 2 Pet. 1:10

The calledare those who have been summoned by God… called… (the
following phrases are meant to be read as one long sentence whichgives a
Biblical statementregarding calling)…
The calledare those who have been summoned by God… called…
according to His purpose (Romans 8:28-note)
to salvation(Romans 8:30-note)
saints by calling (1Cor 1:2)
both Jews and Greeks (1Cor1:24)
having been called"with a holy" (2 Timothy 1:9-note)
heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1-note)
out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9-note)
to walk worthy (Ephesians 4:1- note)
by grace (Gal 1:6)
not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles (Romans 9:24-note)
through the "gospel"that we "may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ"
(2Th 2:14)
and be brought "into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1Cor
1:9)
and return in triumph "with Him" at the end of this age (Revelation17:14-
note).
God's great doctrine of our calling should cause all the "calledof Jesus
Christ" to exclaim "Glory!"
The callcomes from heaven and is to heavenin its appeal. This world is not
our home and dearly beloved, we need to quit acting like it is! Petersays
clearly that we are "aliens and strangers" (1Pe 2:11, 12-note)

In the hall of faith chapter the writer describes those who by faith pleased
God and who…
"desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed
to be calledtheir God; for He has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:16)
And againthe writer explains their "heavenly calling" declaring to his
readers that…
"you have not come to a mountain that may be touched and to a blazing fire,
and to darkness and gloomand whirlwind… But you have come to Mount
Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads
of angels, to the generalassemblyand church of the first-born who are
enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous
men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the
sprinkled blood, which speaks betterthan the blood of Abel." (Hebrews
12:18-24)
The writer thus demonstrates clearlythe superiority of Christianity to
Judaism. Judaism was an earthly calling with an earthly inheritance.
Christianity is a spiritual and heavenly calling with a spiritual and heavenly
inheritance. It is, therefore, far superior.
Paul alludes to this "heavenlycalling" writing to the saints at Philippi…
“I press on toward the goalfor the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus… Forour citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerlywait for a
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (click exposition of Philippians 3:14
Philippians 3:20).
Our true home is in heaven and we live spiritually right now in heavenly
places (Ep 1:3-note; Ep 2:6-note). As true believers we are brothers of Jesus
by position and are thereby holy. We are only strangers and pilgrims on
earth. Our bodies are in this world but we do not really belong here.
The writer is saying in essenceto his Christian Jewishreaders some of whom
are being tempted to fall back into Judaism…

YOU ARE
NOT HOME YET
You are citizens of the heavenlies, so why don’t you let go of the earthly
things? Why do you want to hang on to the earthly rituals, the earthly
symbols, when you have the heavenly reality?”
How liberating is the truth that we as Christians do not need religious ritual
because we have spiritual reality.
Jesus saidthat now since He had come anyone who wanted to truly worship
the Fathertruly, must do so in spirit and in truth, not in rituals and
ceremonies (John4:23). There is no place in biblical Christianity for
externalism because Christians have continual accessto unseenbut
unchanging spiritual reality.
CONSIDER:katanoêsate (2PAAM):(Isaiah 1:3; 5:12; 41:20;Ezekiel12:3;
18:28;Haggai1:5; 2:15; John 20:27; 2Timothy 2:7)
Spurgeon- Oh, that He had more considerationat our hands! ConsiderHim;
you cannotknow all His excellence, allHis value to you, exceptHe is the
subject of your constantmeditation. ConsiderHim; think of His nature, His
offices, His work, His promises, his relation to you: “Considerthe Apostle and
High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus”
Consider(behold) (2657)(katanoeo fromkata = down [kata can be used to
intensify the meaning] + noéo = to perceive or think) means literally to put the
mind down on something and so to observe or considercarefully and
attentively. The idea is to think about something very carefully or consider
closelywhich denotes the action of one's mind apprehending certain facts
about a thing so as to give one the proper and decisive thought about the thing
considered. To considerattentively denotes the action of mind apprehending
certain facts about a thing = give proper and decisive thought about
something. Here it denotes the actionof the mind in apprehending certain
facts about JESUS. Put the mind down on Jesus. Expresses attention&
continuous observationand regard. ConsiderJesus closelyand carefully.

Wuest - The readers of this letter needed just that exhortation. They were
allowing their attention to relax so far as Messiahand the New Testament
were concerned, and their gaze was slowlyturning back upon the First
Testamentsacrifices. (Ibid)
Katanoeo - 14x in NT - Matt. 7:3; Lk. 6:41; 12:24, 27;20:23; Acts 7:31, 32;
11:6; 27:39; Ro 4:19; Heb. 3:1; 10:24;Jas. 1:23, 24
Vine writes that katanoeo "denotesthe action of the mind in apprehending
certain facts about a thing."
TDNT writes that katanoeo"is closelyrelatedto the simple noeo, whose literal
meaning is intensified, “to direct one’s whole mind to an object,” also from a
higher standpoint to immerse oneselfin it and hence to apprehend it in its
whole compass… It can also denote 2. critical observationof an object: “to
considerreflectively,” “to study,” “to examine,”… 3. In literary Greek
katanoeo…means especiallyapprehensionof a subjectby intellectual
absorption in it: “to consider,” “to ponder,” “to come to know,” “to grasp,”
“to understand”… The emphasis in NT usage lies in the visual sphere. As a
verb of seeing… especiallyin Luke… denotes perceptionby the eyes (Mt 7:3 =
Lk 6:41, here paradoxically impossible; Acts 27:39), attentive scrutiny of an
object(James 1:23, 24), the observation or considerationof a factor process,
whether natural or miraculous (Lk. 12:24, 27; Ro 4:19; Acts 7:31, 32; 11:6).
(Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. TheologicalDictionaryofthe
New Testament. Eerdmans)
One might paraphrase it “Bring your mind down on this Jesus.”Concentrate
on Him. Focus on Him
John MacArthur - Some may wonder why the writer tells Christians to
considerChrist, since we already know Him. But we are a long way from
understanding all that He is. Even the apostle Paul, the greatestChristianwho
ever lived, did not know all about Christ that he wantedto (see note
Philippians 3:10). When trials or temptations come into our lives, we need to
focus our attention on Jesus and keep it there until all that He is begins to
unfold for us. Many Christians are spiritually weak and struggle with worry
and anxiety because theydon't know the depths and the riches of Christ.

Jesus promised restfor our souls when we learn of Him (Matt. 11:29). Do you
really enjoy your Christian life? Is it so exciting you can hardly stand it?
That's how it ought to be. Does the fellowshipand presence ofJesus Christ
thrill you? If not, perhaps you don't know Him as well as you might. (Ref)
Note Jesus'use of katanoeo in His warning
"And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not
notice the log that is in your own eye?" (see note Matthew 7:3)
Some other uses of katanoeo…
Moses saw the burning thorn bush and approachedit "to look more closely"
(Acts 7:31,32)
Carefully considerthe ravens (Luke 12:24)… the lilies (Luke 12:27)
Abraham's careful considerationofhis own body and Sarah's "dead" womb,
yet accepting by faith God's promise (Ro 4:19-note)
Of thoughtfully considering one another to provoke unto love and gooddeeds
(Hebrews 10:24)
Of the one who looks athis natural face in a mirror (James 1:23, 24)
For Christians to hang on to earthly religious trappings not only is
unnecessaryand pointless but also spiritually harmful. To do so keeps us from
experiencing the fullness of our new relationship with God and from being
able to follow Him as faithfully as we ought. These things are barriers, not
means, to blessing. Since believers share in the righteous nature of Christ and
in His heavenly calling, they live in a heavenly existence. Theyought to
concentrate onthat heavenly existence, not the earthly. It is not just the
unsaved who need to considerJesus. Believers also,no matter how mature,
need to considerHim in everything they do
ConsiderJesus and keepour eyes of faith fixed on Him. Whenever you are
tempted to look at your circumstances orat yourself, look to Jesus by faith
and rejoice in His faithfulness.

When life gets rough and problems seemto have no solution and everything
goes bad and disappointment and depressionbecome “normal” and
temptations seemimpossible to resist ---put your gaze on Jesus and keepit
there intently until He begins to unfold before your very eyes in all His
glorious power.
Jesus said, “Learn from Me” (Matthew 11:29). He did not say, “Learn about
Me”!
Do you really enjoy your Christian life? Do you get up in the morning and
say, “Lord, I just can’t wait to see what You’re going to do today?” Do you go
through the day and say, “Lord, Your fellowshipand Your presence are
thrilling?” Do you enjoy Jesus Christ? Do you sometimes want to stand up
and shout?
You ought to enjoy Jesus like that. But many Christians do not enjoy Jesus.
They appear to be miserable and unhappy, and they do not know anything
about His joy. They may think the only thing the Lord does for us is to give an
occasionalrebuke. Theysee Him this way because they do not walk and talk
with Him day by day. They do not know Him richly and deeply and
intimately. They need to considerJesus and learn from Him.
Steven Cole writes that…
Considermeans to think about something by taking the time to observe it
carefully. Jesus usedthe word when He told us to considerthe ravens and the
lilies (Luke 12:24, 27). We see ravens almost every day, but we don’t usually
stop to considerthem. Jesus pointed out that they do not sow nor reap. They
have no store-rooms or barns, and yet God feeds them. He concludes, “How
much more valuable you are than the birds!” Why didn’t I think of that?
BecauseI didn’t stop to consider the ravens!
To consider something requires time and effort. It doesn’t happen
automatically, especiallywhen you’re busy. But if you take the time to do it, it
usually yields rich rewards.

We had some friends in California who visited Yosemite (picture). They had
heard us raving about its beauty. They told us later that they spent an hour
there, saw it, and left. We were stunned! An hour in Yosemite?
I later read about an old park ranger there who was still working in his late
eighties. He had literally spent his life exploring and enjoying the spectacular
beauty of Yosemite. One day a citified woman hurriedly approachedhim and
asked, “Ifyou had only one hour to see Yosemite, whatwould you do?” He
slowlyrepeated her words, “Only one hour to see Yosemite.” After a pause, he
said, “Ma’am, if I only had one hour to see Yosemite, I’d go over to that log,
sit down, and cry!”
How much time did you spend this past week considering the beauty of Jesus
Christ? The Bible has page after page revealing His majestic glory. It is our
only source of information, by the way. Some Christians make up a “Jesus” in
their minds, but He isn’t the Jesus ofthe Bible. Their Jesus is nice and never
judgmental. When they sin, which is often, their Jesus justhugs them and
assures them that we all make mistakes. TheirJesus loves them just as they
are, which is how they like it, because they don’t want to confront their sins
and discipline themselves for the purpose of godliness. The problem is, their
“Jesus”isn’t the Jesus of the Bible!
And so our antidote to drifting and our strength for endurance is to see and
savorJesus Christ from His Word. I implore myself first, because I’m prone
to drift, and I implore you: Take time to considerJesus often!(Read Pastor
Cole's entire message - excellentexpositor - Pdf format) (Bolding and color
added for emphasis)
If you want to enjoy Jesus you have to staywith Him until you learn to enjoy
Him. Stay there until your Christian life is one thrill after another. Until every
waking moment of every day is joy upon joy upon joy. ConsiderHim. Focus
your attention on Him.
Alexander Maclarenwrote that considering Jesus is…

an all-important exercise ofmind and heart, without which there can be no
vigorous Christian life, and which, I fearme, is woefully neglectedby the
average Christianto-day…
I have said that the word (consider - katanoeo)implies an awakenedinterest,
a fixed and steadygaze; and that is almost the Alpha and the Omega of the
Christian life. So to live in the continual contemplation of Jesus our Pattern
and our Redeemeris the secretofall Christian vitality and vigour. There
must he no languid look (sluggishin characteror disposition), as between
half-opened eyelids, as men look upon some objectin which they have little
interest, but there must be the sharpened gaze of interested expectancy,
believing that in Him on Whom we look there lie yet undiscovereddepths, and
yet undreamed-of powers, which may be communicated to us.
There must be not only the sharpened look of contemplation, but there must
he a very considerable protraction of the gaze. You will never see Jesus Christ
if you look at Him only by snatches for a moment, and then turn awaythe eye
from Him, any more than a man who comes out from some brilliantly lighted
and dazzling room into the darkness, as it at first appears, of the midnight
heavens, cansee their glories.
The focus of the eye must be accommodatedto the objectof vision, before
there can be any real sight of Him. We must sit before Him, and be content to
give time to the gaze, if we are to get any goodout of it. Nobody sees the
beauties of a country who hurries through it in an express train.
These passing glances, whichare all that so many of us can spare for the
Master, are of little use in revealing Him to us. You do not feel Mont Blanc
unless you sit and gaze and let the fair vision soak into your souls, and you
cannot understand Jesus Christ, nor see anything in Him, unless you dealwith
Him in like fashion.
But if there be this steady and protracted contemplation of the Lord, then,
amidst all the bustle of our daily life, and the many distractions which we all
have to face, there will come sudden flashes of glory and the clouds will lift
often, and let us see the whole white range in its majesty and sublimity. They
who know what it is to come apart into a solitary place, and rest awhile with

Him, will know what it is to bear the vision with them amid all the distractions
of duty and the noise of the world.
There is no way by which we can bring an unseen person to have any real
influence upon our lives except by the direction of our thoughts to Him.
So if you professing Christian men and women will give your thoughts and
your affections and the run of your minds to everything and everybody rather
than to your Master, there is no wonder that your religion is of so little use to
you, and brings so little blessing or power or nobleness into your lives.
The root of weakness lies in the neglectof that solemn and indispensable duty
to considerJesus, in patient contemplation and steadfastbeholding.
Now such thoughts as these, as to the relation betweenthe protracted gaze
and a true realisationof the Master’s presence,castlight upon such a question
as the observance ofthe Sunday. I do not care to insist upon anybody keeping
this day sacredfor devout purposes unless he is a Christian man. I would not
talk about the obligation, but about the privilege., And this I say, that unless
you have a reservoiryou will have empty pipes, and the watersupply in your
house will fail. And unless you Christian men and womenuse this blessed
breathing time, which is given to us week after week, in order to secure that
quiet, continuous contemplationof the Master, which is almost impossible for
most of us amidst the rush and hurry of the week day, your religion will
always be a poor thing.
I know, of course, that we may be taunted with concentrating and clotting, as
it were, devout contemplations into one day in seven, and then leaving all the
rest of the week void of Christ, and may be told how much better is worship
diffused through all life.
But I am sure that the shortestwayto have no religion at all is to have it only
as a diffused religion.
If it is to be diffused it must first be concentrated;and no man will carry Jesus
Christ with him throughout the distractions of daily life who does not know
what it is to be often in the secretplace of the MostHigh, there in the silence
of fixed spirit, to ‘consider Jesus Christ.’

Then let me remind you, too, that such a gaze as this is not to be attained
without decisive effort.
You have to cut off sidelights; just as a man will twist up a roll of paper and
put it to his eye and shut Out everything on either side, if he wants to see the
depth of colourin a picture.
So we have to look awayfrom much if we would look unto Christ, and to be
contentedto be blind to a great dealthat is fascinating and dazzling, if we
would be clearsighted as to the things that are far off. The eye of nature must
be closedif the eye of the Spirit is to be opened.
And if we are to see the things that are, we must resolutely shut out the false
glories of the things that only do appear. For these are perishable, and the
others are real and eternal.
According to the true reading of the first of them we are to consider Jesus.
The first thing that is to rivet our interestedand continuous contemplation is
the manhood of the Lord. That name Jesus is never used in this epistle, and
seldom in any part of the New Testament, without the intention of especially
emphasizing the humanity of Christ. It is that fair life, as it is unrolled before
us in the pages of the Gospels, to which we are to look for illumination, for
inspiration, for pattern and motive of service, and for all companionship in
suffering and victory in warfare. ‘ConsiderJesus,’our Brother, the Man that
has lived our life and died our death…
The other side of what is needful for communion betweenGod and man is
expressedin the other designation, ‘the High Priest.’Two things go to make
complete communion — God’s revelation to us and our approach to God.
Christ is the Agent of both. As the subsequent context — where this idea of
High Priestis more fully developed — distinctly shows, the main ideas
connectedwith it in the writer’s mind here, are intercessionand sympathy. So
on the one hand, as Apostle, He brings God to us; and on the other hand, as
Priest, He brings us to God; and makes the goldenlink by which heavenand
earth are united, and God tabernacles with man.

It is this Christ — not merely in His manhood, but in that manhood
interpreted as being the medium of all revelationpossible to the world, and as
being, on the other hand, the medium of all the accessthat sinful men can
have to God — it is this Christ whom we are to consider, not merely in the
sweetness andgentleness and holiness of His lovely Manhoodas recordedin
the gospels,but in these mighty offices ofwhich that Manhoodwas the
discharge and the expression, wherebyGod dwells with man, and sinful men
can dwell with God. (Read the full messageConsiderJesus)
ConsiderHim
—Author Unknown
When the storm is raging high,
When the tempest rends the sky,
When my eyes with tears are dim,
Then, my soul, considerHim.
When my plans are in the dust,
When my dearesthopes are crushed,
When is passedeachfoolishwhim,
When with dearestfriends I part,
When deep sorrow fills my heart,
When pain racks eachwearylimb,

When I track my weary way,
When fresh trials come eachday,
When my faith and hope are dim,
Clouds or sunshine, dark or bright,
Evening shades or morning light,
When my cup flows o’er the brim,
So help me God
“I will be Christian. Like a crimson line running through my life, let the
covenantbind me to the will and way of Jesus.
“I will be Christian. My body, mind, and spirit Christ-centered, that I may
learn His will; that I may walk His way; that I may win my associates;and
that ‘in all things He might have the preeminence.’
“I will be Christian. My voice of passionin an age growncold and cynical
because offaltering faith and shrinking deeds;my answerto the Macedonian
call of spiritual continents unpossessedand unexplored.
“I will be Christian. In my heart, in my home, in my group, in my country—
now, to help save America that America may serve the world.
“I will be Christian. Across all lines of colorand class, into every human
relationship, without respectfor temporal circumstance, in spite of threat and
with no thought of reward.
“I will be Christian. That Christianity may become as militant as Fascism;as
terrible toward wrong as God’s hatred of sin; as tender with the weak as His
love for little children; as powerful as the prayer of the righteous, and as
sacrificialas Calvary’s Cross.

