Thread by @glprater

#GeraldsDevotional
A Comparison of Jesus and Moses

In today’s message, we will take a look at how the writer of Hebrews makes a stark comparison between Jesus and Moses. For the purpose of proper context, remember that this person was writing to an audience of the New Testament Jews in order to communicate an important message

from God that they needed to understand. As it is with every other part of the bible, these messages are timeless and also very applicable to both you and me today.

To begin, let’s ask the question “Why does the writer feel the need to make this comparison?” Jesus and Moses

represented two covenants or agreements that God made with His people. Although they were two very different covenants, they were also the same in that they both pointed to the ways and means that the people needed to take in order to be right with God. The covenant of Moses (the

written Law) described what we need to DO in order to be perfect and to meet God’s standard of righteousness. The New Covenant of Jesus was the same in that it also pointed to a way to fulfill the Law and make the people right with God. But the key difference between the two

covenants was distinguished by WHO had to do the things to fulfill the Law.

Note that when Moses originally gave the Law, the people almost immediately failed to keep it (and although he was a faithful servant, even Moses failed to keep it). This failure to perfectly keep that

law persisted throughout the history of Israel and it continues today with you and me. God has always known that we just can’t do it, try as we may. THAT is why our Father sent His Son to fulfill the Law with the New Covenant.

The problem is that we are creatures of habit and

can become stuck in our ways. We love our traditions and tend to lean on (or worship) them. When Jesus came and presented Himself, describing how He was the way to perfectly fulfill the Law (demonstrating His claim with miracles, signs and wonders), the religious people rejected

His message because it did not fit with their traditions of religious works. These were the same works that had failed them time and time again, yet they continued to cling to them.

The key message that the writer of Hebrews is trying to communicate here is that the New Covenant

is by far greater than the first one. Moses’ covenant (the Law on tablets) was merely an illustration of the coming New Covenant and the way that God would ultimately provide for His people so that they could really be with Him in His house forever. The way to satisfy that

New Covenant was not based on what WE do, but rather it was based on what HE did (His perfection).

Now let’s see how the writer makes this case as he compares the two at the beginning of Hebrews chapter 3:

Jesus Is Greater Than Moses
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters who

belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest. 2 For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God’s entire house.

3 But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. 4 For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.

5 Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an

illustration of the truths God would reveal later. 6 But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ. - Hebrews 3:1-6
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