Atlanta Bible Students
The Book of Hebrews
Chapter 3
Chapter 3 References
Verses 1-4
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 has built the house has more honour than the house. [4] For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
Verse 1
| "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;" |
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| Question | Answer |
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| How does Paul address the brethren? |
As "Holy brethren." |
| How should we consider our brethren? |
As "Holy brethren." |
| What makes us brethren? |
We are "partakers of the heavenly calling." |
| Why is "Christ Jesus" referred to as "the Apostle .. of our profession?" |
Apostle means "special teacher, one who is specially sent." Jesus was specially sent to the church from the Father - John 20:21. |
| What does a High Priest do? |
See Heb. 5:1 |
| Why is "Christ Jesus" referred to as "the High Priest of our profession?" |
As a High Priest he offers the gifts of our love and our sacrifices to God. He is in the chief office of "our profession," i.e., being of "The Christ." |
Verse 2
| "Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house." |
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| Question | Answer |
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| Here in vs 2, who is "him?" |
"To him" is God. "That appointed him" is Jesus. By replacing the pronouns "him" and "his" in vs. 2 we read thus:
"Who was faithful to God that appointed Jesus, as also Moses was faithful in all God's house." |
| To whom does Paul compare Jesus to and what is the comparison? |
To Moses. The comparison is their faithfulness to the Father, specifically in regard to "his house." |
Verse 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." |
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| Question | Answer |
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| Why was Jesus counted worthy of more glory than Moses? |
Because Jesus Christ built the "Christian" house. Moses did not build the Jewish house (nation). |
Verse 4
| "For every house is built by some man; but he that built all things is God." |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|
| If it was God who built this house, what does this do to Paul's reasoning in vs 3 as to why Jesus was worthy of more glory than Moses? |
All things are of the Father and by the Son. |
Verses 5-6
"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."
Verse 5
| "Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later;" (NASB) |
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| Question | Answer |
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| How was Moses faithful? |
As a servant. |
| Over what house was Moses faithful? |
The house of servants. |
| What were the "things to be spoken later?" |
"Now these things happened unto them typically, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come."1 Cor. 10:11 RVIC
"The fleshly house was the honored servants of the spiritual house in various ways, but chiefly in that they unconsciously, under God's arrangement, furnished pantomime illustrations of spiritual things, which, if studied and heeded, greatly bless and enligthen the house of sons." B204:2 |
Verse 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." |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|
| Of what house is Christ over? |
The house of sons. |
| Who comprises this house? |
"Whose house are we." |
| Is this arrangement (for us) permanent and unconditional? |
"If we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." |
Verse 7-11 (a parenthesis)
"Wherefore (as the Holy Spirit saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, [8] Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: [9] When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. [10] Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. [11] So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)"
Verse 7
| "Wherefore (as the Holy Spirit saith, To day if ye will hear his voice," |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|
| From where does this instruction come? |
The Holy Spirit. |
| When is "today?" |
Specifically in Paul's day but really throughout the entire Gospel Age. |
| What is it that the Holy Spirit is telling us to do? |
"Hear his (God's) voice." |
Verse 8 & 9
| "Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: [9]When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years." |
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| Question | Answer |
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| What is the danger here? |
That our hearts could become hardened. |
| Of what provocation is Paul speaking? |
When Israel first came to the promised land and Moses sent 12 men to spy out the land. Israel rejected the true testimony of Caleb and Joshua about the land of promise and were persuaded by the worldly reasoning of the other ten spies. As a result they wandered in the wilderness 40 years (one year for each day the spies were gone). |
| How long was "the day of temptation?" |
Forty years. |
| Who are "the fathers?" |
The Jews whose descendents Paul was addressing. |
| How did the fathers tempt God? |
Exo. 32:7-10 |
| How did they "prove" God? |
Tested (usually with the thought of approval). Strong's 1391. |
| What works did they see? |
Manna, Cloud by day, Pillar of fire by night, Water from the rock, Brazen serpent, Nadab and Abihu destroyed by fire from God, Korah and his followers swallowed by the earth, etc., etc. |
Verse 10
| "Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways." |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|
| With whom was God grieved? |
The generation that rejected their opportunity to enter into the promised land. |
| What two reasons does Paul give as to why God was grieved with them. |
1. "They do alway err in their heart."