“I will be Christian …
So help me God.”—DanielA. Poling
JESUS, THE APOSTLE:ton apostolonkaiarchierea tes homologias emon
Iesoun:
Spurgeon- He is supremely worthy of our perpetual considerationfrom all
points of view. And the more you considerHim the more you may, for there is
a depth and breadth about His wondrous personality, His work, and His
offices wellworthy of our deepest thought and admiring worship. Holy
brothers, sharers in a heavenly calling, we may wellconsider him. If you think
little of your Leader you will live but poor lives. Consider Him, often think of
Him, try to copy Him. With such a Leader what manner of people ought we to
be?
This is the only time Christ is calledan Apostle. He had to be an "Apostle"
(flesh & blood… tasted death 2:9-10, 14) before He could become our High
Priest. He was sent with a messagefrom His Father… in the last days (God)
has spokenin His Son! The messageis Repent for the kingdom of heavenis at
hand.
Apostle (652)(apostolos from apo = from + stello = send forth) (Click
discussionof apostle)means one sent forth from by another, often with a
specialcommissionto representanother and to accomplishhis work. It canbe
a delegate, commissioner, ambassadorsentout on a mission or orders or
commissionand with the authority of the one who sent him.
Wuest - The word “apostle” is the English spelling of the Greek word
apostolos whichin turn comes from the verb apostello, the latter speaking of
the actof sending someone off on a commissionto do something, the person
sent having been furnished with credentials. This verb is often used in the
LXX of God sending Moses ona commissionfor Him (Ex. 3:-7:), and is used
of God sending the Lord Jesus ona commission(Luke 10:16;John 3:17, 5:36,
6:29).
A "sentone" conveys the basic idea of mission, one who is sent to do a job and
associatesauthority with assignment.

SecularGreek writer Demosthenesgives a picture of the meaning of
"apostolos"whichhe used to describe a cargo ship sent out with a load. He
also spoke ofa naval fleet as "apostles" sentout to accomplisha mission.
The ‘apostle’was invested with the complete trust and authority of the person
who sent him. He spoke for his master. To receive him was to receive his
master, and in the same manner, to abuse or reject the apostle was to insult
and rejectthe master.
Testifying to His apostolic authority, "Jesus therefore saidto his disciples,
"Peacebe with you; as the Fatherhas sent (verb form = apostello)Me, I also
send you." (John 20:21)
AND HIGH PRIEST OF OUR CONFESSION:kaiarchierea tes homologias
hemon: (Christ, the High Priest)
High priest (749) (archiereus from arche = first in a series, the leaderor ruler
+ hiereus = priest) (Dictionary articles - Easton's;ISBE)refers to the priest
that was chief over all the other priests in Israel. This office was establishedby
God through Moses instructions in the Pentateuch. The high priest functioned
as the mediator betweenJehovahand Israelperforming sacrifices andrituals
like other priests, but in addition acting to expiate the sins of the nation on the
annual Day of Atonement.
The irony is that the high priest Caiaphas was residing over the Sanhedrin
during trial of Jesus, the trial which would lead to His death and pave the way
for His eternal High Priesthood!
Eerdman's Bible Dictionary explains that "The high priest descendedfrom
Eleazar, the son of Aaron. The office was normally hereditary and was
conferredupon an individual for life (Nu 25:10-13). The candidate was
consecratedin a seven-day ceremonywhich included investiture with the
specialclothing of his office as well as anointments and sacrifices (Ex29:1-37;
Lev 8:5-35). The high priest was bound to a higher degree of ritual purity
than ordinary Levitical priests. He could have no contactwith dead bodies,
including those of his parents. Nor could he rend his clothing or allow his hair
to grow out as signs of mourning. He could not marry a widow, divorced

woman, or harlot, but only an Israelite virgin (Lev. 21:10-15). Any sin
committed by the high priest brought guilt upon the entire nation and had to
be countered by specialsacrifice (Lev 4:1-12). Upon a high priest’s death
manslayers were releasedfrom the cities of refuge (Nu 35:25, 28, 32).
Archiereus occurs only in the Gospels and Hebrews. The references to the
high priests in the Gospels and Acts refers primarily to their bitter opposition
to Jesus Who the writer of Hebrews identifies as our everlasting High Priest.
Clearly archiereus is a keyword in the book of Hebrews, and a review of these
17 verses reveals various characteristics(see underlined sections)ofJesus role
as the greatHigh Priest(some of the uses of high priest obviously do not refer
to Jesus but to the Jewishhigh priests).
Hebrews 2:17 (note) Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all
things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 3:1 (note) Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling,
Hebrews 4:14 (note) Since then we have a greathigh priest who has passed
through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Hebrews 4:15 (note) For we do not have a high priest who cannotsympathize
with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are,
yet without sin.
Hebrews 5:1 (note) For every high priest taken from among men is appointed
on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and
sacrifices forsins;
Hebrews 5:5 (note) So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a
high priest, but He who said to Him, "Thouart My Son, TodayI have
begottenThee";
Hebrews 5:10 (note) being designatedby God as a high priest according to the
order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 6:20 (note) where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having
become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:26 (note) For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest,
holy, innocent, undefiled, separatedfrom sinners and exaltedabove the
heavens;
Hebrews 7:27 (note) who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer
up sacrifices, firstfor His own sins, and then for the sins of the people,
because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
Hebrews 7:28 (note) For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak,
but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made
perfect forever.
Hebrews 8:1 (note) Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have
such a high priest, who has taken His seatat the right hand of the throne of
the Majestyin the heavens,
Hebrews 8:3 (note) For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and
sacrifices;hence it is necessarythat this high priest also have something to
offer.
Hebrews 9:7 (note) but into the secondonly the high priest enters, once a year,
not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the
people committed in ignorance.
Hebrews 9:11 (note) But when Christ appearedas a high priest of the good
things to come, He entered through the greaterand more perfect tabernacle,
not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;
Hebrews 9:25 (note) nor was it that He should offer Himself often, as the high
priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own.
Hebrews 13:11 (note) Forthe bodies of those animals whose blood is brought
into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside
the camp.

Confession(3671)(homologia from homoú = togetherwith + légo = say) means
literally to say the same and so to agree in one's statement.
Wuest - The idea here is that of the believer agreeing with God as to the
report He gives in the Bible of His Son. That is the believer’s confession. The
word “profession” while including within itself the idea of bearing testimony
to what one believes, does not have in it the idea of agreeing with someone else
on something and then testifying to one’s faith in that thing. (Ibid)
All true Christians “saythe same thing” when it comes to their experience of
salvation. These Hebrew Christians had confessedJesus as their Apostle and
High Priest. They do not begin to understand Who Jesus is and means if they
are tempted to give Him up.
Homologia has strong legalconnotations. A person canconfess to a charge in
court and thus openly acknowledgeguilt. Or one may agree with a court
order and thus make a legally binding commitment to abide by it. This last
sense is implied in passagesthatcall on us to acknowledge Jesus. We are to
express our binding commitment to Jesus publicly and thus acknowledge our
relationship to him as our Lord.
The apostle John puts the importance of this issue succinctly writing that
"No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoeveracknowledgesthe Son
has the Father also" (1John2:23).
Commitment to Jesus brings us into full relationship with God.
Homologia is a key word in Hebrews (see below) with an urgent appeal to
HOLD FAST.
Hebrews 3:1 (note) - Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly
calling, considerJesus, the Apostle and High Priestof our confession;
Hebrews 4:14 (note) - Therefore, since we have a greathigh priest who has
passedthrough the heavens, Jesus the Sonof God, let us hold fast our
confession.

Hebrews 10:23 (note) - Let us hold fastthe confessionof our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
In 2Cor9:13, Paul says to the Corinthians that
"Because ofthe proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your
obedience to your confessionof the gospelof Christ and for the liberality of
your contribution to them and to all" (your confessionof the gospelof Christ).
Paul uses this same word to encourage his young protégée Timothy to
Fight (present imperative) the goodfight of faith; take hold of (aorist
imperative) the eternallife to which you were called, and you made the good
confession(homologia)in the presence ofmany witnesses. Icharge you in the
presence ofGod, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified
the goodconfession(homologia)before Pontius Pilate (1Ti 6:12-13)
The relatedverb is homologeo whichmeans to declare openly by way of
speaking out freely, such confessionbeing the effectof deep convictionof facts
("I will declare to them, 'I never knew you" Mt 7:23-note , cf Mt 10:32)
Jesus declaredthat
everyone who confesses Me before men, the Sonof Man shall confess him also
before the angels of God. (Lk 12:8)
Genuine confessionis "costly" Johnrecording that the parents of the blind
man Jesus healed
were afraid of the Jews;for the Jews hadalready agreed, that if anyone
should confess Him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. (Jn
9:22)
Similarly John records that
"many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because ofthe Pharisees they
were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;" (Jn
12:42)

As Henry Morris comments - A mental belief in the facts concerning Christ is
not sufficient for salvation. Open confessionis an evidence of saving faith.
(Bolding added)
Paul affirms this thought reminding the Romans
"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart
that God raisedHim from the dead, you shall be savedfor with the heart man
believes, resulting in righteousness, andwith the mouth he confesses, resulting
in salvation." (see notes Romans 10:9; Romans 10:10)
Paul's use in Titus shows that confessionmust be matched by possessionof
fruit that is in keeping with repentance, describing men in Crete who
continually
"profess (homologeo)to know God, but by their deeds they deny (present
tense - continually - by their lifestyle) Him, being detestable and disobedient,
and worthless for any gooddeed." (See note Titus 1:16)
John amplifies the importance of a proper understanding of genuine
confessionwriting that
"By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses thatJesus
Christ has come in the flesh is from God and every spirit that does not confess
Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you
have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world." (1Jn 4:2-3)
In his secondletter John records that
"many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge
(confess)Jesus Christas coming in the flesh. This is the deceiverand the
antichrist." (2Jn 1:7)
><> ><> ><>
F B Meyer - Our Daily Homily - Consider … Jesus -
Who are to considerHim? — “Holy brethren.” Because we are the brethren
of Jesus, we must considerour Brother. Becausewe are brethren with all,
whom He brothers, we should emulate the saints of all ages in their eagergaze

at Christ. We must possessthe holiness without which none cansee the Lord,
and we must live in holy love with all who bear the name of Christ. Do you
lack either of these? This is the reasonwhy your eyes are blinded. Step out of
the mist into the clearprospect:—
“A step,
A single step, shall free you from the skirts
Of the blind vapour, and open to your view
Glory beyond all glory ever seen
By waking sense or by the dreaming soul.”
What right have they to considerHim? — Because theyare “partakers ofa
heavenly calling.” They have turned from the world, from the fascinations of
the sin and the flesh; they are seeking the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem.
Surely such have a right, given them of grace, to live in daily personalvision
of their King!
In what aspects should they considerHim? — As Apostle, whom God has sent
out of his bosom to man, and whom man sends back to God. As Priest, who
was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin, who bears our needs
and sins and sorrows on his heart. As the Son, compared with whom Moses
was but a servant. As Creator, by whom all things were made, and without
whom was not anything made. As the Head of the household of those who
believe. As the All-faithful One, who will never resignhis charge. Consider
Jesus in eachof these aspects, andrejoice in Him. (Meyer, F. B. Our Daily
Homily)
Steven Cole sums up this verse with the following conclusion…
The Christian life is not a 100-yearddash;it’s a marathon. That name comes
from the decisive Battle of Marathon, where the Greeks fought the Persians.
If the Persians had conquered, the glory that was Greeceneverwould have
been known. Against fearful odds, the Greeks wonthe battle. A Greek soldier
ran all the way, day and night, to Athens with the news. He ran straight to the
magistrates and gasped, “Rejoice,we have conquered!” Then he dropped

dead. He had completed his mission and done his work (William Barclay, The
Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon [WestminsterPress], pp. 210-211).
It is significant that when Paul wrote his final letter to Timothy, he did not
report on how many he had won to Christ, how many churches he had
planted, or how many evangelistic campaigns he had conducted. He said
simply,
“I have fought the goodfight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith”
(see note 2 Timothy 4:7).
He fought and he finished—he endured! If you want to join his ranks, take
time often to considerJesus. (ReadPastorCole's entire message - excellent
expositor- Pdf format) (Bolding and coloradded for emphasis)
Christ the Only Apostle and High Priestof Our Profession
E. Deering, B,D.
Hebrews 3:1
Why, holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling, considerthe Apostle
and High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus;…
Where Christ is said here to be the Apostle and High Priestof our profession,
we must learn this: that we that be Christians profess no other teacher, nor no
other Saviour, but that Christ is both our wisdomand our justification; His
word is ours, His doctrine is ours, His wisdom is ours, we profess not one jot
whereofHe hath not been an Apostle unto us; and whosoeverhe be that
teachethus other things than what Christ hath taught us already, he is not of
our professionnor of our brotherhood. And more than this, we are sure he
teachethnothing but vain illusions and imaginations of men; for all treasures

of wisdom and true knowledge are hit" in Christ. And seeing it hath pleased
Him to be our Apostle, who is the Son of God, the brightness of His glory, the
ingraven form of His substance, the Heir of all things, the Makerof heaven
and earth, far greaterthan angels, how unthankful be we if His doctrine be
not our profession;nay, how mad be we, if we will change Him for any other
or for all other. Whatsoeverglorious names they bring, of fathers, doctors,
councils, we neither know them nor their names. If they be ministers of Christ
unto us, their feet are beautiful, and their names are honourable, it they be
their own ministers, we know them not, nor all their glory. Now where the
apostle callethChrist the High Priest of our profession, as we have learned
before, if He be our Apostle, we have no other teacher. So we learn here, if He
be the Priestof our profession, no part of the office of His Priesthoodwe may
give to another, but profess it clearly that He is our priest alone. And as the
priest is ordained to make sacrifice for sin, and to be a mediator betweenGod
and man, so all this work we must leave wholly unto Him, receive no other,
upon whom we will lay this reconciliation, to purge our sins, and to bring us to
God, but Christ alone.
(E. Deering, B,D.)
END PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
Hebrews 3: The Apostle And High PriestOf Our Profession
by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan
"Considerthe Apostle and High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus"
The English-language word"apostle"originatedfrom the Greek word,
pronounced ap-os-tol-os, that means someone who is officially sent, such as an

ambassadorofa King. As a matter of the salvationof humanity, Jesus Christ
is the first apostle - appointed and sent by God.
"3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, considerthe
Apostle and High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus;3:2 Who was faithful
to him that appointed him" (Hebrews 3:1-2 KJV)
While many understand the Christian symbolism of the Levite priesthood(see
When Were The Levites Set Apart? and Why Did Jesus Christ Choose
Aaron?), Jesus Christ, as the LORD God (see The Identity Of The LORD God
and The LORD God Our Saviour), was appointed by Godas the sole, ultimate
High Priestbefore Levites even existed(see the FactFinder question below to
understand why the prophetic Holy Days are observed). The Messiah's
mission involved His being sent, as the Apostle of God, to thereafter deliver, as
the High Priest, the Sacrifice to God (see The Christian Day Of Atonement).
"5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is calledof God,
as was Aaron.
5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that
said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begottenthee." (Hebrews 5:4-5
KJV)
"7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;7:27 Who needeth
not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, firstfor his own sins, and
then for the people's:for this he did once, when he offeredup himself."
(Hebrews 7:26-27 KJV)
The full context of "the Apostle and High Priestof our profession, Christ
Jesus" -"Who was faithful to Him that appointed Him":

"3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, considerthe
Apostle and High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus;3:2 Who was faithful
to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
3:3 Forthis man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses,inasmuch as
he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 3:4 For
every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 3:5
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of
those things which were to be spokenafter; 3:6 But Christ as a sonover his
own house;whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the
rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (Hebrews 3:1-6 KJV)
Nothing has changedas the prophecies are being fulfilled. Notice the reference
to Psalm 95:6-8 ("95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel
before the LORD our maker. 95:7 For he is our God; and we are the people of
his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hearhis voice, 95:8
Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation
in the wilderness")in verse 15 below.
"3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghostsaith,
To day if ye will hear his voice, 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the
provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:3:9 When your
fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 3:10
Wherefore I was grievedwith that generation, and said, They do alway err in
their heart; and they have not knownmy ways. 3:11 So I sware in my wrath,
They shall not enter into my rest.)
3:12 Take heed, brethren, lestthere be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief,
in departing from the living God. 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is
calledTo day; lestany of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our
confidence stedfastunto the end; 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear
his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

