"SO THEN, brethren, consecrated and set apart for God, who share in the heavenly calling, [thoughtfully and attentively] consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest Whom we confessed [as ours when we embraced the Christian faith]." After only two chapters and 32 verses the author of Hebrews calls us to stop, look and listen and "consider Jesus." The battle for our soul is in our mind. The Greek word used here for consider is katanoeo and it means to observe fully:–behold, consider, discover, perceive. In our microwave world we rarely "fully observe" anything and Jesus is probably not at the top of our "observe fully:–behold, consider, discover, perceive" list. Hence there is a tendency to drift from the faith (2:1-4), to have doubt/unbelief (3:7-4:13), to becoming dull to God's Word (5:11-6:20), to draw back from God (10:26-39) and even deny/refuse Him (Heb. 12:25-29). This was what the Hebrew's author was concerned about and he calls the believers at that time and us today to consider Jesus so as to stop this downward spiral of faith.
James, the half brother of Jesus in the flesh, calls us to the same intense observation of God's Word: "So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls. But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror. For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like. But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience)" (James 1:21-25).
Paul uses words that sound like a battlefield to challenge us to think rightly about God and Jesus. "For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)" (2 Cor. 10:3-5).
And our Lord says we are to use "all of our mind" in loving Him. "And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment" (Mark 12: 30).
"SO THEN, brethren, consecrated and set apart for God, who share in the heavenly calling." – {"Old Testament saints were called to material blessings (an "earthly calling") in the land of promise (though they did have a heavenly hope as well). In the Church Age, believers are called to spiritual blessings in the heavenlies now and to a heavenly inheritance in the future." [1]MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995} Every believer has a "heavenly calling." We are called first to a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord (Rev. 3:20) and secondly to a ministry for Him (Eph. 2:10). Do you know Jesus intimately and do you know His unique call on your life?
"Consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest Whom we confessed" – Jesus the Apostle (means "sent one") was sent from God to man to reveal God to man. Jesus the High Priest goes to God (intercedes and sacrifices) for man. There is much more in Hebrews about Jesus as our High Priest. We can confess our beliefs and creeds with our mouths but not really believe them in our heart. "The word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:8-10)
"[See how] faithful He was to Him Who appointed Him [Apostle and High Priest], as Moses was also faithful in the whole house [of God]. " Moses was highly esteemed by these Jewish believers and the Holy Spirit in no way belittles him as he is compared to Christ. He was faithful (not perfect or sinless) to all God called him to do – deliver God's people from 400 years of bondage and reveal and write down the law of God (the first five books in the Bible – the Pentateuch.) The ethical standards in the Ten Commandments influence the whole world to this day. {"The house here does not mean only the tabernacle but also the entire sphere in which Moses represented God's interests. It is the house of Israel, God's ancient earthly people. " [1]MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995} We are not to look back to Moses but we are to imitate his faithfulness. "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust (stewards) must prove faithful" (1 Cor. 4:2). As stewards of God we own nothing and are accountable to God for all He entrusts to us- time, talents, treasures, truths and relationships. Jesus was completely faithful to (and perfectly sinless) God's call on His life as a Man. "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do" (Jesus – John 17:4).
"Yet Jesus has been considered worthy of much greater honor and glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house (Jesus) has more honor than the house [itself] For [of course] every house is built and furnished by someone, but the Builder of all things and the Furnisher [of the entire equipment of all things] is God. Jesus is greater than Moses because He is God and created everything as the writer showed us in chapter one.
"And Moses certainly was faithful in the administration of all God's house [but it was only] as a ministering servant. [In his entire ministry he was but] a testimony to the things which were to be spoken [the revelations to be given afterward in Christ]. But Christ (the Messiah) was faithful over His [own Father's] house as a Son [and Master of it]. And it is we who are [now members] of this house, if we hold fast and firm to the end our joyful and exultant confidence and sense of triumph in our hope [in Christ]. Moses was a servant (and creature). Jesus is the Son and Creator. Moses pointed to Christ's promises and work. Jesus fulfilled the promises completely (see Luke 24:25-27). As born-again believers our confidence to hold fast to the end is not in ourselves but in Jesus, the "author and finisher of our faith" Jesus (Heb. 12:2).
"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Gal. 5:6). Man tends to law-based or performance-based acceptance (the Law of Moses). But the law of God was given to reveal our sin and to serve as a tutor to lead us to Christ (Gal. 3:24). The law speaks of doing – what we should do or not do – our conduct. But Jesus showed us in the Sermon on the Mount that God wants to change our being, our character and inner attitudes (our be-attitudes) to be like His. This is absolutely impossible apart from being born-again and then abiding in and submitting to Christ (John 3:3; 15:5; Eph. 5:18). "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]" (Phil. 4:13).
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND APPLICATION
1) "Consider Jesus" – The battle for our soul (spiritual growth) is in our mind. How does Paul teach us to fight in 2 Cor. 10:3-5? What are our weapons? How does James 1:21-25 and Mark 12:30 reinforce this?
2) Every believer has a "heavenly calling." We are called first to a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord (Rev. 3:20) and secondly to a ministry for Him (Eph. 2:10). Do you know Jesus intimately and do you know His unique call on your life? Discuss your answers.
3) We are not to look back to Moses but we are to imitate his faithfulness. "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust (stewards) must prove faithful" (1 Cor. 4:2). As stewards of God we own nothing and are accountable to God for all He entrusts to us- time, talents, treasures, truths and relationships. In what area of stewardship to you feel most faithful? least faithful?
4) "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Gal. 5:6).Man tends to performance-based acceptance (the Law of Moses) – doing versus being. God wants to change our being (be-attitudes) and our inner character first and our doing flows from inside to out. How does God do this inner work? What is our part?