The writer of Hebrews began by proving that Jesus is superior to the angels in chapters 1-2, and not who will show that Jesus is superior to Moses. Why move from angels to Moses? For most modern readers, angels are superior to humans, so if Jesus is superior to angels, he would obviously be superior to Moses as well.
It is important to read this argument in a first century context. For Jews living in the Second Temple period, Moses was the most significant person in salvation history. There were legends developed about Moses (Assumption of Moses, for example), or Sirach 45:2, which describes Moses as equal to the “holy ones,” or even God (as the Hebrew text of Sirach can be translated, see Ellingworth, Hebrews, 194).
Sirach 45:1-2 ...and was beloved by God and people, Moses, whose memory is blessed. He made him equal in glory to the holy ones, and made him great, to the terror of his enemies.
In addition, messianic hopes in the first century sometimes focused on the coming of a prophet like Moses. Hope for a “return of Moses” as messiah was so strong that at least one messianic pretender stopped the Jordan in a re-enactment of the crossing of the Red Sea. Matthew’s gospel is designed to highlight Jesus as a new Moses. Jesus goes up on the mountain and gives the people the Law, the Sermon on the Mount!
Jesus and Moses Action Figures
One might have offered a counter argument to the first two chapters of Hebrews – Jesus might be superior to the angels, but the ultimate servant of God was Moses, who gave the Law. In the context of the first century, then, our author will argue that Jesus is a superior to even Moses as a servant of God. Ultimately, this will lead to the conclusion that the New covenant which Jesus enacted in his death and resurrection is superior to that of the Old Covenant made by Moses. In verse two Moses is compared to Jesus, then he is subordinated to Jesus (verse 3) and by verse 5 he is contrasted to Jesus, negatively.
This is not to say that the author of Hebrews is anti-Semitic. He is not saying that Moses is wrong, but rather than Jesus is far superior to Moses. In Hebrews, Moses and the law are good, but Jesus is better. This might have been as controversial in the first century as it is today – but to argue that Jesus and the New Covenant is superior is not to imply the Old Covenant is inferior, but dated. God is revealing himself in new ways in this present age, he has revealed himself through his Son.
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January 25, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Greg Salmon
This is one of those topics that make you think, for what purpose did the author do this? P. Long makes a good point saying that “Moses was the most significant person in salvation history.” When I think of Moses I think of how he is somewhat “an All-star Bible Character”. If you had to make a team of the 5 greatest Old Testament people, he would definitely be included. I am sure the first century Jewish Christians also thought the same way. The writer of Hebrews must have wanted to show that Jesus was so much greater than everyone that had lived so far. Also, when we look at the life of Jesus it seems like He was Moses to the people living around him. P. Long mentioned the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago (Moses’ people)… But I tell you…” Jesus delivered a new law which focused on the heart being in the right place. Jesus is fulfilling the Old Testament Law. Jesus did many different things that showed how He was like Moses. From the little I know about the book of Hebrews, it seems like the author wanted to show that we was much greater.
I also wonder, would the author have used Moses in Chapter 3 because of the lessons we can learn from him? Moses’ people hardened their hearts after God had delivered them. Hebrews 3:12 says, “See to it brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” Israel did stray and seen God’s wrath because of it. Did the author of Hebrews want to stress that we shouldn’t lose belief after Jesus “leads us out of our own desert”?
January 25, 2012 at 8:18 pm
AdaWarn
I really like what you said Greg! It does seem like the author whomever he/she is that they wanted to prove that Jesus was exactly who the old testement prophets said was coming. Some times I have no idea how Israel could be so stupid. They had God in the old testement leading them with a pillar of fire by night and a special cloud during the day and yet failed to trust him regularly. Then the new testement comes around and Jesus the son of God gives his try at it and they go so far as hanging him on a cross. Then the Bible ends and God decides to work though the human race to redeam creation.
Jews were looking so hard to see God that they missed him in the old testement, then as time wore on and they were looking for the messiah they were looking for him to be the 100% litteral person the prophets called for and they missed it again. This author was doing thier best to show that Jesus was the messaiah and here is how one can tell. I applaud the effort given because I’m sure it worked well for a lot of Jews.
My question then is where is the releventcy of this book to those of us who already are firm belivers and knowers of who Jesus was? Is it because we can use it to reach those Jew who are still lost? If thats true then why is there not a book that helps us reach the atheists? Maybe the Jews are harder to reach than those who have no faith in anything at all…
January 25, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Ryan Dame
By Ryan Dame
This is a subject that makes me consider how little credit Moses is given based on how prominent he actually is in the bible. Its been said in class that moses is one of the largest contributors to mans salvation. I personally had never really thought of moses that way until I had heard it mentioned, and after thinkinng it over, realized that it is probably true. I think that this is possibly a common thought about Moses, its almost like his significance is somewhat down played because you are so used to hearing about all of his stories as a child. I would also say that there are several similarities between Moses and Jesus. I will admit that I have read Greg Salmons post before hand and had never really seen as many of the connections that he made between the two until he pointed them out. I guess that is a benefit of this assingment for me. I am not a bible or theology major, but taking a upper level bible course is an an experience for me to hear opinions from some of the students who have studied the bible in greater depth then myself.