3:16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke:howbeit not all that came
out of Egypt by Moses. 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it
not with them that had sinned, whose carcasesfell in the wilderness? 3:18 And
to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that
believed not? 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because ofunbelief."
(Hebrews 3:7-19 KJV)
http://www.keyway.ca/htm2016/20160927.htm
SAM STORMS
Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our Confession - Hebrews 3:1-6
By: Sam Storms
Sam Storms
BridgewayChurch
Hebrews #9 - Jesus, the Apostle and High Priestof our Confession
Hebrews 3:1-6
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Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our Confession
Hebrews 3:1-6
I had an interesting experience in studying this passagein Hebrews 3 and in
my preparation for this message. I gotmassively distracted!But in a good
way! And I hope you will be happy and pleasedthat I was. So let me explain.
As we’ve already seenin our study of Hebrews, this book is all about
establishing and demonstrating in a variety of ways that Jesus is better. We
saw in chapters one and two that he is better than the OT prophets and all the

angels who serve God’s people. In chapters three, four, and five he will be
shown as better than Joshua and Aaron. Throughout the restof the book our
author will portray his sacrifice and the new covenanthe establishedas better
than all the animal sacrificesofthe old covenant. But here in Hebrews 3 his
aim is to demonstrate that Jesus is better than Moses.
The superiority of Jesus to Moses is our author’s focus in vv. 2-6. But, as I
said, I was massively distractedby something in v. 1 and got stuck there! And
it is there that I want to spend most of our time this morning. But before I
share with you what so captivated my heart this week, let me say a few words
about the argument in vv. 2-6.
Moses:Israel’s NationalHero
Although Abraham and David and Isaiahand Daniel are critically important
figures in the OT, none is greaterthan Moses. He was truly a national hero
and “the architectof Israel’s corporate life” (France, 58).
Moses was bornto Hebrew parents, whose names were Amram and Jochebed
(Exod. 2:1; 6:20). We know that he was 80 years old when the exodus
occurred(Exod. 7:7). If the exodus out of Egypt is dated in 1446, Moses would
have been born in @ 1526 b.c. He was the third child in his family: Aaron was
3 when Moses was born and their sister Miriam was probably in her early
teens. He is described as being a “beautiful” child in Acts 7:20.
You know the story of how Moses wasplacedin a basketand set afloaton the
Nile River. By the way, the Hebrew word translated “basket”or“chest” is
used only one other place in all of the OT: in Genesis, with reference to the
“ark” of Noah!There is an obvious parallel betweenthe two. Both were God’s
appointed means of salvation. Both were preserved from the waters of
destruction by an “ark.” The only difference is that Noah’s ark had a rudder
and a steersmanto keepit on course, whereas the “ark” in which Moses was
placed is providentially steeredby God himself. If you are disturbed by the
decisionof Moses’mother to take this course ofaction, you must remember
that it was the ancient equivalent of leaving a child on the steps of a hospital
or orphanage. Women frequently came to the banks of the Nile River to wash
clothes, to bathe, and to prepare food. Releasing Moses along its shoreline was

therefore the most likely way in which she could entrust him to the care of
someone else.
As for Pharaoh’s daughter who pulled him from the Nile, tradition has given
her the name Bithiah, but we don’t know her identity with any degree of
certainty. Moses probably was nursed by his biologicalmother for some two
years. The name “Moses”is Egyptian for “son” or “one who is born of” but
the name also sounds like the Hebrew verb “to draw out” (see Exod. 2:10).
There is little doubt that Moseswas a type or foreshadowing ofJesus,
especiallyin the circumstances surrounding his birth. Both Mosesand Jesus
are God’s appointed means to bring about deliverance and redemption for
God’s people. Both are threatened by a ruling monarch (Pharaoh / Herod). In
both casesthe attempt to kill him is first secret;having failed, public steps are
takento getrid of the child. In both cases Mosesand Jesus survive while other
infants are slaughtered. The parents of Moses deliverhim from Egypt,
whereas the parents of Jesus deliver him into Egypt.
As you know, when he was about 40 years old Moses struck and killed an
Egyptian who had been caught beating up a fellow Hebrew. When Pharaoh
got wind of what had happened he attempted to kill Moses, but he escaped
into the wilderness of Midian where he spent the next 40 years tending the
sheepof his father-in-law Jethro.
The contrasts in the life of Moseshave been beautifully captured by I. M.
Halderman. He writes:
“He was the child of a slave, and the sonof a queen. He was born in a hut, and
lived in a palace. He inherited poverty, and enjoyedunlimited wealth. He was
the leaderof armies and the keeperof flocks. He was the mightiest of
warriors, and the meekestofmen. He was educatedin the court, and dwelt in
the desert. He had the wisdom of Egypt, and the faith of a child. He was fitted
for the city, and wandered in the wilderness. He was tempted with the
pleasures of sin, and endured the hardships of virtue. He was backwardin
speech, and talked with God. He had the rod of a shepherd, and the power of
the Infinite. He was a fugitive from Pharaoh, and an ambassadorfrom
heaven. He was the giver of the Law, and the forerunner of grace. He died

alone on Mount Moab, and appearedwith Christ in Judea. No man assistedat
his funeral, yet God buried him” (I. M. Halderman).
Perhaps the most important passagein the OT that tells us how highly God
regardedhim and how intimate he was in his relationship with God is
Numbers 12:6-8. There we read of God’s rebuke of Aaron and Miriam who
likely were jealous of the authority and powerGod had given Moses:
“And he [God] said, ‘Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the
Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. Not
so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. With him I speak
mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the
Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak againstmy servant Moses?”
Comparing Jesus and Moses
With all that being said, we are ready to look at the argument of our author in
Hebrews 3:2-6, and it is fairly straightforwardand doesn’t require a lot of
explanation. There are four points of comparison/contrastin this text, eachof
which establishes the superiority of Jesus to Moses.
(1) Whereas both Mosesand Jesus were “faithful” to God, only Jesus was
altogetherobedient and never sinned or disobeyed.
Please understandthat in this contrastthere is no denigration or criticism of
Moses.It isn’t that Moses was badand Jesus was good. It’s simply the
contrastbetweena man, on the one hand, who is faithful, but still a sinner
who occasionallyfails and disbelieves and disobeys, and Jesus, onthe other
hand, who is perfectly faithful and, although tempted in all things like us,
never sinned (cf. Heb. 4:15).
(2) Moses was faithful in God’s house, whereas Jesus built it!
The “house” ofGod here is not a reference to the Temple but to the people of
God collectively. We might even render it as “household.” The reasonJesus is
worthy of greaterglory than Moses is that although Moses was faithful and
played a crucialrole in God’s redemptive purposes, he was still only a part of
that house, a member of it. Jesus, onthe other hand, is the builder of the

house. He createdit. Moses is himself one of the people of God. Jesus is the
Creator, Savior, and Lord of all such people. There is a sense in which it
might even be said that Jesus is worthy of greaterhonor and glory than Moses
because Jesusmade Moses!
We see here againthat although Jesus is fully human he is also fully God. In v.
3 it says that Jesus built the house and in v. 4 that God built not only the house
but everything. The point is that Jesus is God!
(3) Moses was faithful as a servant of God, but Jesus is the Son!
This point of contrastis seenin vv. 5-6a. It is true that both Moses andJesus
serve the people of God. But what sets them apart is that Jesus is more than a
servant of God’s people: he is God’s Son! He is the Savior of God’s people!
The Son, by wayof inheritance, owns the house and is lord and master over
the house and provides for the family within it and protects them from danger
and destruction.
(4) Moses testifiedand prophesiedof greaterthings to come, and Jesus is the
fulfillment of all that he said!
The fourth and final point of contrast is more implicit than explicit. The key
here is in the secondhalf of v. 5 and the phrase:“to testify to the things that
were to be spokenlater.”
Once againlet me say that the author of Hebrews does not argue for the
superiority of Jesus and the new covenant by denigrating or disregarding
Moses andthe old covenant. Moses has beenrightly praised as a faithful
“servant” of God. But the covenantunder which he lived was temporary. Its
purpose was to point forward to something greaterand more lasting and
more glorious. Moses did a wonderful job of testifying “to the things that were
to be spokenlater.” And what are those “things”? Jesus and all that he
brought to us in the New Covenant!
Moses andthe Old Covenantwere not the goalor the end or the ultimate aim
of God’s revelation. They existed to symbolize and foreshadow and prophesy
about and point to Jesus and the New Covenant! We will see this very truth
over and over in Hebrews, such as we find in Hebrews 10:1 where the “law”

of Moses is describedas “but a shadow of the goodthings to come.” The
substance is Jesus Christand the law of the New Covenant.
Perseverance as the Proof of who is in God’s House
When we were in Hebrews 2, I spoke briefly about the emphasis in this epistle
on persevering and remaining and enduring over time in the faith that we
profess. Merelysaying or declaring that one is a Christian amounts to very
little. In fact, it may be an act of self-delusionand self-deception. All through
the NT we come across whatcanonly be called “false faith”. False faith is a
form of “belief” in Christ that never fully takes rootin the heart. There may
be an initial seasonofjoy and excitement and Bible study and church
attendance, but it is followed, at some point, by drifting awayfrom the Lord
and falling into unrepentant sin and idolatry.
Perseverance functions as evidence of an existing right relationship with God.
Our author doesn’t say that a personwill become a part of God’s people if
they persevere. Neitherdoes he say that a personwill remain a part of God’s
people if they persevere. Ratherhe says:this is how you can know if someone
already is a part of God’s people – does he or she hold fast their confidence
and their boasting in hope in Christ all the way to the end. In other words, he
is less concernedwith whether or not they profess to believe and more with
whether or not they persevere to believe.
Some so stress God’s saving grace that they end up undermining personal
responsibility and holiness of life. People are told: “If you ever prayed a
prayer or walkedan aisle or wept during a hymn or signeda decisioncard or
joined in with your friends at summer camp in confessing the name of Jesus
aloud, you are saved and secure no matter what else you do in life.” People
who have wanderedaway and are living in unrepentant sin and give no
indication of a deep heart-felt affectionfor Jesus and his saving death on the
cross are often told, “Don’t worry. Once saved, always saved. Your decision
back then is all that matters.”
At the other end of the spectrum are those who minimize and undermine
God’s saving grace by arguing that it really doesn’tmatter what happened in
the past, even if at some point you were genuinely born againand justified by

faith in Christ. You must remain faithful and if you don’t your failure will
nullify God’s grace and cut you off foreverfrom his saving purposes. You
may have once been genuinely saved but now, because you have abandoned
your faith, you forfeit that privilege and fall under condemnationyet again.
Both are wrong!
Look closelyat the latter half of the verse where he refers to our “confidence”
in Christ and our boasting in the “hope” we have in him. Clearly he is
describing the initial actof faith when a man or woman claims to have put
their trust in Jesus for salvation. If a person who professesto have
“confidence” in Christ, a personwho claims to have trusted him for salvation,
“holds fast” in this hope and faith all the way to the end, this indicates that
they truly “are” members of God’s “house.” Perseverance provides evidence
of the reality of one’s claim to know Jesus.
How can we know whether or not someone genuinely shares in Christ, which
is to say, is born-again and is justified and is a child of God? We canknow by
observing whether or not they “hold fast” their confidence and hope in Christ.
He does not say that if you fail to hold fast your confidence this means you
once had it but later lost it. Rather, if you fail to hold it, it means you never
had it at all. If someone does not hold firmly to the end of this “faith” or
“confidence” thathe/she claims to have put in Christ, this reveals that they
never truly and sincerelyshared in Christ in the first place.
Simply put, perseverance is the proof of salvation. No perseverance,no
salvation;not because you had it but lost it, but because you never had it at
all. So let me say it againas clearlyas I can. Our author is not telling us what
will be true if a person endures to the end but rather what is already true. A
person’s endurance or perseverance in faith and obedience is the evidence of
their vital, saving connectionto Christ and their participation in him.
How I was Joyfully Distracted!
I now want to talk about what so captivatedmy attention this week. It’s found
back in v. 1.

There we are encouragedto “considerJesus,the apostle and high priest of our
confession”(v. 1a). The focus of our confession, the focus of our faith is Jesus,
not Moses. Moses spokepropheticallyof Jesus. Everything in the Mosaic
Covenantand the Law and the Levitical system pointed to Christ! So consider
him!
In serving as our Apostle and High Priest, Jesus accomplishes forus the two
most important things we need. We need first to hear from God, to know who
he is and to be given a clearand infallible revelation of his will. This is what
Jesus did as our Apostle. The word “apostle” means the one who is sent. Jesus
the Sonwas “sent” by the Fatherto make him known. We saw this clearlyin
Hebrews 1:1.
But after hearing from God we need to get to God. We need accessto him. We
need to be reconciledto him. This is what Jesus did for us as our High Priest.
Thus, as John Piper has said, we need “a word from God and a way to God.”
Or again, “we need revelation from God and we need reconciliationwith
God,” and Jesus provides both as Apostle and High Priest.
What caught my attention, however, was the way in which our author
describes those of us who by God’s grace have consideredJesus and put our
faith in him. We are among those “who share in a heavenly calling” (v. 1a).
To be among those who share in a “heavenly calling” has to do with our
identity, and there is nothing more centralor crucialto our lives as Christians
than understanding who we are. I can’t begin to tell you how many times
during the course of an average week Ihear from people whose primary
struggle in life has to do with their mistakenidentity. Or perhaps it is a child
who simply doesn’t know who he or she is or even why they exist. Or on
occasionit is someone whose senseofpersonalidentity has been so warped
and damagedby abuse or neglector some other sin that they’ve simply given
up hope of ever finding personal value and purpose in life. They live under the
false guise of someone that isn’t them; they’ve been told who they are or what
they should be and it has nothing to do with what God createdthem for.

That is why this opening statementin Hebrews 3:1 is so important. Christian,
listen to me. You cannot afford to turn a deaf earto this question. Do you
know what it means to be the recipient of a “heavenlycalling”? Do you?
Let me mention three things.
First, you are a man or a woman whose existence and identity cannot be
explained merely by pointing to something in this world. In other words, you
can’t stop by saying: “Well, I’m a child of my mother and father. You ask
who I am, and the answeris: I am what they’ve said I am. I am whoevertheir
sins have shaped me to me.” Or again, you can’t stop by saying: “O.K., I am
nothing more than a broken and helpless sinner, a sexually warped and
intellectually stunted and physically unattractive blip on the screenof this vast
universe.”
No! If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, if he is Lord over your life, your
identity (your value, meaning, purpose) is shaped and determined by the call
placed on you from heavenby God. This isn’t a guidance counseloratschool
who has administered certain personality profiles or skills tests to see what
you are best at in life. This isn’t an employer who informs you that you’ve
advancedabout as far as you’ll ever go in your job, so just settle in for the
duration and be content with your title, your position, and your salary.
Listen again to the words of God: you are one who shares in a “heavenly
calling”!God, the God of the universe, has summoned you to himself. He has
calledyou, has drawn you, has redeemedyou, has placedhis stamp of
ownership on you, has beckonedyou to himself, and has establishedwith you
a relationship of love and intimacy and joy that will last forever. This is what
it means to be called from heaven.
Second, this “calling” doesn’tsimply come from heaven; it leads to heaven as
well. In other words, this is as much about your ultimate destiny as it is about
your initial origin. He isn’t telling us merely where our hope comes from,
namely, from heaven, but where our hope is taking us, namely, to heaven.
Your life is far more than what you amass in your few years on this earth.
Don’t ever let your identity be shaped or limited merely by what you
accomplishor accumulate now. Your identity is as a man or woman who is

destined to live eternally in heavenly bliss and glory, which is to say, in the
presence and in the enjoyment of God himself.
Let me say one more thing about this facetof being “called” not only from
heaven but to heaven. In Ephesians 1:15ff. Paul prays that “the God of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and
of revelation in the knowledge ofhim, having the eyes of your hearts
enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has calledyou”
(vv. 17-18a). Didyou see that? He’s talking about the “hope” to which we
have been “called”. This is our “heavenlycalling” and Paul’s prayer is that
the Spirit would enable us to spiritually “see” andgraspand find strength in
the reality of all that is entailed by it. That is why what we are doing here in
Hebrews 3:1 is so eternally important.
Third, the word “heavenly” doesn’tmerely talk about where our calling
originated or where our calling is taking us. It also describes the quality of our
existence;the kind of person we are designedto be. Our lives now and
forevermore are to be characterizedby the values of heaven;energized by the
powerof heaven; shapedby the beauty of heaven. We are to live now, on
earth, heavenly lives. Do you getthat? You have been calledby God to live
now, on earth, a heavenly life, which is to say, a life that reflects the morality
and beauty and power and glory of heaven itself.
Why, then, would you listen to anyone who would tell you otherwise? Why,
then, would you ever considergiving yourself over to merely earthly pleasures
and earthly activities? There lives within you a heavenly power, the Holy
Spirit, who is calling you to considerwho you are in Christ. And if you do
that, nothing will ever be the same. Things you used to love, but all the while
knew you shouldn’t, you’ll gradually grow to hate. Things you used to believe
as true, but all the while knew were false, you’ll gradually grow to reject.
Things you used to do and saybecause you believed they alone could make life
fun and worth living, you’ll gradually come to recognize as empty and
delusional and destructive.
What I’m saying to you right now is almostidentical to what the Apostle Paul
said to the church in Colossaein Colossians 3:1-4.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above,
where Christ is, seatedatthe right hand of God. Set your minds on things that
are above, not on things that are on earth. Foryou have died, and your life is
hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you
also will appearwith him in glory” (Col. 3:1-4).
If our author is correct, and your “calling” and identity are from heaven and
leading to heaven and are to be characterizedby the qualities and values of
heaven, you can understand why Paul would tell us to “seek”the things of
heaven, to seek afterthe things “above” andnot “the things that are on
earth.”
In the largercontext of Colossians2-3 Paul is telling the Christians in that
church, and us as well, how you overcome sensualand fleshly impulses; in
other words, how you fight and defeatsinful temptations in your life. Yielding
to fleshly urges is overcome by "seeking" the things above. Fixing our minds
on "things above" leaves little time or mental energy for earthly fantasies. The
heart that is entranced by the risen Christ is not easilyseducedby "the things
that are on earth" (v. 2b). Paul uses language that requires both the energetic
orientation of our will ("keepseeking")as wellas the singular devotion of our
mind ("setyour mind"). This is a conscious andvolitionally deliberate
movement of the soul to fix and ground itself on, indeed to glut itself in, if you
will, the beauty of spiritual realities as opposedto the trivial and tawdry
things of this world.
Let me also say that this is preciselywhat the author of Hebrews has in mind
when he tells us to “consider” Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our
confession. To “consider” isn’t to think about once in a while. It means to
devote all your mental and spiritual energy to thinking and meditating and
concentrating on who Jesus is and what he has done. Fixate your thoughts on
Christ. Rivet your attention on him alone. Be ruthlessly attentive to him. This
is what Paul means when he says “seek”the things that are above and “set
your mind” on things that are above (Col. 3:1-2).
People, I know how hard this is to do. Neverin the history of mankind have
there been at our fingertips so many opportunities and devices to distract us

