“Jesus is greater than Moses” is something that couldn’t stand in the Jewish tradition.
We’re in Hebrews 3: 1-6. Read it on your own because that’s the foundation for our reflection in this article. What will be helpful though is for you to also review the previous article on Hebrews 1 and 2.
There, I shared on who the letter of Hebrews says Jesus Christ is.
It was for similar reasons that Jesus was even condemned to death. One other thing Jesus did for the Jewish leaders to find a way to condemn Him to death was to say that “before Abraham was, I Am” (John 8: 48-59).
Undermining Moses and everything he represents to the Jews is a sacrilege. It’s like going against the Jewish constitution, which is grounded in everything Moses gave them.
Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Law Moses gave to the Jews. He came to fulfill it. Hear what Jesus says about all that in Matthew 5: 17-20.
Moses represents the core of who the People of Israel are until today. He is such an important figure for the Jews for several reasons. Three of the most important why it so includes:
- Moses is the giver of God’s Law to the Jewish people.
- Moses is the liberator of the Israelites from the Egyptians.
Let’s now see what Hebrews 3 says about Moses in comparison to Jesus Christ, which leads to the conclusion that Jesus is greater than Moses.
Moses was faithful to God as a servant, but Jesus as God’s Son
Moses was faithful in all God’s house (read Hebrews 3, verse 2). He did exactly as God wanted him to, at the exception of a couple instances that cost him the change to enter into the promised land (read Deuteronomy 3).
The difference, however, between Moses and Jesus, is that Moses was faithful as a servant, while Jesus was as a Son (read Hebrews 3: 2,3).
God, the Father, appointed Moses just as God did the same with Jesus Christ
The next thing, according to Hebrews 3, which makes Jesus greater than Moses is that even though God appointed both of them, Moses’ mission was twofold:
- To liberate the people of Israel and lead them to the promised land.
- To establish a people under a new covenant with God who wanted them to leave Egyp and worship God (Exodus 9: 1).
Jesus Christ, on the other hand, according to Hebrews 3, God appointed Him to do more than setting people free from human oppression.
God anointed Jesus to be our Apostle and High Priest (Hebrews 3: 1). And, that makes Jesus much greater than Moses.
Jesus’ mission affects our moral, physical, mental and spiritual states of being.
Moses testified about God
According to Hebrews 3: 5, Moses testified to the things to come. But, Jesus is the One that Moses, the prophets and other God’s messengers spoke about in the books we find in the Old Testament.
Matthew 5: 17-20 talks about the idea that everything in the Old Testament pointed out to Jesus Christ who’s the fulfillment of God’s Word.
What does all this mean to us today?
First, Moses is the beginning of what would become a religion known as Judaism. It offers a basis for how to live according to Moses (see Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5).
Next, it makes you think that it’s because of what you do you become righteous in God’s eyes. Jesus Christ came, not to give us more rules, but to draw us into a personal relationship with God, our heavenly Father.
Last, God doesn’t call you righteous because of a set of practices. God calls you son and daughter first because of faith in Jesus Christ and then choosing to make Jesus your Lord and Savior.
In summary
Jesus is the only One who reconciles us with God and other people, as our Apostle and High Priest. He gives us power, not only to be children of God, our heavenly Father but also to:
- Love all people, even those you think don’t like you.
- Forgive all.
- Show radical hospitality.
- Be a good neighbor to everyone.
As you continue reading Hebrews, let me know what you think of Jesus Christ based on this book of the New Testament. Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