2. "They have not known my ways." |
| What lessons may we draw from this? |
1. "Keep you heart with all dilligence for out of it are the issues of life." Pro. 4:23
2. "My son, give me thine heart and let thine eyes observe my ways." Pro. 23:26
We need not only to give our hearts to the Lord but we also need to give to him our minds. We should pay attention to His words and learn of His ways. Matt. 11:29 - see also Num. 32:11,12
|
Verse 11
| "So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)" |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|
| What was God's reaction to them? |
He would not allow them to enter into the Promised Land but instead caused them to wander in the wilderness 40 years. |
Verses 12-14
"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. [13] But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. [14]For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;"
Verse 12
| [Wherefore] "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|
| Who is instructed to "take heed?" |
"Brethren." |
| Why are we to take heed? |
Because the danger is that we could be found to have an evil heart of unbelief. This is a reminder to us of the importance of faith. |
| What are the dangers involved if we do not take heed? |
Departing from the living God. |
Note. It Paul is very specific here. He does NOT say that a failure to fully live up to the perfect law means a departing from the living God. It is "an evil heart of unbelief" that puts us in danger. In other words, it is our faith that is on trial. |
Verse 13
| "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|
| What should we do and how often should we do it? |
Exhort each other - daily. |
| What does Paul mean by the expression "while it is called Today?" |
Specifically in Paul's day but really throughout the entire Gospel Age. [Same as in verse 7.] |
| What specific danger does Paul point out? |
Hardening of our hearts. |
| What is the path that leads to this danger? |
The deceitfulness of sin. |
Verse 14
| "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;" |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|
| What precious promise is here given the church? |
We are made partakers of Christ! |
| What conditions are attached to this promise? |
Faithful from beginning to end. |
Verses 15-19
"While it is said, To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. [16]For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. [17]But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? [18]And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? [19]So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."
Verse 15
| "While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|
| What is meant by "To day?" |
see verses 7, 13 |
| Who hears the voice of God? |
The "we" class, the church. |
| What should be the reaction of these? |
Keep your heart [do not harden your heart]. |
| Of what specific event is Paul speaking? |
When Israel listened to the 10 spies and rejected the counsel of the two (Caleb and Joshua). |
Verse 16
| "For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses." |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|
| Who heard? |
All Israel when they approached to the promised land for the first time. |
| Who provoked? |
Those who listened to the 10 spies. |
| Who did not provoke? |
Primarily Caleb and Joshua. |
Verse 17
| "But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?" |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|
| With whom was he grieved forty years? |
Those who followed the advise of the 10 spies. |
| How did they sin? |
Not trusting God. |
| What was the reward for their sin? |
Death in the wilderness. |
Verse 18
| "And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?" |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|
| What did God sware? |
That Israel should not enter into the rest, i.e., they would not enter (at that time) into the promised land. |
| To whom did He sware it? |
Israel at the time they came to the promised land and were persuaded by the false report of the 10 spies. |