and take our minds off of Christ and off of our heavenly calling. It’s become
so bad that many of you can’t sit still and focus on God’s Word for 40 minutes
on a Sunday morning without being drawn to check your Facebookpage or
your email or twitter or instagram. It’s positively painful for you to turn off
TV or shut down the computer or set aside your smart phone and think and
meditate and study and pray about Jesus Christ and the things above and the
hope of your heavenly calling. Some of you, it grieves me to say, have
absolutely no idea what I’m talking about. And even those of you who do have
no idea how to go about it or how to getstarted.
And then you wonderwhy you’re so unhappy and unfulfilled and impatient
and easilyupset and so prone to boredom and why you give in so quickly to
whatevertemptation comes your way.
Look againat Colossians 3. The reasonwe must seek the things above is
because that is “where Christ is” (v. 1). He is the exaltedcenter and supreme
sovereignof the eternal and heavenly realm. Why would we want our lives
and thoughts and actions fixed anywhere else? The appealof heavenly things
is the presence ofJesus. It is the glory and beauty and multifaceted
personality and powerand splendor of the risen Christ to which Paul directs
our attention. This is surely what the author of Hebrews had in mind when he
exhorts those who “share in a heavenly calling” to “considerJesus”!
I don’t want you to misunderstand what either the author of Hebrews or Paul
is saying. When Paul commands us to “seek”afterthings above and not things
on earth and when the author of Hebrews describes our very identity as those
who have receiveda “heavenly calling,” neither is suggesting thatwe embrace
an "other-worldliness" that treats with contempt, or at best a benign neglect,
the earth and nature and normal human endeavors.
Neither author is encouraging Christians to ignore socialinjustice today in
anticipation of the vindication of righteousness in the age to come. Neither
Paul nor the author of Hebrews is suggesting that we carelesslyexploitthe
environment now, knowing that we shall one day live in the pristine glory of a
New Heavens and New Earth.

The terms used by Paul (“above” and “onthe earth”) and the word used by
Hebrews (“heavenly”) are not spatially literal but point to two opposing
ethical realms, indeed two antithetical world systems (with corresponding
antithetical worldviews). In saying Christ and God are “above” does not mean
they are absent from the earth or uninvolved with what happens in the world
in which we live. Far less does our “heavenly” calling mean that we are to be
unconcernedwith this world, given the fact that God’s purpose is to redeem it
and deliver it from the curse (see Romans 8:18ff.). Don't ever forget that we
will live on a redeemed, new EARTH for all eternity!
So again, to be a person who has receiveda “heavenly calling”, a person who
is commanded to seek andthink about “things above” does not mean we are
to ignore and neglectthe daily affairs and responsibilities of life in the here
and now. In saying that we should neither seek norset our minds on "things
on the earth" but rather live in accordancewithour “heavenly calling” they
are not suggesting that we refuse to mow the grass or take out the garbage or
play with our kids or be punctual in our appointments. Rather, they are
denouncing a carnal mindset, a perspective that is fixated on this world
system to the exclusion of Christ and the kingdom of God.
So, when Paul refers to "things below" or "things on the earth" he has in
mind that worldly system under the dominion of Satan, those values and goals
and principles that conflict with the revelation of God in Scripture. "Things
on the earth" are whateveris driven by pride, greed, lust, and disregard for
the glory of God. “Heaven” and the “things above,” on the other hand, are
whateverreflects the beauty of Christ, whether that be the changing of a
diaper, sharing a meal with friends, or celebrating the Eucharist.
The "real" life of the Christian, the "true" life in the "Spirit" and the reality
of living in accordancewith our “heavenly calling” is not something we do in
some distant realm, detachedfrom and unconnectedwith the dirt and sweat
and frustrations of trying to cope with other fallen folk and our own
obligations to them (howeveronerous they may be). The "real," "true,"
"spiritual," “heavenly” life of the Christian is right here, right now,
empoweredby the exalted Christ with whom we are foreveridentified.

Conclusion
The certainty and hope of this heavenly calling does not hang suspended on
our goodworks. Our heavenly calling is not conditioned on our righteousness.
If it were, we would have no hope. No, our hope and confidence and the
certainty of our salvationhang on Jesus. We are to consider“Jesus”!Don’t
considerme. Don’t considerthis church. Being a member of Bridgewaydoes
not save you. Don’t consideryour family or your possessionsor your
reputation. Don’t considerthe fact that up until now you have not committed
some scandalous public sin. Don’t “consider” anything but Christ!
Don’t pay him the courtesy of a passing glance. Don’tpatronize him with an
occasionalthought. Be fully occupiedand obsessedwith Jesus Christas the
Apostle and High Priestof your confession. Do you acknowledge andbank
everything on the truth that as your Apostle Jesus was sentto you and me to
provide the only infallible revelationof who God is? Do you acknowledge and
bank everything on the truth that as your High Priest Jesus alone canmake
atonement for your sin and bring you to God? If you can sincerelysayYes to
those questions, it means you have been made the recipient of a “heavenly
calling.” So live, love, talk, think, feel, and act like it!
Save
Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest Hebrews 3:1
As the writer of Hebrews continued to share how Jesus is superior to
“angels”, “prophets” and creation, he demonstratedhow He was “made like
unto his brethren”, that He might “be a merciful and faithful high priest in
things”. He also showedhow Jesus “himself has suffered being tempted” so
He is “able to succorthem that are tempted”. In chapter three and verse one

of Hebrews we discoverJesus declared as “the Apostle and High Priest of our
profession” where we read:
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,
considerthe Apostle and High Priest of our profession, ChristJesus;
The verse begins, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers ofthe heavenly
calling, ...” The writer beganwith the word, “Wherefore” whichmeans “from
which, whereby and for which cause, reasonand account”, “holybrethren”
which refers to “sacred, pure, morally and religiously blameless fellow
believers united by a bond of affection”, “partakers”or“those sharing in,
associatesandfellow partners” “of the heavenly calling” which means
“according to invitation and salvation embracedwithin the celestialabode of
God and angels ”. The writer of Hebrews came to another conclusionand his
audience was the “fellow believers” who have receivedand partakenof the
“call” which was originatedfrom “Heaven”.
The verse goes onto say, “considerthe Apostle and High Priest of our
profession, Christ Jesus;” The writer continued, “consider” whichmeans
“behold, perceive and discover” “the Apostle” which refers to “the delegate,
messengerandone sent forth with orders” “and High Priest” or “chiefof
priests” “ofour profession” which refers to “of the writer of Hebrews and his
fellow believers' confessionand acknowledgment”, “Christ” whichmeans “the
anointed Messiahand Son of God” “Jesus” whosename means “Jehovahis
Salvation” and was “the Son of God, Saviorof mankind and God incarnate”.
The Hebrew writer desired for his readers to “perceive and behold” Jesus
Christ who was not only the “One sent forth with orders” but also the
interceding “high priest” on behalf of those who “rely upon, trust in and cling
to” Him.

When we think through these words in Hebrews, we too must “consider” this
one called“Christ Jesus”.He came as a man to identify with us and was
“specificallysentwith a message” as “the Apostle”, and He became the
procurer of that message by giving His life as a sacrifice forour sins. Oh that
we might truly “consider” Him today, and should there be one reading these
words who does not know Him as “Saviorand Lord”, “behold, perceive and
discover” “ChristJesus” who came to be “the Apostle” and “high priest” on
your behalf.
Next time we see the writer declare how Jesus “wasfaithful to him that
appointed him”, so read ahead, and we shall join togetherthen.
https://rayhanselman.blogspot.com/2018/09/jesus-apostle-and-high-priest-
hebrews-31.html
3. Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest(Hebrews 3) The introduction of
Hebrews 3 relates directly to chapter 2, where the writer has concluded in
Heb 2:17 that we are brothers in every way. He also concludes that the
benefit of atonement was to Abraham’s true descendents. He begins chapter
three focusing on this relationship of brothers and draws the conclusions
stemming from the relationship in the text that follows.
Holy Brothers who Share in the Heavenly Calling 3:1 Therefore, holy
brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the
apostle and high priest whom we confess.2 He was faithful to the one who
appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. By saying, “holy
brothers,” the author gives a sacreddesignationto the family relationship
betweenChristians, Christ, and God. The idea that Christians are children of
God and brothers to one another is an idea that runs throughout the New
Testament. Abraham’s descendants, ofthe preceding chapter, are the true
children of God. Paul taught that the natural children of Abraham are not
the children of God, but the children of promise are the children of God. In

Rom 9:8, Paul wrote, “8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are
God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regardedas
Abraham's offspring.” These children of Abraham are those who believe
according to Paul in Gal 3:7-9,: 7 Understand, then, that those who believe are
children of Abraham. 8 The Scripture foresaw thatGod would justify the
Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospelin advance to Abraham: "All
nations will be blessedthrough you.” 9 So those who have faith are blessed
along with Abraham, the man of faith. That the believing children are the
true children of God becomes evident. Johnwrote in 1 John 3:1-3: 3:1 How
greatis the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called
children of God! And that is what we are! The reasonthe world does not
know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dearfriends, now we are children of
God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that
when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3
Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. In
Rom 8:16-17, our relationship to God, as His children, secures our
inheritance: “16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's
children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-
heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may
also share in his glory.” Our share in the heavenly calling in Heb 3:1, cited
above, is this very same inheritance. We are to fix our thoughts on Jesus who
is the apostle (one sent) and high priest whom we confess. Heb2:17
designatedJesus “a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God.” This
Jesus was faithful and loyal in all God’s house. The relationship thus extends
from Christ the son, to Christians as brothers, to God as the Father, all of
which comprise the house of God. Moses was a faithful member of this house
of God; however, but he was just a member of the house, along with all of us.
Jesus is different as apostle and high priest, and in the following verse, he is
different as the very builder of the house.
1
Jesus, Greaterthan Moses 3 Jesushas been found worthy of greaterhonor
than Moses,just as the builder of a house has greaterhonor than the house
itself. 4 Forevery house is built by someone, but God is the builder of
everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to

what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God's
house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of
which we boast. Forthe reasons givenin the preceding verses, Jesus is worthy
of more honor than Moses,forthe builder of the house has greaterhonor than
the house itself. The comparisonputs Moses, andby extension, the Law of
Moses,in the proper prospective about Jesus. Christis both the builder of
God’s house and a faithful son over God’s house. The house of God that Jesus
built is the church of the living God. Paul wrote in 1 Tim 3:14-15, “I am
writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how
people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of
the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” Paul was also specific
about the spiritual nature of the house of God in Eph 2:19-22:19
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with
God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of
the apostles andprophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
21 In him the whole building is joined togetherand rises to become a holy
temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built togetherto become
a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Emphasis added.) “We are his
house,” in Heb 3:6 shows that the spiritual house of Godis made of people—
people qualified by their courage and hope.
Warning againstUnbelief 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 desert, 9 where your fathers tested and tried me and for
forty years saw what I did. 10 That is why I was angry with that generation,
and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my
ways.' 11 So I declaredon oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my
rest.'" The preceding verses endedwith the statement, “And we are his
house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.” The
Christians’ membership in the house of Goddepends on holding to courage
and hope and not faltering in unbelief. The warning looks to Psalms 95:7-11
for reinforcement, echoing the warning already stated in Heb 2:1, “Do not
drift away.” This present passageis one of those examples from the Old
Testamentreferred to in Heb 2:2 where “every violation and disobedience
receivedits just punishment.” We know that the author of the Psalmwas

David; yet the Hebrew writer begins, “So, as the Holy Spirit says.” The Holy
Spirit speaks through the word of David and the other inspired
2
writers. Rom 8:16-17, quoted above, reads, “16 The Spirit himself testifies
with our spirit.” Clearly, the spirit speaks to us through the word of God.
God responded to the unbelief of that day, “Theyshall never see my rest.” In
the next verse, the writer applies this lessonfrom the Psalms to these lastdays.
12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that
turns awayfrom the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long
as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's
deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end
the confidence we had at first. The falling awayfollows the reverse order of
that order by which God savedus: faith, repentance, and obedience. The one
who falls awayhas a heart that is sinful, unbelieving, and turns away.
Unbelief and the sins that go with it harden the heart with deceitfulness. As
promised, in such a state, we shall never enter God’s rest. Verse 14 gives the
antidote to this state of sin: “14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold
firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.” 15 As has just been said:
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the
rebellion." In verse 15, the writer repeats the admonition, showing its
importance: Do not harden your heart!
Not Able to Enter God’s RestBecauseofUnbelief 16 Who were they who
heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses ledout of Egypt? 17 And
with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned,
whose bodies fell in the desert? 18 And to whom did God swearthat they
would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that
they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. The chapter ends with
this setof rhetorical questions. A rhetoricalquestion is a question to which
the answeris self-evident. The questions bring the readerlogicallyto the
main point of this discourse:• 16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? •
Were they not all those Moses ledout of Egypt? • 17 And with whom was he
angry for forty years? • Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in
the desert? • 18 And to whom did God swearthat they would never enter his

rest if not to those who disobeyed? The conclusionto this passagesummarizes
the preceding verses as a conclusionto the rhetorical questions: “19 So we see
that they were not able to enter, because oftheir unbelief.” The stage is also
setfor the discussionofthe next chapter about God’s true rest for the people
of His spiritual house. Hebrews 3 has taught that Jesus has securedour rest
as the apostle and high priest of all that we believe and follow. We are holy
brothers in this heavenly calling that makes us family members in the house of
God. However, we, just as Israel after the flesh, may fall away because of
unbelief. If we fall away, we, just as they, will not be able to enter God’s rest.
Hebrews 4 will revealthat the true restof Godfor His people still stands.
http://www.gospellessons.info/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/hebrews3.pdf
ConsiderJesus the Apostle and High Priest
The keynote to the Epistle to the Hebrews is “considerJesus Christ, the Sonof
God, and the Messiah.” It admonishes us to set our heart on Him.
"Therefore, holybrethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, considerJesus, the
Apostle and High Priestof our confession"(Hebrews 3:1).
The word “consider” (katanoeo)literallymeans, “to direct one’s whole mind
to an object,” to immerse oneselfin it and hence to apprehend it in its whole
compass” (TDNT).
In order to grow spiritually, we must fix our mind on Christ. It is imperative
that we considercarefully and understand fully the person and work of Jesus
Christ.
The word “consider” is formed from the root of the Latin word for “star” and
originally means to contemplate with the idea of a quiet, patient, persevering
concentratedgazing in order to study the stars.

