JESUS AND MOSES COMPARED -- Tomorrow:
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all His house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 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." (Heb 3:1-6)
Devotion 4 of 12
"For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses . . . "
With all of the emphasis on the unworthiness of man, it is imperative that we consider the worthiness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our text is refreshingly to the point: Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses" (NIV). With men, glory, or honor, is not always associated with worthiness. It is possible to attain to worldly honor dishonorably, or to receive undeserved honor. It is also possible to receive glory and honor because of the corruptness of the times. Thus many entertainers and professionals are vaunted into prominence only because the days are evil. This is not the case, however, with our Savior. He has been "counted," or "deemed worthy" of greater "dignity, glory, honor, praise, worship," which is the meaning of the word "glory," or "honor." This is the "glory and honor" referred to in 2:9 – something God Himself has bestowed on the Son.
This glory was granted to Jesus because of His obedience as a Man. This is important to note. The Father did not honor the Son because He was Divine, but because of His achievements in the war-zone of "this present evil world" (Gal 1:4). It was because He was "faithful to Him that appointed Him." Remember, that faithfulness related to the salvation of a fallen race; the reclamation of people sold to sin! The required work was so large that it could not be accomplished by an innumerable company of angels! Nor, indeed, could it be achieved by the spoken word of the Almighty!
Keep in mind, God has also bestowed honor upon Moses. A recollection of that honor is necessary if we are to grasp the significance of this comparison. God said of Moses, "And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold" (Num 12:6-8). How many men have received such honor? Let those who purport to have direct revelation from God compare themselves with Moses!
Other men had their dreams, but that is not how God spoke to Moses! He was trustworthy – "faithful" in all of God's house. With him God spoke "mouth to mouth," or "as by the means of blowing." It is a prosaic way of saying God put His own words into Moses' mouth. In speaking of the coming Messiah, God would raise up a Prophet like unto Moses. He would "put His words" in the mouth of that coming Prophet (Deut 18:18) – just as He did with Moses.
This was an honor higher than that of Adam, into whose nostrils God breathed the breath of life (Gen 2:7). Of Moses it is said, "Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend" (Ex 33:11, NASB). Hear the glory and honor given to Moses. "Since then no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, for all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land, and for all the mighty power and for all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel" (Josh 1:10-12, NASB). So far as the Scriptures are concerned, Moses is the only man God personally buried (Deut 34:5- 6). His miracles are unparalleled for magnitude. A man of remarkable meekness and humility, it is said of him, "Now the man Moses was very meek (humble, NASB, NIV) above all the men which were upon the face of the earth" (Num 12:3, KJV).
The name "Moses" is mentioned no less than 848 times in the Word of God! Only the names of "David" (1,085) and "Jesus" appear more frequently (983 in the last 27 books of the Bible alone)! A number of the times "David" is used, it actually is referring to the coming Messiah, Who was the "son of David" (16 times; i.e., Matt 1:1; 9:27; 22:42), and was often called "David" (Jer 30:9; Ezek 34:23; 37:24). The kingdom of Christ was also called "the house of David" (Isa 22:22; Zech 12:10; 13:1).
The frequency of the mention of "Moses" is staggering! We read of the "word of Moses" (Ex 32:28; Lev 10:7), "the face of Moses" (Ex 34:35; 2 Cor 3:7), "the hand of Moses" (Psa 77:20; Isa 63:12), "the law of Moses" (Josh 8:31; Mal 4:4; Lk 24:44), and "the book of Moses" (2 Chron 25:4; Ezra 6:18; Mark 12:26). His "body" is the only one ever involved in a dispute between the devil and an archangel (Jude 9). Time forbids us to elaborate on the things attributed to Moses; i.e., God led Israel by him (Psa 77:20; Isa 63:12). In fact, the Spirit states the people "came out of Egypt led by Moses" (Heb 3:16). Here was a man, greatly honored by God! Jesus equated believing the Law with believing Moses (John 5:46)! What a singular honor for Moses to have that also said of him! God did not speak to Moses in parables, similitudes, and "dark sayings."
Moses was able to come close enough to God to understand! What remarkable honor was given to Moses! Think of it! He was given to behold "the form of the Lord." No one in all of Israel was afforded such an honor. Of wayward Israel it was said, "You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form" (John 5:37). But Moses did! It is not that God has a "shape" or "form," even though some suppose He does. What Moses beheld was a similitude, or likeness – something that accommodated itself to his vision. God made Himself personally known to Moses!
Our text states that the Son has been counted BY GOD as worthy of "of more glory than Moses." And why so? Because He did more! His works were of a greater order! Moses was dominating among men for 40 years, during which great things were wrought by his hand. The Lord Jesus was "cut off out of the land of the living" (Isa 53:8) at a relatively young age. Moses lived 120 years, and Jesus lived a little more than 33 years among men – but there is no comparison in their accomplishments! Jesus has been deemed worthy of greater honor than Moses!
Moses did not bring the people to God, because he could not change them. Jesus changes the people, and brings them to God! Moses, with all of the sacrifices instituted under the Law, which came by him, could never remove a single sin. Jesus "put sin away by the sacrifice of Himself" (Heb 9:26). Moses could not frustrate the devil, but Jesus "destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil" (Heb 2:14). Jesus was "counted worthy of greater honor" because He accomplished what God wanted to be done. He "reconciled the world" to God (2 Cor 5:18-20), and opened up the way to the Father (Heb 10:20).
Compare the people led by Moses at the conclusion of his ministry, and the people of God at the conclusion of their earthly sojourn under the tutelage of Jesus. In his valedictory address to the people he had led for 40 years, Moses said the following. "You have been rebellious against the LORD from the day I knew you" (Deut 9:24). Now, hear the result of Christ's ministry, who is worthy of more honor than Moses. "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 24).
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask for grace to live in a way that will reflect the unexcelled glory that has been given to Him.