Hebrews 3

King James Version

Full text for Hebrews Chapter 3

1¶ Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

2Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses [was faithful] in all his house.

3For this [man] was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

4For every house is builded by some [man]; but he that built all things [is] God.

5And Moses verily [was] faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

6But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

7¶ Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

8Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

10Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways.

11So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

15While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

16For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

17But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

18And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

19So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Hebrews 3 introduces Christ as the Apostle and High Priest, asserting His superiority over Moses, who was a faithful servant while Christ is a Son over God's house. The chapter then issues a solemn warning, citing Psalm 95, against hardening one's heart as the Israelites did in the wilderness. This historical example underscores the danger of unbelief, which prevented that generation from entering God's promised rest. Believers are exhorted to remain steadfast in their faith to avoid a similar fate.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins by calling believers to consider Christ Jesus as the Apostle and High Priest of their profession, highlighting His faithfulness to God. It establishes Christ's preeminence over Moses, explaining that while Moses was faithful as a servant in God's house, Christ is a Son presiding over His own house, which believers comprise if they maintain their confidence. A crucial warning follows, quoting the Holy Ghost from Psalm 95, urging readers not to harden their hearts as the Israelites did during their forty years of temptation in the wilderness. This historical account reveals that God was grieved by their unbelief and swore they would not enter His rest. The author then applies this lesson, cautioning against an "evil heart of unbelief" that leads to departing from the living God. Believers are encouraged to exhort one another daily to prevent hardening through sin's deceitfulness, emphasizing that steadfast faith is essential to partake in Christ's promises and enter God's rest.

Long Summary

Hebrews 3 commences by addressing "holy brethren" and "partakers of the heavenly calling," urging them to fix their attention upon Christ Jesus as the Apostle and High Priest of their confession. The text establishes Christ's faithfulness to God, drawing a parallel with Moses' faithfulness in God's house, yet immediately asserting Christ's superior glory. This superiority is articulated through the metaphor of a builder and his house: Christ, as the builder of all things (God), holds greater honor than Moses, who was merely a part of the house. Moses served faithfully as a servant, providing a testimony of future revelations, whereas Christ presides as a Son over His own house. The chapter clarifies that believers constitute this house, provided they steadfastly maintain their confidence and hope until the end. Transitioning to a solemn admonition, the author quotes the Holy Ghost from Psalm 95, warning, "To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness." This passage recounts how the ancient Israelites provoked God, tested Him, and witnessed His works for forty years, yet continually erred in their hearts and failed to know His ways. Consequently, God was grieved and swore in His wrath that they would not enter His rest. The epistle then applies this historical lesson directly to its readers, urging them to take heed lest any develop an "evil heart of unbelief" leading to a departure from the living God. To counteract this danger, believers are exhorted to encourage one another daily, while the opportunity ("To day") remains, to prevent hardening through the deceitfulness of sin. The chapter reiterates that participation in Christ is contingent upon holding the "beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end." The tragic example of the wilderness generation is further explored, confirming that their inability to enter God's rest was solely due to their unbelief, despite having heard God's voice.

Core Concepts

  • Christ's Superiority to MosesThe chapter establishes Christ as worthy of more glory than Moses, comparing Moses as a faithful servant in God's house to Christ as a Son over His own house, thereby demonstrating Christ's preeminence.
  • Christ as Apostle and High PriestBelievers are called to consider Christ Jesus in these dual roles, signifying His divine commission as a messenger (Apostle) and His mediatorial office before God (High Priest).
  • The "House" of GodThis metaphor refers to God's people; Moses was faithful within this house as a servant, but Christ is the Son who presides over it, and believers are identified as this house if they remain steadfast.
  • Warning Against Hardening HeartsDrawing from Psalm 95, the Holy Ghost warns against becoming stubborn or unresponsive to God's voice, mirroring the Israelites' rebellion in the wilderness.
  • The Danger of UnbeliefThe chapter explicitly states that the ancient Israelites could not enter God's rest because of their unbelief, serving as a stark warning against developing an "evil heart of unbelief" that departs from God.
  • God's RestThis refers to a state of spiritual peace and blessing promised by God, which the wilderness generation forfeited due to their disobedience and lack of faith.
  • Mutual ExhortationBelievers are encouraged to exhort one another daily to prevent hardening of hearts through the deceitfulness of sin, fostering steadfastness in faith.