Sermon: Wittenberg Academy – Tuesday of Holy Week

4 April 2023

Text: Heb 3:1-19

In the name of + Jesus.  Amen.

The author of Hebrews conveys that as great as Moses was, being “faithful in all God’s house as a servant,” our Lord Jesus “has been counted worthy of more glory.”  For Jesus is indeed a servant (Phil 2:7), but at the same time, is “faithful over God’s house as a Son.”  And what’s more, the honor afforded to Jesus exceeds the glory that we rightfully apply to Moses, “as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.”  And Jesus, the builder of God’s house, is, as Moses is, a man.  But He is, as the Father is, God: “For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.”

The Book of Hebrews not only teaches us who Christ is in relation to the Old Testament, it instructs us as to what this means for us as Christians in relation to God, to other believers, and to the world.  For “we are His house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” 

The author also teaches us about the Holy Scriptures, citing numerous passages from the Old Testament, including Psalm 95, and referring to its authorship not only in terms of its human writer, but as also the “Holy Spirit.”  This is consistent with St. Paul’s assertion that the Scriptures are “breathed out by God” (2 Tim 3:16).  The Greek for “breathed out by God” is a single compound word including the words “God” and “spirit.”  St. Peter teaches us about the authorship of the books of the Bible by saying: “Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet 1:20-21).  The Greek word for “carried along” is a term used to describe the wind moving a boat by means of its sails.

The author of Hebrews teaches us that Jesus is God, that God is triune, and that we get to know God – not just in knowledge but also in the heart – by means of the Holy Scriptures.  For they testify of Him who is indeed the “Author and Perfecter of our faith” (Heb 12:2), the builder of the house that Moses and the apostles served.

Jesus is the Servant who serves us, and we are servants who serve Him.  This is the essence of love, dear friends, given and taught by the God who not only gives us His body and blood as an atoning sacrifice and a memorial meal “for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt 26:28), but who also, at this same meal, humbles Himself to wash the feet of others as a lowly servant.  And He teaches us to live out this same love to others (Matt 26:13-17).

In light of what we believe, teach, and confess about our Lord Jesus, the author of Hebrews counsels us to “take care” and not to fall for the deception of “an evil, unbelieving heart,” as did many who followed Moses at first, but who later rebelled against Him.  “Exhort one another every day,” says the author, “that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”  Rather, dear friends, in Christ, the Word Made Flesh, and through the Scriptures, the written Word, let us “hold our original confidence firm to the end.”

Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.