The writer of Hebrews admonishes his readers to gaze upon Jesus and
contemplate Him, therefore increasing our knowledge, devotion, and faith in
Him. What does he wish for us to “consider?”
He wants us to see the significance and thoroughly weigh the evidence of
Christ’s superiority over the prophets, angels, and the patriarchs of Israel.
Becauseofthe greatnessofHis person, the effectivenessofHis redemptive
work will be pleasing to Godthe Father.
The writer of Hebrews is addressing Christians calling them “holy brethren,
partakers of a heavenly calling” (v.1).
Believers in Jesus Christare saints. We are “holy brethren” in our standing
with God because ofthe atoning sacrifice of Christ. We are holy in Christ. It is
Jesus who makes us holy. The word “holy” in this verse is emphasizing our
position in salvation. We have been “setapart for God.” Christian believers
are saints, setapart ones. Sainthooddoes not take place in some distant
future. The believer is alreadya saint because He is “in Christ.” This perfect
standing with God should be the greatestincentive to make every effort to live
a godly life before Him (Phil. 3:14).
He has made a perfect propitiation for the sins of His people (1 John 2:21;
4:10). The believer is holy because Godhas made him so (Heb. 2:11). We
“share in the heavenly calling” because God“is bringing “us” to glory” (2:10).
We share in Jesus Christ (Heb.3: 14; Eph. 5:30). We are “partakers ofa
heavenly calling” (Heb. 4:14; 10:23). “The call comes from heaven and is to
heaven in its appeal,” says A. T. Robertson.
Jesus Christ is both “The Apostle and High Priest” of Christians.
Jesus is “The Apostle” because He was sent by God the Fatherto be His
spokesmanand revealer(Heb. 1:1-3; Jn. 3:17, 34; 5:36, 38;6:29; 8:42; 10:36;
11:42;13:3; Matt. 17:5; Deut. 18:15, 18). BecauseHe is God’s ambassador,
we need to considercarefully and fully understand what He has revealedto us
about a right relationship with God.
Jesus is also our greatHigh Priest(Heb. 2:17-18;4:14). He represents God
before men and man before a holy God. “As an apostle, He is close to me; as

Priest, He is close to God.” “Godwas in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself” (2Cor. 5:19).
Christianity is Christ. Therefore it behooves us to contemplate and meditate
on Him. Lord Jesus, willI see you today?
The Lord is not ashamedto call us His brethren (Heb. 2: 12). May we never
be afraid or embarrassedto callHim our Lord and Master(Matt. 10:32-33).
God has done something marvelous for sinners. Becauseofour vital union
with Christ, He has imputed to us His righteousness. We are partakers ofthe
heavenly calling. “What He has, we have. Where He is, we are. He is the
Holy One of God; therefore, we are holy. He has been made higher than the
heavens;therefore, we are partakers of the heavenly calling.”
No passing glance of Christ will do. Understand and learn the lessonthat God
wants to teachyou. “Considerattentively and thoughtfully the Apostle and
High Priestof our confessionJesus”(WuestExpanded Translation).
Selah!
Messageby Wil Pounds (c) 2006
A FREE GIFT FOR YOU
ABIDE MISSIONS

CHRIST IN OLD TESTAMENT
KEY WORD DOCTRINES
BIBLE STUDIES
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold
under any circumstances whatsoeverwithout the author's written consent.
Unless otherwise noted"Scripture quotations takenfrom the NASB."
"Scripture takenfrom the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" ©
Copyright 1960, 1962,1963, 1968, 1971,1972, 1973, 1975,1977,1995by The
LockmanFoundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated(NET)are from the
NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist
TheologicalSeminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has
pastoredin Panama, Ecuadorand the U. S, and servedfor over 20 years as
missionary in Ecuadorand Honduras. He had a daily expositoryBible
teaching ministry head in over100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to
seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his

wife Ann have three growndaughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor
and teaches seminaryextensioncourses in Ecuador.
http://www.abideinchrist.com/selah/aug25.html
Hebrews 3 - The GreatHigh Priest
Readings:Psalm104:1-9, Job38:1-7 (34-41), Mark 10:35-45,Hebrews 5:1-10
Preachedat Mount Hebron PresbyterianChurch, MD, October18, 2015
I was reading the small ads in the back of one of the religious magazines.
There were all sorts of courses you could apply for. Very impressive
qualifications were on offer. A doctorate in this. A certificate in that. It
appears that, if you have the money, you can become a well-qualified religious
professionalwithout ever having to open a book or attend a course.
It wasn’t that wayin Old Testament times. In Old Testamenttimes the
ministry was a closedshop. Being a priest was not a professionyou could buy
your way into or a job that you chose. You had to be born into it. You were
chosenby divine appointment.
And if you were chosenyou had to have the right attitude towards your
calling. Humility was a definite requirement. A spirit of compassionwas
essential. You had to be one of the people, able to empathize with their
problems, yet be setapart your work in such a way that the people would
understand that God was an awesomeand holy God.

The Book ofHebrews gives us an image of Jesus as 'The Great High Priest'. If
being a priest was a high privilege then being ‘The High Priest'was just about
the greatesthonorany priest could be awardedwith. To be the one who
offered the sacrifice in Jerusalemduring the holiest of feastdays... that was
special. Yet Jesus, (the writer of Hebrews tells us) is greaterthan any High
Priestthat ever walkedupon the face of the earth.
Greatereven than the mysterious Melchizedek. Who? Melchizedek!
Melchizedek is a shadowy figure who makes a fleeting appearance in the book
of Genesis atthe time of Abraham. He comes out of nowhere and disappears
into eternity.
Melchizedek’s significance is that Abraham, the Father of all the Israel, who
carried in his person the seedof all the priests that were ever calledto serve
before the altar of Almighty God, saw fit to pay tribute to Melchizedek, after
he had rescuedhis brother Lot and a whole crowd of other folk, from capture
by the enemy.
Melchizedek, (also describedas the 'King of Salem'or 'King of Jerusalem')
comes along and shares bread and wine with Abraham and grants to
Abraham Gods blessing. In response Abraham takes a tenth of all that he has
and gives it to Melchizedek. (Now bearin mind this was before anybody had
heard of tithing, yet alone of celebrating the acts of God through bread and
wine, as we are used to doing in our communion service.)
Melchizedek was seenas evengreater than the High priest – in that Abraham,
the Fatherof all priests, high or low, honored Melchizedek, above and before
all others. The author of Hebrews... 'Now that I’ve explained just how great
Melchizedek was, youknow what? Jesus is greater!'

This is the argument right through the preceding chapters in Hebrews. Jesus
is the Greatest. In the prologue (we lookedat a couple of weeks ago)Jesus is
describedas greaterthan any of the prophets or any angel. In chapter three
Jesus is declaredgreaterthan Moses. Now He is describedas greaterthan any
priest, even greaterthan the mysterious Melchizedek. Jesus is given the title
'The GreatHigh Priest'.
But what’s so significantabout being the ‘Great High Priest?’
In the first place, like the priests of the Old Testament, Jesus was divinely
appointed. The mission that Jesus accomplishedhad been a part of God’s will
from the beginning of time. He was born into it.
The author of Hebrews applies two Old Testamentscriptures to Jesus from
the Psalms. One verse pictures God addressing Jesus with the words, ‘You are
my Son, today I have begottenyou’. The other verse reads ‘You are a priest
forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’Christ’s ministry had always
been a part of the Divine plan.
Here we see a common New Testamenttheme. (John 15:16) 'You didn’t
choose me, I chose you'. That doesn’tjust apply to Jesus orto priests serving
in a temple. It goes forus to. It’s not that we have chosenGod. It is God who
has chosenus. And only from out of God’s love are granted to us the gifts of
grace that we need to be disciples.
We are followers of Jesus through the Grace ofGod. If we forget that, faith
can easilybecome something that is centeredon ourselves rather than on God.
I remember singing in Sunday School...

'It’s me, it’s me, it’s me, Oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer,
Not my brother, not my sisterbut it’s me Oh Lord,
Standing in the need of prayer'
But compare that with the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He
says ‘Not me…’ ‘Not my will, but thy will be done Oh Lord'. We hear Jesus
praying, Although I want this cup of suffering to pass from me, what I really
want is that through my life my brothers and my sisters in this world are
blessed. That’s why I’m here, that's why I came”.
It is my understanding that whilst we are savedonly by the Grace of God,
where we exercise ourfree will is in how much we allow the Grace ofGod to
change our lives, how prepared we are to turn from our self and put the
requirements of God and the service of others at the center of things, rather
than pursuing our own narrow agendas forthis life and the next.
‘To find yourself' encouragedJesus, 'Lose yourself.'Allow God’s grace to
sweepoveryou like a fresh breeze. Let it washover you like a warm shower.
Accept it. Believe it. Go with its flow. 'You did not chooseme, I chose you.' It
as though God’s Spirit says to us, 'Just as Jesus was God’s chosenone for the
salvationof the world, so you are chosento be THE bearers and carriers of
God’s love to others.'
Jesus is the greatHigh Priestbecause he was chosenand ordained by God to
be the Savior.

Secondly, Jesus is the GreatHigh Priest, because whateverwe go through in
life, Jesus knows how to get us through it.
When we see somebodygoing through a hard time, if we can, we’ll try and
help them. Yet often we can’t help because we haven’t been in the place of
suffering where that person is. There are times when the only personwho can
really help is the one who can say, 'I know ... because I’ve been where you are
right now'.
Jesus knows what’s it like to be human. In our Christmas celebrations we
rejoice in the message aboutGod becoming man and dwelling among us.
Hebrews tells us that because Jesus,as a man, Jesus suffered, then He can
help us through our hardest times.
He knew what it was to be rejected. He knew what it was to have lies told
about Him. He knew what it was to be totally misunderstood. He knew what it
was to be betrayed. He knew what it was to be unappreciated, to do a task and
never receive any acknowledgment, to do something that was completelythe
right thing to do but receive nothing but criticism, to be unjustly hated and
mistrusted and despised. He knew about being tortured.
He knew what it was to be a child. He knew what it was like to be a teenager.
He knew what it was to face responsibilities within a family. He knew what a
hard working day was. He knew what being tired was. He knew about stress.
He knew about hunger. He knew what being a refugee was. He knew what
living in a land occupiedby a foreign powerwas.
He knew how hard it was to go the wayof God when your whole being cried
out to go in the opposite direction. He knew what it was to be tempted by the

most tempting temptations that life brings our way. He knew the deceptions
and attractions of evil. He knew about physical pain. He knew about grief and
angerand frustration and tears and struggle. He knew how to live and He
knew how die.He knew what the effects of sin were. Not because He was a
sinner, but because onthe cross He took the pain of our sins and sorrows and
sicknessupon Himself.
Whateverwe are going through we have in Jesus one that we canturn to, one
who knows. Yet so much more than simply having the knowledge ofhow it
feels, as the Great High Priest, He is also the one who can help.
The third function of the Priestwas to be a bridge betweenGod and
humanity.
He is the High Priest who made a sacrifice onour behalf before God, His
sacrifice upon the cross. He is the High Priestwho intercedes on our behalf
before the Father. He is the Healer, the One who can still the storm and calm
the waves, the one who casts outthe demons and despairthat inhabit empty
lives. He is the deliverer who sets people free from destructive lifestyles and
habits. He has the Words of life, which will never pass away.
His Holy Spirit offers Kingdom life. He promises peace. He surprises us with
joy. He melts our hard hearts with love. He inspires. He upholds. He comforts.
He leads. He Calls. He encourages.
Jesus is the GreatHigh Priest. Greaterthan prophets, greaterthan angels,
greaterthan Moses orAaron or Levi or any of their priestly line. Greater
even than the mysterious Melchizedek.

I encourage youthen, to live your life under the ministry of the love of Jesus.
He has chosenyou to share that love with others. You don’t need to apply to
any dubious college to geta certificate or a doctorate to do that! All you need
is a heart that desires to do the will of God.
Jesus is the greatHigh Priest.
He is divinely appointed by Godto occupythat role. So God calls us and
appoints us to particular areas of service within His body, the church.
Jesus is able to help us through whateverlife brings our way. He went there.
He stands with us by the clearcoolwaters and in the valley of the shadow.
Jesus understands what everit is we are going through. He wants to be let in
on our problems and hurts. So share them with Him.
His love is the bridge that connects us with God. Let us pray that the Holy
Spirit may continue to guide us and lead us, that we may live to the glory of
His Holy name.
Let us rejoice that Jesus is our Great High Priest’.
The ReverendAdrian J. Pratt B.D.
What is the significance ofhaving Jesus as High Priest?

Having Jesus as our High Priesthas far-reaching effects for our lives.
Essentialreading for all disciples!
Written by Johan OscarSmith
“Forevery high priest takenfrom among men is appointed for men in things
pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices forsins.”
Hebrews 5:1.
Jesus as High Priest:A Man with the powerof an endless life
We need to differentiate betweenJesus as an atonement for our sins and Jesus
as High Priest or Mediatorof a new covenant. The ungodly need Jesus as an
atonement for sin, while those who have been savedneed Him as a high priest
and advocate.
In order to become an atonement and high priest, Jesus had to partake in the
same flesh
Sin is anything that goes againstGod’s will and His laws. To commit sin is to
transgress ordisobey these laws. The lust to sin dwells in human nature. In
other words, it is contaminated and motivated by the sinful ...
and blood as the children He came to save. (Hebrews 2:14) “Forindeed He
does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seedof Abraham.”
Hebrews 2:16. To save men, Jesus had to experience what it was like to be a
man. Therefore it is also written, “… but made Himself of no reputation,
taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness ofmen. And
being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became
obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”Philippians 2:7-8.
On earth high priests were appointed according to the law of a fleshly
commandment. Becausethey were mortal, there were many of them. But
Jesus, who was conceivedby the Holy Spirit, had “the powerof an endless
life” within Him from birth. This life had never before been in the flesh. That
is why Jesus came with the kingdom of heaven in Him. John the Baptistdid

not have this kingdom within, though he was the greatestborn of women; so
even the leastin the kingdom of heavenis greaterthan he.
The first time the power of an endless life was manifestedin flesh was when
Jesus came to earth. (Hebrews 7:16) In other words, it was manifestedin the
body of a man. As long as Jesus remainedhere on earth, He was the only one
who had the kingdom of heavendwelling within. That is why He could say
that the kingdom of heaven is near. Through the help of “the power of an
endless life,” Jesus took up a battle againstthe temptations that came from
the flesh that He had voluntarily takenupon Himself. He always said no to the
things that came from selfand yes to all that was divine. He had within
Himself the power required to accomplishthis.
Nonetheless, mostof the time it was a heavy and difficult battle, because it is
written that with vehement cries and tears He offered up prayers and
supplications to Him who could save Him from death. In the days of His flesh
He fought againstall the demands that came from His human flesh, and He
won such a thorough victory that even His flesh could restin hope. His soul
was not left in Hades; neither did His flesh see corruption. (Acts 2:25-31)So
Jesus is the only personthat has won a complete victory over every demand
from the flesh, over every temptation and over every sin. The power of an
endless life made this possible.
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The Holy Spirit – the Helper – the powerof eternallife
Jesus possessedthe inheritance, and He wanted to pass it on to the children,
but the testament only became valid after His death, since it was not in effect
while He was alive. This is the reasonthat Jesus had to depart, so that the
Helper, the Holy Spirit, could come. Then on the Day of Pentecost, He sent the
Spirit so forcefully that He came as a rushing mighty wind and filled the
whole house where the disciples were sitting. (Acts 2:2)
This was the same Spirit that Jesus had in the days of His flesh, and He
offered Himself in the power of this eternalSpirit. He went through
tribulations and sufferings of every kind. (Hebrews 4:15) Jesus had to take
upon Himself flesh and blood and be tempted and tried as we are, so that He
might be able to help us in our trials. The Scriptures testify in many places to
this. (Hebrews 2:16-18;Philippians 2:16-18;Romans 8:3; Hebrews 10:5)
In the days of His flesh here on earth, Jesus receivedHis training to become
High Priestaccording to the order of Melchizedek. The sufferings perfected
Him. Jesus suffered, being tempted. Each one is tempted when he is drawn
awayby his own desires that come from his flesh. But Jesus overcame inthe
powerof an eternal Spirit. Throughout His entire life, He suffered death in
the flesh. He did this by presenting His body as a living sacrifice, holyand
acceptable to God. Now we are exhorted to do the same thing. (Romans 12:1)
Jesus:A High Priesttakenfrom among men
The author of the letter to the Hebrews writes that there was much to say
which was hard to explain regarding Jesus’training to become High Priest,
because they had become dull of hearing. (Hebrews 5:11-14)You will discover
the deepestmysteries of Jesus’high priestly education in the mystery of
Christ “manifestedin the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seenby angels” afterthe
resurrection. For just as every high priest takenfrom among men is appointed
for men in things pertaining to God (Hebrews 5:1), so it was necessarythat
our heavenly High Priestalso be taken from among men. But if someone does
not have the flesh and blood of a man, he is not a man. And if he cannot be
tempted, he is not a man. But God be praised that we have a High Priestwho
was tried in every point—every kind of temptation—yet without sin. In other

words, He conqueredHis own will and the temptations that came from His
flesh so completely and perfectly that no sin or blemish was found in Him
during the temptation. This cannotalways be said about us in our
temptations. That is why it is expressly mentioned when referring to Jesus.
The law appoints men with weaknessesto be priests, “… but the word of the
oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected
forever.” Thus the former commandment is annulled because of its weakness.
(Hebrews 7:18, 28)
When it was said, “Having been perfected,” clearlythere was a time in the
days of Jesus fleshwhen He was not yet perfected. That is why it is also
written that it pleasedGodto make the Author of our salvationperfect
through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10)
For the same reason, we are exhorted that if we indeed suffer with Him, we
will also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:17) Sufferings are inevitable as we
bring our life into line with the Word of God. When we practice godliness
with contentment and choose to suffer in every temptation instead of sinning,
then we suffer with Him. In these intense trials of our godliness, Jesus remains
our faithful High Priestand Mediator.
More than atonement for sin
These blessedtruths are extremely precious and valuable to those who believe
in spite of the fact that there are people who do not understand them.
Personally, these Words of God concerning Jesus as High Priestand Mediator
have been of incalculable use, comfort and blessing.
The fact is that Jesus canonly begin to serve as High Priest when a death has
takenplace over sins committed under the old covenant. (Hebrews 9:15) Only
then can we taste the eternalinheritance that was promised to us. As long as
we have not yet acknowledgedthat we have died with Christ, we cannot lay
hold of His life. But His Word is Spirit and life.
The reasonso few people know about Jesus as High Priestis because most
people only want to have Him as an atonement for sin. People spend their lives
needing and asking for forgiveness. However, ina life that is “crucified with

Christ,” Jesus willbe manifested as High Priest. Everything depends on the
life we live, because life is the light of men.
This article has been translated from Norwegianandwas first published
under the title “Jesus as High Priest” in BCC’s periodicalSkjulte Skatter
(Hidden Treasures)in April, 1928.
© Copyright Stiftelsen Skjulte Skatters Forlag
THE APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST
THE APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST
Thursday – Aug 24, 2017
Welcome back to this wonderful Bible Study from the Book of Hebrews. God
is so good. Do you ever feel like this racoonhanging on for dear life? Of
course, all of us who call Jesus Lord know exactly what I am talking about.
Fortunately, we have the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus who are
way smarter than our spiritual adversaries. This racoonis climbing up one
leg of the deer feeder we had in Texas to stealcorn. Not a whole lot unlike the
devil who comes but to steal, kill, and destroy. Now let’s turn to our Bible
Study text.
Hebrews 3:1-3 (KJV)
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, considerthe
Apostle and High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus;
2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moseswas faithful in all
his house.

