“And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house” (Hebrews 3:5–6, KJV 1900)
I think it was more popular years ago than today that people would have full-time maids or servants in their home. Growing up, I knew of a couple homes where wealthy people had servants to do certain jobs in their homes. If you have watched any of the TV shows like “Downton Abby” you saw the upper class with large mansions who had a paid staff to basically manage the grounds. While the faithful servants were critical to keep up the estate, they still were not equal to the members of the family who owned the property. However, the faithful servants were esteemed by the family and they took good care of them. Yet, the members of the family were always considered higher than the servants.
In this section of the letter to the Hebrews, the author has been making a point to the readers that Jesus was greater than Moses. As I have previously mentioned, they held Moses in high regard as the greatest Jew that ever lived, even higher than the angels. The author wants the readers to understand the supremacy of Jesus. He already indicated that Jesus was the “apostle and high priest” while Moses served in an apostolic role but not as a priest. He also indicated that Moses was a faithful servant in the house, referring to God’s people, but that Jesus was greater, being the divine builder of the house.
Here he presents a third argument. While Moses was faithful in the house as a servant, Jesus was faithful over the house as a son. The word the author uses for servant is therapon, which refers to one who voluntarily serves. Moses was a faithful and willing servant of God. While, Jesus also faithfully served, He is much higher than a servant because He is the son over the house.
The author uses this analogy that his Jewish readers would easily understand. The son who is a family member and heir in an earthly home is always greater than the highest servant working in the home. The son is over the house while the servant is in the house.
Moses, as a servant, brought the Law to the people with all its requirements. This included the design and function of the Tabernacle. Yet, all of this was but a foreshadowing of that which was to come. Jesus fulfilled the Law. He is the Apostle and Great High Priest, who revealed all to us and provided the perfect sacrifice for sin through his own shed blood. He made propitiation for our sin once and for all. Moreover, He now sits at the right hand of God and continues to intercede and advocate for us.
When we consider all of this, how could we ever neglect such a great salvation? True believers have not. Moreover, true believers, like Moses, joyfully and willingly worship Him in word, life, and deed.
Renewing the Heart 