Congratulations! Everyone made positive contributions on Hebrews 3, and did so with good insights and good humor. I will simply post some of my thoughts below–mostly echoing what you have shared.
Questions:
- Hebrews is the only New Testament book to refer to Jesus by either of these terms, “apostle” (once) and “high priest” (several times). Speculate: why do you think calling Jesus “apostle” did not catch on in the early Church?
From among a larger group of followers, Jesus chose 12 and named them as “apostles,” meaning, “ones sent” as Luke tells us (6:13). Jesus was understood as designating them as a particular body, the ones he authorized to represent him “officially,” and this was the only group he called in exactly that way. It would have tangled up explaining how Jesus, the Son, the founder, was also “an apostle.”
- Jews considered Aaron the very first High Priest, not his younger brother, Moses. Yet Aaron was clearly subordinate to Moses. How might we explain that Jesus, though named here as a High Priest, is not also somehow subordinate to Moses?
Moses, called a “servant” of God, served as “high priest” to his brother Aaron, as he mediated between God and Aaron to found the Jewish priesthood. Jesus stands over Moses as the Son of the founder of a house stands above a servant who works in the house.
- In verse 6, the preacher says, “we are his house.” Whose house is he referring to? And what is this “house”? What does the word refer to? The Hebrew language revels in wordplay and puns. How does “house” lend itself to that, as we can see in English?
Whose “house” is the preacher referring to? God’s house. What is this “house”? It is the sons and daughters who live with God by living in his Son, living “in Christ.” Just as in English, “house” can refer to related persons who live together, as well as a particular place in which they live. Living “in Christ” involves a focused communion of these sons and daughters with Christ in a particular house of God we call our parish church, too, as well as being in communion with him daily in prayer, Scripture, service, and witness. The preacher is thinking of only ONE house, made up of Jews and Gentiles, as we will see clearly as we go through Chapter 4.
- Take a look at Psalm 95, excerpted and commented on by the preacher. What situation in the historical life of the Israelites does God remind the worshippers of? How is that relevant to us today?
In Psalm 95 the Holy Spirit reminds the children of the house how despite the fact that they owe their existence, their life in freedom, protection, food and water to God, they complained bitterly “hardened their hearts” (as Pharoah had!). They turned their backs on their Father-Creator-Savior, and, unsurprisingly, suffered for it. We, their heirs in this house, are warned not to fall into the same life-destroying pattern.