3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuchas he
who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
We are not just calledto make Heaven our home but to obey our calling in the
Kingdom of God, the body of Christ, which comes from Heaven. As sons of
God we are calledto promote the family name and enlarge the Kingdom. As
we study our text we are askedto “considerthe Apostle and High Priest”.
The word ‘consider’ is interesting. According to The Complete Word Study
Dictionary – New Testamentsynonyms include: to learn thoroughly or
consideraccurately;to perceive fully; discern; to apprehend, comprehend, or
perceive. However, the one antonym given is: to disobey. So, consideredas a
whole we should conclude that not only are we to learn thoroughly and
accuratelyabout our Apostle and High Priest, Christ Jesus but we are to obey
(antonym of disobey) the Apostle and High Priest, Christ Jesus. Itseems to
me that we could accuratelysubstitute the word ‘obeying’ in place of
‘consider’. To obey the Word of Godis loving God.
An apostle is one who is setapart, one who is sent out, a messenger, andan
ambassador. Jesus (the Word) was setapart from God to come into the earth
as a very specialmessengerindeed. He was not only set apart but sentout
with a messageofreconciliation(messageofan ambassador)to God. He not
only spoke the messagebut He was the message. He was the lamb of God that
paid the price of all sin and removed the sin barrier providing a path back to
fellowship with Godfor eachof us. The same fellowshipthat Adam had in the
beginning is now available to eachone of us.
As we look at the recordedlives of other apostles in Scripture like Paul we see
that an apostle comes with messagesofedification, clarificationof doctrine,
illumination of sin in the Church, and correction. Apostles atthe time of
Jesus and beyond to this very time are appointed by Jesus and are His special
ones setaside to bring a messageand a reconciliationof various factions in the
Church to God. The one being sent is of lesserrank than the one sending. So,
Apostles as we see them in the Bible and today are of a lesserrank than Jesus
just as Jesus in the role and rank of Apostle was inferior to the Father. An
interesting point you may have alreadythought about is this mixing of apostle
and ambassador. EveryChristian is an ambassadorforChrist but we would

not all be consideredApostles. Apostles are sent by God to various Churches
and if authentic (the apostle)are to bring correctionand realignment with the
mission of Heaven. An ambassadorwouldnot be sent to bring correctionin
doctrine or to the leadership of the Church.
Now what about Christ Jesus as High Priest? Notice there is a little word
inserted betweenPriestand Christ that being profession. The Greek word
transliterated to English is homologia according to Strong’s Talking Greek &
Hebrew Dictionary. I think you will recognize that this is a compound word
with ‘homo’ meaning ‘same’and ‘logia’ meaning ‘word’. Our take away
messagefrom this is that when we are saying what He says then we get the full
force of His Apostleship, His work as our High Priest, and as Christ Jesus in
our lives. And remember this is in the context of our obeying (Bible love) the
Apostle, the High Priest, and obeying Christ Jesus. The word ‘Christ’
includes the leadership, the direction, the teaching, the gifting of the Holy
Spirit. Remember, the sons of God are led of the Spirit of God. Those who
are led by others spurning the Holy Spirit are not sons but little children.
They may think they are doing a bang-up job for God when in reality they are
rebellious little children.
The High Priestfunction starting with Aaron (Moses’brothera Levite) is
explained in some detail in the PentateuchespeciallyLeviticus the sixteenth
chapter. Priests from among men perform duties or ministry before God on
the behalf of other men. In the Tabernacle andlater in the Temple the High
Priestwould sacrifice aninnocent animal and take its blood to the mercy seat
in the MostHoly Place for his sin, those of his family, other Levites, and for
the people. There was also a scapegoatand Jesus was certainlyour scapegoat.
He took our punishment in our place. Jesus allowedHimself to be made sin
for the joy setbefore Him. His innocent blood and the Words of His
testimony brought Him out of Hell by the Hand of Justice having paid the
price of sin (spiritual and physical death). His sacrifice thatday like with the
priests of old blotted out all the sins laid upon Him unjustly simultaneously
blotting out all of our sins. The sins laid upon Jesus that day at Calvary were
our sins since He was sinless. The only sin that sends a person to Hell is the
rejectionof the Holy Spirits calling us to Christ. Sin subsequent to salvation is
discussedin 1 John the first chapter. Christ confirmed the New (Blood)

Covenantthat day, obtaining an eternalredemption for all who will receive it.
As we end for today let’s take a moment to meditate the following passage.
Hebrews 5:1-6 (KJV)
1 For every high priest takenfrom among men is ordained for men in things
pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices forsins:
2 Who can have compassiononthe ignorant, and on them that are out of the
way; for that he himself also is compassedwith infirmity.
3 And by reasonhereofhe ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer
for sins.
4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is calledof God, as
was Aaron.
5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that
said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begottenthee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order
of Melchisedec.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it
in the name of Jesus, confessit, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keepthee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, andProphetic Voice
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
MAILING ADDRESS:3 RosswoodGreenLane, Unit Two, Oakland, Maine
04963

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Author: Dr. David R. Wood
Jesus is the PerfectHigh Priest(A sermon based on Hebrews 5:7-10)
Jesus is the PerfectHigh Priest
A sermon basedon Hebrews 5:7-10
Sunday, March29, 2009 – Lent 6B
"I have the perfect model for you!" the salesmansaid, before we'd spokena
word. Apparently husband and wife climbing out the car with two little boys
screamed, "We needa minivan!" That the salesmanwas right in assuming
what we were looking for, it didn't help his sales pitch. It only made him seem
arrogant, to assume that he knew enough about us at a glance to know what
was perfectfor us. It was if he didn't care what we had to say.
Now, I don't intend to sound like that salesmanthis morning, but the truth is,
I know exactly what you need. And I have the perfectone for you. What you
need more than peace at home is peace with God. What you need more than
forgiveness from that personyou hurt is forgiveness from God. And what you
need more than job security is eternal security. What you need is someone
who can come betweenyou and God. You need a high priest.

And I have the perfect one for you. His name is Jesus. He's the perfect high
priest. He's perfect because he became submissive for you that he might
become a source for you – the source of eternal salvation. Listen to the word
recordedfor us in Hebrews 5:7-10 that describe our perfectHigh Priest…
7During the days of Jesus'life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions
with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he
was heard because ofhis reverent submission. 8Although he was a son, he
learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became
the source ofeternal salvationfor all who obey him 10andwas designatedby
God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
I. He Became Submissive for Us
What do you think of when you hear the word "submit"? Do you think of
roles of men and women? In Ephesians 5 God instructs wives to "submit to
their husbands," but that's easiersaidthan done. Wives, how do you do? Do
you even try? Or do you think submission equals inferiority and weakness,
that submission in a marriage is an antiquated, unworkable idea in the
modern world.
Or maybe you think of Romans 13 where God instructs citizens to "submit to
the governing authorities…" So how well have you submitted there? Have you
always honored God's representatives? Eventhe guy you didn't vote for? Do
you always submit to the laws that our governing authority has established?
Do you always drive the speedlimit?
Or maybe, when you hear the word submit you think of God. Certainly
Muslims do, since the word Islam means submission and a Muslim is one who
submits. In Hebrews 12 God instructs Christians to submit to him like a son
submits to his father (vs.7-9), but how many kids want to listen to their
parents? And how well do we submit to Godand his will?

The truth is we don't submit as we should. We too often behave like
disobedient children. We are selfish. We are self-centered. And we tell God
what he should do and what he could do better. That's not submission. That's
the opposite.
And for such attitudes, let alone the sins that result from those attitudes, you
and I deserve to suffer. We deserve hell! And that's exactly why Jesus'
reverent submission was so necessary. Becauseevenif we spent the rest of
eternity on our knees begging for forgiveness, itwouldn't help. We could
shout out in anguish to God and cry buckets of tears and it wouldn't help one
bit. Without Jesus Godwouldn't even hear our prayers since our sin would
continue to separate us from God.
What we desperatelyneed is someone to intercede. We need a priest. What we
need is someone to make a sacrifice forus to remove our guilt. We need a high
priest. And God has the perfect one for you...
MeetJesus. He is the perfect high priest for you because ofwho he is and
because ofwhat he's done. Jesus is true man, in every way. He had to be to die
for our sins. And if there's any doubt that Jesus was true man, look at him
agonize in the Garden of Gethsemane. "During the days of Jesus'life on
earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one
who could save him from death…"
That first Maundy Thursday he told his disciples that his soul was
"overwhelmedto the point of death" (Mark 14:33-34). Knowing that he
would not only be tortured to death, but endure the hell of separationfrom
the Fatherhe prayed so hard that his sweatwas "like drops of blood" (Luke
22:44).
Jesus was very human with human emotions, human fear, and a very human
temptation to turn awayfrom the cross. In that agonizing prayer in the
garden he cried out to God, "My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken
from me" (Matthew 26:39).
And yet, as human as he was, he was also very much divine God. He was
without sin and submitted to God's will perfectly even when God's will meant

excruciating and unimaginable suffering. He prayed, "Yet not as I will, but as
you will." (Mark 26:39)And he went to the cross. And there,"Although he
was a son," in fact, the very Sonof God, the perfectSon of God, "he learned
obedience from what he suffered…"
Now wait a second… How could Jesus "learnobedience"? Wasn'the always
obedient? Well, yes. He was. Thatphrase doesn't mean thatJesus was ever
disobedient. There was never a time when he defied his heavenly Father's will
and he always submitted perfectly. But when God askedJesus to go the cross,
he was asking him to obey to an extent he had never obeyed before. When
God askedhis one and only Son to bear the burden of a world full of sin, he
was asking him to do something that had never been done before.
Everybody knows that the King's son doesn't suffer. He's royalty. He doesn't
receive punishment; he gives it out. The King's son doesn't have toobeythe
rules; he makes the rules. But Jesus left his throne to live in human flesh as
one of the King's subjects. He willingly submitted to his own laws and
commandments and kept them perfectly. He always loved his Fatherand
always submitted to his will. A perfect son of the King does not deserve
punishment, suffering and death.
And yet, our perfectHigh Priest, became submissive for us, that he might
make a sacrifice for us, that he might become the sacrifice forus, so he might
become a source for us, the source, the only source of eternal life…
II. He Became the Source for Us
Every day, day in and day out, the high priest had a bloody job to do. He was
more like a modern butcher than a modern pastoras he slaughteredanimal
after animal and sacrificedit on the altar. But the blood of a cow could never
pay for the sins of a man. Those sacrificesonly pointed aheadto Jesus'
sacrifice. And Jesus made the perfectsacrifice when he offered himself.

"…And, once made perfect, he became the source of eternalsalvation…"
Jesus neededto be made perfectin much the same wayhe neededto learn
obedience. You see, he was never a work in progress, but his mission was. He
himself was always perfect, but his work on earth needed to be brought to
completion. And so the submission of Maundy Thursday gave way to the
suffering of Good Friday.
And by that sacrifice, our perfectHigh Priest has made atonementfor every
one of our sins. We're forgiven for every time we've been selfish or self-
centered, for every time we've been angry that God has askedus to suffer, for
every time we've failed to submit to God's will.
How do we know for sure? BecauseofEaster. "He offered up prayers… to the
one who could save him from death, and he was heard because ofhis reverent
submission." God did hear Jesus'prayers in the Gardenof Gethsemane. And
God did deliver him from death. Not immediately, since Jesus did die on the
cross, but three days later, he rose from the dead and God delivered him from
death as his sealof approval on Jesus perfectmission. Jesus became the only
source of eternallife.
But who is this eternal life for? The author to the Hebrews writes, "He
became the source of eternal salvationfor all who obey him." But what does it
mean to obey him? Does it mean to do enoughgoodworks in order to earn
this eternallife or to prove you're really a Christian? No. 1 John 3:22-23 helps
us understand this obedience. Johnwrites, "We obey his commands and do
what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son,
Jesus Christ." We don't do anything for eternallife! We simply believe! We
trust Jesus and what he has done for us! We trust him because ourperfect
High Priestmade the perfect sacrifice and became the source of our eternal
salvation.
He saved us, not from suffering we might face in this life, but from an eternity
in hell. And that salvation is eternal. It's in heaven! Forever!And it can't ever
be revoked. And now we get the blessings of our High Priestwho's in the
order of Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means "King of
Righteousness."Throughour perfectHigh Priest, Jesus, we have

righteousness givento us by God that makes us perfect and holy in his sight.
Melchizedek was the King of Salem(or Shalom) which means "Peace."And
through the righteousnessthat Jesus gives, we have perfect peace with God.
So, what does this mean for every day of your life from now until he takes you
to heaven and gives you the eternal salvationhe won? It means you live your
life in thanks to Jesus forwhat he's done and learn from his example. Submit
to the Father, just as he did. Suffer gladly if God asks youto, just as he did.
A few months ago I read a book by Tony Dungy, the former head coachof the
Indianapolis Colts. CoachDungy and his wife have adopted severalchildren
to give them a goodhome and especiallyto share the Saviorwith these kids.
But one of those children had a rare disease where he could feel no pain.
Dungy describedhow challenging that was as a parent when his son would
take a cookie rightout of the oven and eatit with a smile on his face while his
hands, lips, and tongue would burn and blister.
Dungy went on to explain that, as difficult as it was, it helped him to
understand how God using suffering and pain in our lives. Pain tells us when
to stop. Pain is the signal that keeps us from doing permanent damage to
ourselves. We cangladly submit to God, even in pain, since we know he only
works that pain for our eternal good.
The first century Hebrews were shopping around for a new religion
because they didn't like pain and persecutionChristianity brought. And from
time to time we may be tempted to do the same—becausesometimes,
following Jesus does bring suffering. But when you're tempted to shop around
or buy into something else, remember who Jesus is, and remember what he
has done for you, becoming submissive for you, to suffer for you, to become
the source ofeternal life for you. Looking for a Savior from sin? Then I have
the perfectone for you. I have the only one for you! Jesus, the perfect High
Priest, who did it all for you! Amen.
Postedby PastorRobGuenther at 12:09 PM

Jesus the Apostle and Great High Priest(Heb 3:1-5:10)
by Rich Leino | Apr 10, 2011 | Hebrews, Sunday School| 0 comments
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Having shownJesus’unique lordship in God’s self-revealing and all-restoring
purpose, the writer narrows down his lens to focus on his Apostleship and
High Priesthood. These are the ministries of the Messiahon which he
concentrates in the rest of his letter. Just as Moses, andJoshua after him,
were to lead the children oflsraelout of Egypt, through the wilderness, and to
the PromisedLand, and Aaron and his descendants were to intercede for
them on their way, so Jesus leads his people out of the kingdom of darkness,
through this wilderness of a world, praying for them on their way to their
heavenly home.
1. The Household of God (Heb 3:1-6)
a. The Apostle (Heb 3:1) – only place in NT where this is used of Christ. “One
who is sent.” “To send” is used by Him and of Hi in John 10:36. He also sent
the Apostles.
b. The House – closelyconnectedto “Apostle”. It is the people of God related
to God through the Messiah.
i. One People – there is only one ‘house’ and only one people. Moses, Christ,
and all who believe in Christ, are all in this house. There is unity across the
phases of God’s redemptive self-revelation. See also Heb 11:39-40, Rom11:12-
36.
ii. Two forms under Two Apostles – God’s house was built in two stages.First
was the ‘apostolic’ministry of Moses and then of Christ’s. Each was faithful
in the task assigned(Heb 3:2, 5-6). With their harmony, there are differences.
1. Differences betweenMosesand Jesus

a. Moseswas God’s servant(slave, deacon). Term indicates service to a deity.
Moses occupieda dignified, not a menial, place in God’s service. Moseswas a
prophet (Num 12:7-8), a priest (Exo 24:8), and a king (Deut 33:5). Gal3:19
calls him a ‘mediator’ of a covenant(Heb 10:19). The ‘church in the
wilderness’(Acts 7:37-38;Heb 3:7-4:13) was under the ‘apostleship’of Moses
(1 Cor 10:2).
b. Jesus was also an‘apostle’appointed by God and this carries with it the
idea of service but he is not called a ‘servant’ here as Moses is. Heb 3:6 says
Jesus is the ‘Christ’ of God, and ‘Son’ of God. His mediatorial Sonship (Heb
1-2) is in view here. He is over the house and not merely in it.
2. Differences betweentheir ministries
a. Heb 3:5b – ministry of Moses was‘to testify of things that were to be
spokenlater’. Mosespointed forward to what was to be revealedin Christ.
b. There is basic harmony to the two stages ofmessianic ‘house-building’.
3. Only One Founder – Heb 3:4 says that God builds all things. Christ is the
builder (Heb 3:3) and has more glory than the house that Moses is a part of. It
is because Jesus is Christ, God’s Messianic Son, that a church is possible. All
is brought into being by God through Jesus.
c. ‘Whose House We Are’ (Heb 3:6) – these people belong to Christ and not to
Moses.He describes them according to their confessionof faith in verse 1 and
their need to continue in it in verse 6
i. Their Confession– Public confessionofChrist qualifies people to be treated
as Christians. This is not just accepting a creedbut relates entirely to the one
whom they acknowledged. Theyhad acknowledgedChrist as Messiah,
Apostle, and High Priest. They had professedto submit to his authority as the
one sent form God and to trust in his atonement that admitted them into the
presence ofGod. This entitled them to be regarded as ‘holy brethren and
partakers of the heavenly calling’. The Church is made upof those who have
receivedthis callwhich is both from and to heaven.

