HE THAT BUILT ALL THINGS
Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But 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.
As we look at verse four of our text we realize that it is stating that every household is built by some man. As the farmer imparts the seed into the darkness of the earth for the crop to be brought forth, so the male imparts his seed into the female to bring forth the lives of the children that shall make up their household. Then we are brought to the realization that both the farmer and the husband are but lesser examples of God’s having built “all things.” 1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. Acts 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
And the ultimate “seed” which is imparted to us by the Holy Spirit is the Lord Jesus Christ! Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
We clearly see that it was the Lord God who even builded the households of the midwives who refused to kill the children of the Hebrews as Pharaoh had ordered. Exodus 1:20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. The Complete Jewish Bible states that God “made them founders of families.”
And thus we read of Ruth the Moabitess, who was engrafted into the lineage of Messiah. Ruth 4:11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: Ruth and Boaz brought forth Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4:17).
Therefore we clearly see that although man was involved as a second cause, he that built all things is God. 1 Corinthians 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
And this is why it is concluded in verse three of our text that he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For Moses was but a servant “in” the household of the church. But Christ Jesus is a son “over” the household of God! For he is the living stone – the head of the corner – while we are but individual bricks that make up the house. Peter refers to us also as lively, or living stones! 1 Peter 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Then in our Hebrew text the apostle begins to refer to the voices of Moses and Christ, and their effectual usage. For in verse five he states that Moses’ testimony, contained in the law, was of those things which were to be spoken after. The law was but a shadow. But the Lord Christ is the very light of life and the light of the world, casting his ‘shadow’ back into that realm of the law! Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
For as the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled and forever finished the shadowy voice of Moses’ law! Hebrews 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, (that is the first dispensation of the law), that he may establish the second. (that is, the second and final establishment of salvation by grace and faith alone), 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Then in verses six through ten of Hebrews chapter three we are strongly cautioned by the word, “Wherefore,” which begins verse seven, not to harden our hearts in the opportunity to hear the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ! Consider also the warning with explanation as to why the word they were given failed them. Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
And we read in verse five of our text that Moses’ voice was a “testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;” For the benefit of Moses’ law is to show the sinner the wretchedness of his sin, and therefore his need for a great Savior! Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. One must attend first the terrors of Mount Sinai, realizing he is a sinner, before fleeing to the grace revealed from Mount Calvary!
Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Moses and Christ are the two men who are used by the Holy Spirit to reveal the two dispensations of God’s revelation to mankind. John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. And included in Moses’ testimony, there was even the introduction of the Person of Messiah Himself! Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
In condemning the Jews for not believing his teachings, the Lord Jesus made reference to Moses having spoken of him! John 5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
And as Moses prophesied that God would raise up that Prophet, (the Lord Jesus Christ), he also stated that God would “put (his) words in his mouth.” So again, the Lord Jesus made reference of this as applying to himself and his teachings. John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
Then the Lord gave the overriding statement of his total relation to the law. Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. The law expresses in word the character of the Holy God!
Whereas the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Word made flesh, expressed by his own living the character of the Holy God. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
And it was like the Lord explained to John the Baptist when John hesitated to baptize him. Matthew 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. He would fulfill the law, even by his circumcision on the eighth day, shedding his first blood in regards to the law’s demands. But he would have John baptize him, looking forward to the church in order to fulfill their righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Therefore it was those representatives of the law and the prophets who met with him on the mount as he prepared himself to go to Calvary! Luke 9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. 30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
It had to be Moses and Elijah, to ‘remind’ Christ Jesus of the condemnation that the law exacted upon those for whom he would die! Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Therefore it could not have been Abraham, brought back to stand with him to speak of a yet, unaccomplished redemption. For Abraham had already participated in that day, acting out, with perfect heart, the love of the Father in the giving of his only spiritually begotten Son! Genesis 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
For Abraham saw the day of completed redemption. Whereas Moses and Elijah saw the demands of the law, and the need of a cleansing sacrifice. And having seen, by faith, the day of the Son of God, Abraham rejoiced by faith in that completed redemption. John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Pastor Gene Breed
June 9, 2017
