Jesus Is Greater Than Moses

For the first readers of Hebrews, Moses was the greatest leader in their history. The letter honors Moses rather than criticizing him. Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken. Moses’ faithfulness pointed forward. Christ is faithful as a Son over his house, and the house belongs to the Son. The letter adds that God’s people are his house if they hold fast their confidence and hope firm to the end.

Verses 7 to 11 quote Psalm 95. The psalm remembers Massah and Meribah, where the people tested God in the wilderness even after seeing his deeds for forty years. God said, They always err in their heart, but they didn’t know my ways. The psalm warns later generations not to repeat that story. The repeated word today means the invitation is still open; each new day is a fresh chance to listen and trust.

Verses 12 to 19 apply the psalm. A heart of unbelief turns away from the living God. The remedy is community. Exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called today, lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. The chapter ends with three questions about who rebelled, who sinned, and who disobeyed, and then gives the answer. We see that they weren’t able to enter in because of unbelief.