ii. Their Continuance – Hebrews is dealing with people on the basis of this
professionand heavenly call. He can exhort them to genuineness and sincerity
by continuing to look forward in hope. Faith and hope are connected(Heb
11). Their hope was waning and so their faith was shaking. The object of faith
is Christ and hope is basedon the prospectof what is promised in Christ. To
fail to continue in hope is to castdoubt on the reality of faith and doubt upon
Christ’s honor and faithfulness.
iii. Their ‘Consideration’ – How are they to continue? Who canhelp?
ConsiderJesus!Christ is faithful! Our Apostle and High Priest.
2. On Pilgrimage (Heb 3:7-4:13) – Psalm 95 runs like a refrain through this
sectionin 19 of 29 verses. Theyare in a ‘wilderness situation’ and God is
speaking as He did to their forefathers. They need to persevere, they are on
pilgrimage to a ‘better country’, which is a ‘heavenly one’.
a. The Scope of Psalm95 – the theme is ‘rest’. The Psalmlookedbackward
and forward.
i. Retrospective – Psalm 95 records incidents in Num 14. The unbelief of the
wilderness reachedits climax and God declaredan oath that nobody over 20
years old (exceptJoshua and Caleb) would enter the land.
ii. Contemporary – Heb 4:7 ‘saying through David’ refers to the period when
the Psalmwas composed. People were in the land and God was reminding
them of what had happened.
iii. Prospective – The realspeakerwas the Holy Spirit. This is God’s ‘today’ –
the day that God calls people into his rest. God’s word is ‘living’ (4:12) and it
transcends time and speaks ofeternity.
b. The Theme of the Psalm– this is God’s rest. Referredto ten times in the
passageand is God’s goodnews to man. It is the ‘gospel’(Heb 4:2) and is
God’s Sabbath-rest. Man had forfeited it in the Fall and God was restoring it.
c. The Purpose of its Use – idea is to visualize God’s people in the wilderness
with God’s rest before them. Realize the dangerbeforethem but know the way
to respond to it. It is warning and encouragement.

i. Avoid a repetition – Heb 4:11 ‘same example of disobedience’. Don’tbe
unbelieving and disobedient. The people in the wilderness did not believe
God’s promise and, therefore, were disobedient to it. Don’t be like them!
Don’t just profess Christ and then have a hard heart to His promises. Daily,
we are to persevere and partake of Christ in confidence (verse 14).
ii. Appropriate the Reality – It is by continuing to belive that the dangerof
‘falling short’ or ‘not entering in’ is countered. God’s promises are not to be
trifled with but trusted. We are weak and ought to have a soberand
reverential realizationthat others have fallen short and so cling to Christ!
3. A Throne of Grace (Heb 4:14-16)– The priestly ministry of Christ is the
theme. Christ is a unique High Priestin relation to Aaron and Melchizedek.
The sectiongives a callto action but it’s basedupon Christ’s unique status.
a. What They Had – A ‘Great’ High Priest – the people had forgotten their
privilege. He was better than anything they had left behind in terms of glory
and honor. He shows that Christ is greaterthan what they had left behind.
i. Supremacyof the highest possible order – First, Jesus ‘has passedthrough
the heavens’. He is no longer visible. He is actually ‘in the presence ofGod’
for his people. Secondly, he is ‘the Son of God.’ His indestructible deity forms
the foundation for his work of atonement in human flesh and for his
intercessionin heaven. He reigns and distributes blessings.
ii. Sympathy to the greatestpossible degree – even though he is supreme, he
still sympathizes with us. Even though he could not be higher, no one could be
nearer to them as well! Christ still remembers what it is like to be on this
earth. He has true compassionforhis needy people.
b. What They Could Have – HELP – they lackedconfidence and this is the
key to true perseverance (Heb3:6, 14; Heb 6:11). This is not confidence in self
but in Christ, the High Priest. Hebrews teaches us that we can ask for such
help. Needy, pathetic people ask for help and our High Priestis already
moved with pity toward his people before they come to him to ask for it. His
mercies are ‘tender’ and he delights to be merciful, time and time again! He is

not only merciful and tender, though, but powerful enough to deliver strength
in time of need! His mercy cradles us and his might sets us on our feet.
4. Our High Priest(Heb 5:1-10) – this sectionunpacks Christ’s ‘greatness’ by
comparing him with Aaron. There is similarity in that Aaron (and his
successors)and Jesus cansympathize but there is also an all-important
difference.
a. The Humanity of Aaron (Heb 5:1-4) – the High Priestwas ‘taken from
among men’ and not angels. He was one among his own. Sinners could
approachGod via gifts and sacrificesand, since the High Priestdealt in a
gentle manner, God would do so too. Aaron and his descendants were ‘beset
with weakness’andneeded sacrifice for their ownsins. They were fitted to
deal with the ‘ignorant and erring’ in a gentle way. The needy worshipper was
to have a display of a God who was glad that he had come and even come
again– even ‘seventy times seven’ (Matt 18:22).
b. The Humanity of Jesus (Heb 5:5-10)– How could the sinless and divine Son
be sympathetic to sinners? These verses describe the humiliation of the Son.
i. What did the Son learn? – he learnedobedience. He knew what was in man
(John 2:25), who he was, where he had come from and where he was going to
(John 13:1-3). He learned in the doing of God’s will, not in merely saying he
would do it, but doing what he said he would do from time eternity. What a
lesson!
ii. When did he learn this? He learned it ‘in the days of his flesh’ from birth to
death. He personally entered a fallen world and took on an infirm body. He
entered into the limitations of man and the emotional and physical frailties of
our lives. He entered into the actualreach of sinners and Satan. What a
school!
iii. How did he learn this? It was ‘through what he suffered’. Obedience to
God is never easyin a fallen world. He suffered his whole life from womb to
tomb beyond human measurement. In the Garden we wept for himself. He
was in need as he faceda cup extended to him by his Fatherwhich he knew
containedall that sin merited at the bar of the Father’s justice. His most awful

suffering came at the greatestdemand of him and it causedthe most intense
suffering. Being obedient to the Father’s will made his work complete and
made him replete with the sympathy and the grace to help his people in need.
Even now in heaven he remembers his ‘time of need’, how he prayed in godly
fear and was heard and help, ad so he will help all those who come to him in
their time of need. As he was keptin death and raise from the dead, so will his
people be, by his grace!
_____________________
Takenfrom: Jones, Hywel. Let’s Study Hebrews. Carlisle: Banner of
Truth, 2002.
https://www.hopeofchrist.net/2011/04/jesus-the-apostle-and-great-high-priest-
heb-31-510/
Today: [Hebrews 3:] Is Jesus your Apostle and High Priest? Chapter three of
Hebrews reveals Jesus as Apostle and High Priestover the newly converted
Jews to whom the letter addressed. Those terms meant very specific things to
them that compelled them to forsake allthey knew and abandon themselves to
the newly emergedfaith. Forus they are meaningless religious terms but if we
can reclaimthem in their fundamental meaning the reward for us would be
immense.
Listen Daily at www.morninglightbiblestudy.com
[Heb 3:1-19 KJV] 1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly
calling, considerthe Apostle and High Priestof our profession, Christ Jesus;2
Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses[was faithful] in all
his house. 3 Forthis [man] was counted worthy of more glory than Moses,
inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
4 For every house is builded by some [man]; but he that built all things [is]
God. 5 And Mosesverily [was]faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a
testimony of those things which were to be spokenafter; 6 But Christ as a son

over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the
rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. 7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghostsaith,
To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the
provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:9 When your fathers
tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was
grieved with that generation, and said, They do alwayerr in [their] heart; and
they have not knownmy ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not
enter into my rest.)12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil
heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another
daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the
beginning of our confidence stedfastunto the end; 15 While it is said, To day
if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16 For
some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of
Egypt by Moses.17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not
with them that had sinned, whose carcases fellin the wilderness? 18 And to
whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that
believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because ofunbelief.
In chapter one of Hebrews, the writer asserts the supremacy of Christ as Lord
over all creationand the angels. In chapter two the believers of the first
century are called into accountabilitynot to neglectthe message ofsalvation
through Jesus. Theywere taskedto transmit it to the generations to come
which was one of the first commissions of the apostolic fathers who inherited
the church from the first generationof leaders who sat under the direct
leadership of Jesus himself. The work of Christ in raising us up a company of
many sons through the work of redemption is declaredand the fact that he
did so not as an angelor other supernatural being but as a man acting in his
humanity to pay for the sins of the world.
This work of redemption in the context of Jesus’humanity constitutes him
(chapter 3 verse 1) as both our apostle and high priest. To call Jesus, an
apostle conveyedcertain understandings to the first-century believer that we
have little insight into today. The term apostle held no religious connotation
whatsoeverto the first-century church. An apostle was a military leader in the
Roman empire taskedwith conquering new lands and territories. A group of

warriors called an ecclesiawouldbe conscripted, and a fleet of ships
commissionedto go into battle with foreign powers to enlarge the empire for
the glory of Rome. The idea of an apostle had a direct line of connectionto the
Roman occupationimposed upon the nation states ofthe Middle Eastat that
time. It was a hated term. For the writer to say, Jesus is our apostle not only
says something about Jesus but something about us. An apostle was only an
apostle to the soldiers that served under him. This is the first and only verse
that calls Jesus by this title. It conveys the thought of conquest and dominion
completely lacking in the anemic meaning of those words “apostle” or“high-
priest” for us today.
Jesus is also our high priest. The Jews who crucified Jesus had a high priest,
and this book is primarily written to those Jews who have now converted to
Judaism. The writer is saying to them that Caiphus was no longer their high
priest. This also was a compelling statement because without a connectionto
the high priest in the city of Jerusalemthere was no accessto the temple in
Jerusalemwhich was still standing at the time. It would be as though to say
“your pastor isn’t your pastor, and your church isn’t your church. Jesus is
your pastor and your church is no longerin a building but is made up of an
oppressedbody of believers scatteredthroughout the Middle easthiding in
secretmeetings and catacombs”.To sayJesus was their high priest was to
compel the Jewishbeliever to radically shift his thinking about Judaism,
religious culture, worship and their place in it.
In making these declarations, the writer does not suggestthatMoses was not
faithful but rather that Moses’mandate was fulfilled in Christ who now takes
the headship over the house of Israelnot as a servant but as a son. For this
reason, the people are urged to hearthe voice of God not to harden their
hearts or to desire to go back to the way things were just because they were in
transition as the Israelites were in moving from the wilderness to Canaan.
The children of Israeltaxed the patience of God and Moses for40 years in the
wilderness because they consistentlyrefusedto cooperatewith what God was
doing. Coming out of Egypt demonstrated God’s hand of the deliverance. The
wilderness trek was God’s process thatthe people despised. They despised the
heat. They loathed the manna. They disliked Mosesand Aaron. In v. 10 we the

spirit of God was grieved at their continual error because they were not
interestedin learning the ways of God in the wilderness they just wanted the
promise to come to pass without any demand being placed upon them. For
this reason, Godswore in his wrath that they would not enter into His rest.
The warning for us (v. 12)is to be mindful that we likewise do not have the
same heart of unbelief because to depart from the process is to depart from
the living God. These newly converted Jews were initially elatedto accept
Christ but now are finding out it is going to costthem something, perhaps
everything without the benefit of immediate temporal reward (i.e., the
overthrow of Rome.)Remember in John 14:6 that Jesus is the way, the truth,
and the life. The truth is that God loves us. The life is that He delivers us. The
way is that He does so on his terms and not ours. Jesus is not only the
outcome, but He is also the way – or the process. If you despise the process
(not getting what you want on your terms), then you despise the God who
initiates that process by which He brings you out of bondage into your place
of promise. If you depart from the process, youhave departed from the living
God. This is a very dread reality because in the current Christian climate
everyone wants an outcome, but nobody wants to cooperate withthe process.
They want to cut out the middleman and go directly from deliverance to their
blessing place without the wilderness journeying in between. We need God’s
process. It works His characterin us. It teaches us to trust in the waterfrom
the Rock and to wait for the manna every morning. It compels us to stand fast
refusing to break camp (doing our own thing) but to wait for the cloud by day
and the fire by night to lift up and leadus to where God wants us to go and
not where we choose to go of our owninitiatives. We are to take heed to these
things and (v. 13) to exhort one another daily lest our hearts become hardened
through the deceitfulness ofsin. That phrase deceitfulness of sin means “to
miss the mark due to obstinant delusion and stubbornness.”
What is the alternative? You might find yourself in the process but remember
that you have been made partakers of Christ in the midst of the process. He is
the waterfrom the Rock and the Manna every morning. I remember years,
decades ofmy life that my only reasonfor living in a very frustrating
experience of opposition and struggle on every hand was the anointing that
came like a pillar of fire to kindle my heart in the night and the waterfrom

the Rock that refreshedme and kept me going. I had no other reasonfor
living. I was in process. Iwas learning that Jesus was my wayas wellas my
truth and my life.
The writer goes on to point out that there was a mixed multitude that came
out of Egypt with Moses. Notallof them came because they were called. It is
no different today. You can identify the mixed multitude today as those who
fall away, who have no driving dependency on a living Lord Jesus sustaining
them moment by moment. They have no understanding of spiritual things
they are merely in it for the blessing, and they are hanging around because
they don’t want to miss something. The oathof God is that they will not enter
into and cannothave what they are pining for. Why canthey not enter?
Becauseofunbelief. The word unbelief there is faithlessness.Towardwhat?
Faithlessness towardJesus as their high priest and apostle. Theyare believers
who are waiting for an outpouring and then they plan to show up. Then they
will give of their lives. They constantlysay when their ship comes in and all
their dreams fulfilled then they will give, and then they will do thus and so,
but it is all a lie that they have deluded themselves into believing and want you
to agree and applaud their deception. Most Christians today have no working
or practicalunderstanding of Jesus as their priest and apostle. These words
are just meaningless religious titles, but for the Jews, they understood them
intimately and realized that those titles as applied to Jesus made claims on
their lives that could potentially and in many cases did costthem everything.
Is Jesus your apostle? The body of soldiers commissionedto follow an
apostolos into battle left everything behind. They took of their own wealth and
sweatto build ships to follow the apostle into battle. When the ships landed on
foreign soil, they would burn them as a sign that there was no going back
without a victory. Does your life denote that level of radical commitment? To
see Jesus as your high priest meant to the readerthat they were being called
to abandon the prevailing religious systemutterly. They were being
challengedto follow after Jesus as the one who gave them accessnotto a
temple built by Herod on the earth but to a heavenly temple only accessedby
faith. This was an utterly sacrificialactof commitment. To give up that which
was the very centerpiece oftheir culture for something that in the natural was
nothing other than a conceptthat could only be demonstrated by faith. This

was the urgent call imposed by the writer of Hebrews upon their intended
audience and upon us today.
http://fathersheartministry.net/morning-light-hebrews-3-is-jesus-your-
apostle-and-high-priest/
What does Hebrews 3:1 mean? [⇑ See verse text ⇑]
The book of Hebrews frequently uses the word "therefore" in order to
connectvarious thoughts. In the previous chapters, the author has been
explaining how Jesus Christis superior to angels and is, in fact, fully human.
As a completely human High Priest, Jesus canserve as our ultimate example.
For the Jewishpeople, there was no greaterexample than Moses, but
according to this sectionof Hebrews, Jesus is far greater. This verse makes a
connectionbetweenJesus'role as our ultimate example—the "founder of our
salvation"—andHis superiority to even Moses.
In the next verses, the author will point out that Moses was faithful, but was
also a createdservantof God. Jesus, onthe other hand, is the Creator, and the
Son of God. What Moses predicted, Christ fulfilled. Verses 1 and 2 are meant
to be read as a single sentence.
Some may see the term "apostle" here as confusing. This is a title often given
to the men who preachedthe gospelimmediately after the ascensionofJesus.
The term itself literally means, "one who is sent." In the context of this
passage, thatis a perfectdescription of Jesus. He is One sent from Godto
bring us goodnews. He is meant to be our example, and we are meant to do as
He did (John 20:21 13:13–15;20:21).