January 25, 2012 at 10:17 pm
zmccord
Simply, Jesus is the greatest man in history. He is the Messiah, and the Bible shows this by telling of his superiority over great powers. Just as angels were considered powerful by Jewish beliefs, Moses was considered the greatest man to ever live by Jewish people. He delivered the covenant of God to God’s chosen people and led them to the promise land. Anything considered better than Moses would be blasphemy to the ears of Jewish people during this time. It was the perfect example to show, once again, the greatness of Jesus Christ over everything. Hebrews 3 compares the covenant of Jesus to the covenant of Moses and shows how Jesus made God’s covenant with his people better. This chapter is not to show how bad Moses was compared to Jesus, but how great Jesus Christ is as the Son of God.
January 25, 2012 at 10:33 pm
Adam Wolf
Moses, being the “greatest of the prophets…was just a faithful servant in God’s house” (Jobes). Even though the angels are considered the highest beings, and that the author of Hebrews compares them to Jesus (or vice versa); even being even superior to them, I believe that the significance of comparing Jesus to Moses is even greater than a quick glance. When I think of Moses, immediately, several stories flood in of a man whom was a great and powerful instrument in God’s story, beginning with Israel. You know…Moses, the one who obeyed God wholeheartedly and almost always without question or disobedience. He stepped out in faith and brought the plagues into Egypt with God’s hand, and the people of Israel out of Egypt with God’s power. He led them through the desert and brought them the Ten Commandments. He had a deep communion with God and played an enormous role in shaping them into the Nation that they would soon develop into. It was only shortly after his leadership, that Israel became the military “powerhouse” that they were most known for; finding its root in the leadership of Joshua (Deuteronomy 34:9). So it must have been extremely significant for the author of Hebrews to make this comparison, considering the stories of Moses (and the myths) that they knew well with their traditions and Old Testament scripture.
January 25, 2012 at 10:50 pm
mronda
This passage always reminds me of the transfiguration specifically as it is described in Matthew 17, I find it interesting that it is made clear that john the Baptist clearly fulfilled the role of Elijah yet in all of the transfiguration accounts the Mosaic role is left a bit open ended. Yet there is an understanding that the prophecies called for Elijah and then Moses and in the Gospels we get John the Baptist and then Jesus. This is the “Return of Moses” that 1st century Jews longed for. As you explained Jesus at times made it a point to parallel Moses in his actions, but also put His divine spin on thusly demonstrating the superiority of the new covenant. I think that’s really where the Author of Hebrews has weight in this point. 1st century Jews with access to this letter likely also had access to one or more of the Gospels three of which (Matthew, Mark and Luke) contain accounting of the transfiguration which effectively supports his point here.
January 25, 2012 at 10:59 pm
crstorms
Wondering upon the importance of stressing that Jesus is over Moses, it does make me ask why we have to think about this. Hebrews 3:3 and 3:5-6 all mention things that essentially say that Jesus is above Moses. Things such as Moses is a servant in the house, but Jesus is the son and above the servant. It makes sense simply to see that this is the case, and when I look at the view of Jesus being the son of God and Moses being human, it only makes sense that Jesus would be over Moses. I feel as though I am repeating myself, but at the same time I really don’t know much else than to read this one at face value. This is still significant and the argument in the previous chapters mentioning Jesus and angels brings interesting ideals to light. At the same time I can’t help but notice some of the similarities that have already been mentioned between Jesus and Moses. Things such as the presentation of the law and fulfillment of other prophetic passages within other parts of the bible. Simply put I agree based upon everything that I have been taught in my past that Jesus is on the level with God, as part of the trinity along with the Holy Spirit, and for this reason I simply see that Jesus is on a higher rung of the ladder than Moses.
January 26, 2012 at 12:00 am
shelbyleemanson
I find it hard to believe that someone could possibly try and compare the superiority of Jesus to Moses. Considering it is stated that Jesus is higher than the angels and the angels are higher than humans, there is no support for Moses being superior to Jesus. I can understand the comparison to their lives in the fact that Moses was part of the Old Covenant and Jesus was the New Covenant, but Jesus was always part of God’s redemptive plan through the Old Covenant and New Covenant. Both Moses and Jesus were fully human, but only Jesus was fully God. Therefore Jesus will always remain as superior to Moses and any other human or angel. In Mark 8:27-30 it talks about Peter proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah, not John the Baptist or a prophet, but the Messiah. Better than man.