Therefore, holy “brothers,” sharing in a heavenly calling, reflect on Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was “faithful in [all] his house.” 3 But he is worthy of more “glory” than Moses, as the founder of a house has more “honor” than the house itself. 4 Every house is founded by someone, but the founder of all is God. 5 Moses was “faithful in all his house” as a “servant” to testify to what would be spoken, 6 but Christ was faithful as a son placed over his house. We are his house, if [only] we hold fast to our confidence and pride in our hope.
Believers are holy because they are consecrated by Jesus, and brothers because they have a common human relation to him. Their innermost desire is heaven. Jesus is referred to as an “apostle” and a high priest. He was sent by God to teach; in the OT, the priests were also teachers (Mal. 2:7). They are to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus so they do not forget what their confession (probably baptism) and what he has done for them and fall away from the faith (v. 1).
Jesus was the mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15) just as Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant. Jesus was a trustworthy high priest faithful to God as Moses was trustworthy and faithful to God (Num. 12:1-8). But Jesus was superior to Moses because Moses was a faithful servant in God’s house, Israel, and a part of the house, while Christ was a faithful son through whom the house was built (v. 3; Jn. 2:19). The son is superior to the servant in the household. There is but one house, the Christian community which is a continuation of the house Israel.
Almighty God, you sent your beloved Son as Priest, Prophet and King to be the Savior of the world. As adopted brothers and sisters, we will share in his glory if we adhere to his teachings and follow your commandments. Grant us the grace to understand all that he taught, and to be trustworthy stewards of our faith. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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