Another term often used in Hebrews is "brothers," which should be kept in
mind. The book is explicitly written to those who have faith in Jesus Christ. In
other words, these are admonitions for believers, and believers alone.
https://www.bibleref.com/Hebrews/3/Hebrews-3-1.html
Jesus – Our Apostle and High Priest
redeemedforchrist/ October27, 2014
In Hebrews 3:1-6 Paul, the apostle, describes the authority of Jesus Christand
the relationship of Jesus Christ to the believers “1Wherefore, holybrethren,
partakers of the heavenly calling, considerthe Apostle and High Priestof our
profession, Christ Jesus;2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as
also Moses wasfaithful in all his house. 3 For this man was counted worthy of
more glory than Moses, inasmuchas he who hath builded the house hath
more honour than the house. 4 Forevery house is builded by some man; but
he that built all things is God. 5 And Mosesverily was faithful in all his house,
as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spokenafter; 6
But Christ as a sonover his ownhouse; whose house are we, if we hold fast
the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end”. Jesus is our
Apostle and High Priestas mentioned in verse 1. These were the two most
important offices during the time of Jesus. Everything was governedby and
subjectedto these offices. Here Paul emphasizes the authority; God has given
Jesus Christ over everything in this earth. John 1:12 affirms that for as many
as receivedJesus Christ, they were given the power to be the children of God
even to those believed in His name “12 Butas many as receivedhim, to them
gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his
name”. John the Baptist introduced Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God in John
1:29 “29 The next day John seethJesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold
the Lamb of God, which taketh awaythe sin of the world”.
Why was Jesus giventhis authority? Paul explains that in Hebrews 2:10-18;to
bring all those who believe in Jesus Christ, the children of God, to glory. The

Scripture tells us that Jesus was made perfectfor His offices through
sufferings. Just as we are in flesh, God chose His only begottenSon to be in
flesh, to endure the pain and sufferings in flesh unto death. Through His
death, He destroyed the evil one who had the power of death. Jesus Christ,
through His death, releasedus from the fearof death and gave us the eternal
life. Today we are in a world where we have different options to secure our
future, and we are careful with all the options. We tend to choose the best that
give us the best returns in future. Many limit their plans and future till their
physical being in the world. They limit it to their lifetime in the world. But to
a child of God, death is not the end of the being but is the doorwayto the
eternal life with God. On the face of the earth, Jesus was as human as we are
with all the associatedemotions – pain, joy, sufferings. He went through every
suffering we canthink about in this world yet was without Sin. The Scripture
(Hebrews 2:10) tells us that Jesus was made perfectthrough sufferings. He
had to suffer for our salvation. He was God Himself and had no need to suffer
but was faithful and obedient to who sent Him even unto death on the cross.
He took all the pain and sufferings to be perfect in our salvation;to make us
holy and blameless in the presence ofGod as we read in Ephesians 1:4. In
Matthew 26:53-54 we see Jesus askingHis disciples just before handing
Himself over to the multitude of people that came to arrestHim “53 Thinkest
thou that I cannotnow pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me
more than twelve legions of angels? 54 Buthow then shall the scriptures be
fulfilled, that thus it must be?”. Forus, He chose to endure the pain of death
on the cross. John17:1-3 reads “1Thesewords spake Jesus, and lifted up his
eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come;glorify thy Son, that thy
Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hastgiven him power over all flesh, that
he should give eternallife to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life
eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom
thou hast sent”.
Hebrews 3:6 says He is the authority over all house. Who is the house of God?
We are. The Scripture tells us that we are the householdof God. What are we
to do? Look unto Jesus, our Apostle and High Priest and holdfast the
confidence to the end. Hebrews 3:12 says we should be careful of not having a
heart of unbelief “12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil

heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God”. The Scripture tells us
that a heart of unbelief is an evil heart and warns us againsthaving one. The
heart of disbelief will make us depart from the living God and be hardened in
the deceitfulness ofsins. We cannot be partakers with God, the Fatherand
Jesus Christ the Son, with an evil heart. Be stubborn to know and do His will;
that we may not be deceivedand our hearts hardened. Why should we be
aware of the deceitfulness of sins? To enter His rest that He prepared for us.
Hebrews 4:1 reads “1Letus therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of
entering into his rest, any of you should seemto come short of it”. Hebrews 4
tells us that some of them did fall short of this promise and could not enter
this restdue to disobedience and disbelief; and it also teaches us that this
promise is yet left for some. So we should be very diligent in our spiritual life
that we may enter this rest God prepared for us through His SonJesus Christ
and do not throw this awayas some did by our disobedience and disbelief.
Jesus Christ is our perfectApostle who was sent by God to preach and do
God’s will and He did without fail. Since He has gone through every suffering,
He is the only one who cansympathize with us in all our situations as we read
in Hebrews 4:14-15 “14 Seeing then that we have a greathigh priest, that is
passedinto the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fastour profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of
our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”.
Let us therefore look unto our Apostle and High Priestin our daily walk to
perform God’s will and fulfill His purpose without fail.
God Bless.
In Christ Jesus,
Jerry Joseph
RedeemedMinistries.
A HIGH PRIEST OF GOOD THINGS TO COME

HEBREWS 9:11-28
Introduction:
Jesus is our greatHigh Priest of goodthings to come. The future holds some
goodthings for those who have trusted Jesus as Savior.
We have a greatSaviorwho has accomplishedour salvationand has promised
to return for His people. In the mean time we have the privilege of sharing the
gospelwith those who don’t know these greatblessings.
I. A GREATER AND MORE PERFECT TABERNACLE.
A. The Old Tabernacle.
1. Mosessetup the old Tabernacle in the wilderness according to God’s plan.
2. Solomonbuilt the first Temple that took the place of the Tabernacle, which
was a tent.
3. These were but shadows ofbetter things to come, Hebrews 8:5, “Who serve
unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonishedof

God when he was about to make the tabernacle:for, See, saithhe, that thou
make all things according to the pattern shewedto thee in the mount.”
B. The New Tabernacle.
1. “Notmade with hands,” Hebrews 9:11, “But Christ being come an high
priest of goodthings to come, by a greaterand more perfect tabernacle, not
made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;”
2. “Notofthis building,” Hebrews 9:24, “ForChrist is not enteredinto the holy
places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven
itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:”
II. A BETTER SACRIFICE.
A. The Old Offerings.
1. Forthe purifying of the flesh, Hebrews 9:13, “Forif the blood of bulls and
of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the
purifying of the flesh:”
2. However, they could not take awaysins, Hebrews 10:4, “Forit is not
possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take awaysins.”

B. The New Offering.
1. Jesus, by His ownblood, Hebrews 9:12, “Neitherby the blood of goats and
calves, but by his ownblood he entered in once into the holy place, having
obtained eternal redemption for us.”
a. The blood of animals was insufficient to take awayour sins.
b. However, Jesus Christobtained eternalredemption for us” by offering His
own blood. Hebrews 9:22, “And almost all things are by the law purged with
blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
III. THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
A. God takes awaythe first to establishthe second, Hebrews 10:9, “Thensaid
he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh awaythe first, that he may
establishthe second.”
1. That first covenantwas the Mosaic Covenant, whichGod establishedwith
Israelafter they were redeemed out of Egypt.

2. The Secondcovenantis the New Testament, Hebrews 9:15, “And for this
cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the
redemption of the transgressions thatwere under the first testament, they
which are calledmight receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”
B. In the old system the high priest was the mediator.
1. The high priest was a sinner, Leviticus 16:5-6, “And he shall take of the
congregationof the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering,
and one ram for a burnt offering. 6-And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the
sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for
his house.”
2. The mediation done was imperfect because the mediator was imperfect.
C. In the New Testamentthe mediator is perfect, Hebrews 8:6, “But now hath
he obtained a more excellentministry, by how much also he is the mediator of
a better covenant, which was establishedupon better promises.”
1. Jesus Christis the Mediatorof the New Testament, Hebrews 8:6, “But now
hath he obtained a more excellentministry, by how much also he is the
mediator of a better covenant, which was establishedupon better promises.”
2. He entered not into the Tabernacle made by man, Hebrews 9:24, “For
Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the
figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of
God for us:”

3. He has entered into the Holy of Holies in the very presence of God for us.
CONCLUSION
Jesus Christ has entered into the presence ofGod in Heaven on our behalf as
our offering for sin. Now we look for His soonreturn which He promised,
Hebrews 9:28, “So Christ was once offeredto bear the sins of many; and unto
them that look for him shall he appearthe secondtime without sin unto
salvation.”
Incoming searchterms:
sermon outlines by fundamental baptist on our greathigh priest Hebrewa
4:14-16
Yeshua Messiah(akaJesus Christ) as ourApostle andHigh Priest
by RodThomas | Jun5, 2018 | Blog, Podcasts
Yeshua Messiah(Jesus Christ)--Apostle andHighPriest
by RodThomas--The Messianic TorahObserver| SabbathThoughts and
ReflectionMinute
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During my morning studies todayI was ledto pick up where I left off from this
pastSabbath’s Brit HaDashahreading that is found in Hebrews 3:1-6.
Interestingly enough, roughly1-1/2to 2 hours afterbeginning the study, I had
not progressedbeyondverse one. Forme, this single verse took me onan
exploratoryjourney (whichIhad to ultimately bring to a prematurely abrupt
ending) into the PersonofourMasterYahoshua Messiah(knownofcourse to
mostof the world as Jesus Christ). The authorIn this particular passageofthe
Holy Writ, whichmany scholars have attributed to Paul, mentions two
vocational attributes ofour Master’s thatdeserves ourattention: His
Apostleshipand His High Priestlyassignment. Thesetwo vocational attributes
go a long way towards defining for us, in part I will concede, justwho this man
of sorrows andgrief(Isaiah53:3), presentlyexaltedabove allcreation, reallyis.
The Writer Writes
The writer writes:
Therefore, holybrethren, partakers ofa heavenlycalling, considerJesus(i.e.,
Yahoshua), the Apostle (Gr. apostolos; anemissary; messenger; one who is sent
forth) and High Priest(Hb. CohenGadol) ofourconfession(orprofession);
He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses alsowasinall His house
(Hebrews 3:1,2; NASB).
Jesus Christ(Yeshua Messiah) the Apostle

I would dare saythat mostNetzarim have never givenany thought to the
apostolic aspectofYahoshua’s life and ministry here on earth, much less
someone actuallyconferring uponHim a title of Apostle. And I would venture
to suggest the reasonmanyof us have failed to identify Yahoshua as an apostle
is because we have beenconditionedby churchianity to only identify Yeshua
with His death, burial and resurrection. Truthbe told, however, Yahoshua’s
atoning sacrifice was onlyone aspectofHis ministry. Master’s greaterrole, or
ministry if you will, is His bringing the Gospelofthe Kingdom to this corrupt
and dying world. Containedin this greaterrole ofbringing the Gospelofthe
Kingdom to the world where we find His apostleship.
Too MuchEmphasis PlacedonAnother Gospel
Indeed, churchianity emphasizes a Gospel(i.e., goodnews) aboutJesusChrist.
However, the Bodyis obliged to emphasize the messagebroughtto us by God’s
(i.e.,YHVH’s) EmissaryandMessenger. Itis then essential thatwe consider
the fullness of that apostleshiprole that Masterperfectlyfulfilled. The delivery
of the messagedidnot stopwith the death, burial and resurrectionofMessiah.
Indeed, it was passedalong to those who wouldbe Yahoshua’s disciples. Forit
was atthe time that Masterappearedto His selectdisciples afterHis Passion
that He succinctlyput forth the fullness ofHis greatercalling. To His disciples
Yeshua said:
Peace be withyou. As the Fatherhas sentMe, I also sendyou(John20:21;
NASB).
This is the crux of the Apostle’s purpose and missionin life: to go forth and
deliver the Gospelofthe Kingdom to the nation peoples ofthis dying world of
ours (Matthew 28:19). Paul(i.e., Shaul) goesonto describe Master’s
apostleshipas a ministry with wide-sweeping implications, giving us aneven
closerlook atthe PersonofYahoshua:
Jesus Christ(i.e., Yeshua Messiah) wasa ministerof the circumcision(i.e., the
Jewishpeople) forthe truth ofGod to confirm the promises made unto the
fathers… (Romans 15:8; KJV).

Shaul here describes Masteras a Jewishministerdelivering the “Truth of
YHVH” to the Jewishnation. The Truth ofYHVH is none other than Father’s
Word: His Torah. Sadly, however, the Jewishnationrejectedthe Truth of
YHVH that Masterwas sentto deliverto them as confirmed by the Apostle
Johnwho wrote:
He came unto His ownand His ownreceivedHim not (John1:11; KJV).
Furthermore the promises made to the fathers were containedinthe Word of
YHVH. These promises are embodiedin the covenant thatFathermade to
Abraham, Isaac andJacobandto the children of Israel. The promises included
making Israela royal nation ofpriests; a special(i.e., a peculiar) andholy
people unto the Creatorofthe Universe, above allthe nations that are upon the
earth (Deuteronomy14:2; cf. Deuteronomy26:18; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter2:9).
Jesus Christ(Yeshua Messiah) the High Priest
MasterYeshua was uniquely qualified to be our High Priest, todayoperating in
the Temple in Heaven.
The other aspect ofthe PersonofYahoshua that the writer ofthe Hebrew
passagedraws ourattentionto is the High Priestministry He fulfills even
today. If we follow the line ofreasoning setforthin the first-verse ofHebrews
chapter3, we are ledto the next chapterwhere we find an overview ofthe
PersonofYahoshua from the standpoint of His High Priestfunction.
Master’s Unique Qualifications to be High Priest
The writer describes Yeshua as being a fleshand blood human being during
His earthly ministry. Although the mostunique human being ever to walk this
planet, Yahoshua from the standpoint of creationwas justlike us: fleshand
blood. He facedand dealtwith everyhuman emotion and physical challenge.
And being a flesh and blood human being, Yeshua was subjectto deathand He

possessedthe free will that would afford Him the opportunity to sin if He so
chose. Thosewho wouldsaythatYeshua was the Godof the Old Testament, the
makerand supreme rule ofheavenand earth, wouldbe hard-pressedto defend
their position againstthese crucial proofs to Master’scomplete andfull
humanity. But then, this is not a discussiononthe original divinity of Yeshua
Messiah. (See myposts entitled, “Willthe True God ofthe Old Testament
Please StandUp” and “Are the Fatherand the Son the Same Person?“)
The one aspectofYeshua’s PersonthatseparatedHim from every other
human being everto live is that He was sinless: He liveda perfectlife. This
criticalaspectofthe Master’s life, coupledwithHis humanity, made Him
uniquely qualified to be the perfectsacrifice forthe sins ofthe world. Mangave
overthe title-deedofthis worldand of his life to the enemy, hasatan, whenHe
disobeyedYHVH in the Garden. Thatsingle actofdisobedience resultedinthe
enemy being handed overownershipof the entire world and this represents
totaland complete poweroverall creation.
Given His perfect, sinlesslife, andbeing a flesh and blood, human being,
Yahoshua became the perfectsacrifice thatwould destroythe powerthe enemy
(i.e.,hasatan) holds overus, particularlythose ofus who are of Abraham’s
seed. Andbeing the perfectsacrifice thatdestroys hasatan’s poweroverus,
Yeshua is also the perfectHigh Priestunto YHVH. He is merciful and faithful
and stands before Father, interceding onour behalf in oppositionto Lucifer’s
constantaccusations againstus. Because He wentthroughthe human
experience, Mastercangenuinelysympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews
2:17; 4:14, 15).Indeed, He was temptedin every wayas we are. YetHe sinned
not. Indeed, Yeshua knows allaboutus.
The Heavenly Versus Earthly High Priesthood
When we compare andcontrast the Levitical High Priests (i.e., the earthly
High Priests) withthat ofYeshua’s High Priesthood(ourheavenlyHigh
Priest), we findthat the earthly high priests were men, like Yeshua, who could
identify with the weaknessesofthe people (Psalm110:4; Hebrews5:1, 2).
However, the earthly, Levitical High Priests before theycould offerthe atoning
sacrifices onbehalfthe people, theywere required first to seek atonementfor

themselves (Hebrews5:3). Qualification-wise, the Levitical High Priests hadto
be ofAaron’s directline and then be calledorselectedbyYHVH to serve in
that office (Hebrews 5:4). Yeshua, inlike manner, was appointedHigh Priest
by YHVH, who, as anaside, alsoadoptedHim as His Son(Hebrews 5:5, 6).
Even though Yahoshua was Yah’s favoredSon, Yeshua stillhad to perform
and do that which Fatherrequired of Him to do. Despite the brutal and
arduous nature of the assignment givento Him by His Fatherwhich no doubt
broke the Father’s heartfrom time to time, YHVH knew that Yeshua’s
obedience wouldresultin the Master’s perfectionandultimately salvationfor
all who would obeyHim (Hebrews 5:7-9). Thus, Abba declaredYahoshua High
Priestaccording to the order ofMelchizedek, whichis aneternal, perfected
High Priesthoodthat transcends the earthly, Levitical High Priesthood
(Hebrews 5:10).
Before the foundations of the earthwere laid, Fatherhad this thing allfigured
out. Fatherknew the type ofHigh Priestthatwould be required to win back
from hasatanthe title deedof creation. Sucha HighPriestwould needto be
holy; innocent; undefiled; sanctifiedand favored; andexalted. Indeed, we find
this perfectly typified in the Personofour MasterandSavior, Yahoshua
Messiah.
Let us be blessedin the knowledge andaffirmation that we have a High Priest
operating in the Heavenly Temple even today, who is interceding on our behalf
before Fatherand whose atoning sacrificehas foreverbridgedthe chasmthat
once existedbetweenus and our Creator.
Have a blesseddayin Yeshua Messiah. Walk inthe powerand might of His
RuachHaKodesh. Shalom.
Faithfully Submitted,
Rod
https://www.themessianictorahobserver.org/2018/06/05/jesus-christ-yeshua-
messiah-apostle-high-priest/

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