| What is the evidence that "they believed not?" |
They were forced to wander 40 years in the wilderness, a year for each day the spies were gone. |
| What is the importance of this to us? |
1 Cor. 10:11. This was a type of our entering into the rest of faith. If we exercise faith in the promises of God then we will enter now into the rest of faith. If not, we too may have to wander in the wilderness and gain experiences the hard way before entering into the rest of faith. If we choose the latter, we may loose out on the chief favor. |
Verse 19
| "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|
| Why could they not enter? |
Because of unbelief. |
| What does this mean to us? |
How is our faith? Do we have the faith to enter into the rest promised to us? If we truly have faith we should already have entered into this rest. It is not a rest of self-confidence but instead it is the rest of complete trust in the precious promises of God. This is a personal faith. Having not only the confidence in God, but that His promises are indeed for us. |
Chapter 2 Chapter 4
| Hebrews 3 |
|---|
| Verse |
Reference |
Verse |
Reference |
Verse |
Reference |
Verse |
Reference |
Verse |
Reference |
| 1 |
SM359:1 |
1,14 |
R3952:1 |
5,6 |
R2405:8 |
5,6 |
R1872:2 |
7-19 |
R5306:8 |
| 1 |
Q850:1 |
1-2 |
R964:11 |
5,6 |
R2542:2 |
5,6 |
R2405:8 |
8 |
R34:10 |
| 1 |
Q436:1 |
1-6 |
R180:1 |
5,6 |
R2562:9 |
5,6 |
R2542:2 |
8 |
R268:1 |
| 1 |
SM139:2 |
1-6 |
R1389:4 |
5,6 |
R3030:2 |
5,6 |
R2562:9 |
8 |
R299:21 |
| 1 |
A221:4 |
1-6 |
R5405:6 |
5,6 |
R3148:8 |
5,6 |
R3030:2 |
8 |
R568:16 |
| 1 |
F67:1 |
1-6 |
R5775:4 |
5,6 |
R3268:3 |
5,6 |
R3148:8 |
8,9 |
Q758:2 |
| 1 |
R31:6 |
2,5,6 |
R3248:4 |
5,6 |
R3476:2 |
5,6 |
R3268:3 |
8,9 |
A138:4 |
| 1 |
R399:4 |
4 |
R1303:3 |
5,6 |
R3539:6 |
5,6 |
R3476:2 |
8,9 |
B47:3 |
| 1 |
R447:13 |
2,5,6 |
R3248:4 |
5,6 |
R3712:8 |
5,6 |
R3539:6 |
8,9 |
R5139:58 |
| 1 |
R454:3 |
5 |
F431:2 |
5,6 |
R4958:7 |
5,6 |
R3712:8 |
8-19 |
R1841:12 |
| 1 |
R600:5 |
5 |
R78:12 |
5,6 |
R5003:11 |
5,6 |
R4958:7 |
8,9 |
Q758:2 |
| 1 |
R659:13 |
5 |
R370:14 |
5,6 |
R5250:6 |
5,6 |
R5003:11 |
8,9 |
A138:4 |
| 1 |
R771:66 |
5 |
R559:4 |
5,6 |
R5613:4 |
5,6 |
R5250:6 |
8,9 |
B47:3 |
| 1 |
R771:69 |
5 |
R988:56 |
5,6 |
R5663:15 |
5,6 |
R5613:4 |
8,9 |
R5139:58 |
| 1 |
R1084:7 |
5 |
R1410:34 |
5,6 |
R5682:2 |
5,6 |
R5663:15 |
9 |
R26:11 |
| 1 |
R1100:13 |
5 |
R1449:7 |
5,6 |
R5817:17 |
5,6 |
R5682:2 |
9 |
R410:4 |
| 1 |
R1237:54 |
5 |
R3177:14 |
5,6 |
R5831:3 |
5,6 |
R5817:17 |
10 |
D603:1 |
| 1 |
R1237:57 |
5 |
R5207:11 |
5,6 |
R5859:5 |
5,6 |
R5831:3 |
10 |
R2426:10 |
| 1 |
R1335:14 |
5 |
R5219:3 |
5-6 |
R224:2 |
5,6 |
R5859:5 |
11 |
R5387:23 |
| 1 |
R1543:4 |
5 |
R5582:7 |
5-6 |
R505:16 |
6 |
R128:2 |
12 |
R1841:12 |
| 1 |
R1881:19 |
5 |
R5663:14 |
2,5,6 |
R3248:4 |
6 |
R245:8 |
12,14 |
R90:8 |
| 1 |
R3313:6 |
5,6 |
A145:3 |
5,6 |
A145:3 |
6 |
R269:4 |
1,14 |
R714:12 |
| 1 |
R3900:12 |
5,6 |
B204:2 |
5,6 |
B204:2 |
6 |
R297:14 |
1,14 |
R962:23 |
| 1 |
R4537:8 |
5,6 |
F177:1 |
5,6 |
F177:1 |
6 |
R361:11 |
1,14 |
R1956:29 |
| 1 |
R5023:5 |
5,6 |
R174:3 |
5,6 |
R78:12 |
6 |
R569:4 |
1,14 |
R3952:1 |
| 1 |
R5341:17 |
5,6 |
R175:15 |
5,6 |
R174:3 |
6 |
R1698:15 |
12,14 |
R90:8 |
| 1 |
R5459:3 |
5,6 |
R219:3 |
5,6 |
R175:15 |
6 |
R1729:3 |
15 |
F94:1 |
| 1 |
R5772:5 |
5,6 |
R435:9 |
5,6 |
R219:3 |
6 |
R1915:3 |
15 |
R1371:17 |
| 1 |
R5926:1 |
5,6 |
R600:3 |
5,6 |
R435:9 |
6 |
R2532:5 |
15 |
R1372:3 |
| 1 |
R5958:8 |
5,6 |
R831:2 |
5,6 |
R600:3 |
6 |
R3223:7 |
17 |
R1500:13 |
| 1 |
T21:3 |
5,6 |
R835:11 |
5,6 |
R831:2 |
6 |
R4108:1 |
17 |
R3052:13 |
| 1 |
T26:2 |
5,6 |
R1005:5 |
5,6 |
R835:11 |
6 |
R4537:10 |
|
|
| 1 |
T27:1 |
5,6 |
R1034:63 |
5,6 |
R1005:5 |
6 |
R5163:14 |
|
|
| 1,14 |
R714:12 |
5,6 |
R1457:3 |
5,6 |
R1034:63 |
6 |
R5170:15 |
|
|
| 1,14 |
R962:23 |
5,6 |
R1543:5 |
5,6 |
R1457:3 |
6 |
R5497:18 |
|
|
| 1,14 |
R1956:29 |
5,6 |
R1872:2 |
5,6 |
R1543:5 |
7 |
R810:12 |
|
|
| 1,14 |
R3952:1 |
5,6 |
R2405:8 |
5,6 |
R1872:2 |
7-19 |
R5306:8 |
|
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