Our last reading for this week is Hebrews 3:1-6

A paradigm is an example or a pattern of something. In the Tanakh (Old Testament) we see many paradigms. They build a framework for us and can help us to better understand the person, work, and ministry of Messiah. As we study the paradigms, we need to keep our focus on Messiah. These paradigms point to Him and reveal Him to us. Paradigms teach us to see, from the shadows that are cast, the Reality itself (i.e. that which cast the shadow).

As an example of a paradigm: Moses was the first redeemer of Israel. He can be thought of as a type of Messiah, in that he was anointed by G-d to lead the people out of bondage and take them into the Promised Land. Similarly, the true Messiah (Yeshua), the Final Redeemer, frees us from the bondage of sin, takes us from this world and leads us into a new land, the Kingdom of G-d. 

When we study the life of Moses (as we are going to in this chapter) we can learn a lot about the person, work, and purpose of Messiah. 

v1: Holy brethren: Holiness is related to the purposes of G-d. We are called to live holy lives (1 Thess 4:7). We become brethren because of what Messiah did, His faithfulness and work on the cross. By G-d’s grace we are saved, redeemed, and transformed from servants of sin into servants of G-d. As His servants His will and purposes become important to us.

• Partakers of the heavenly calling: There is a heavenly call on our lives, and it is related to the Kingdom of G-d. 
• Consider: To think deeply about.
• Apostle: The One who is sent. 
• High Priest: Messiah Yeshua being our High Priest is emphasised in this book of Hebrews. It is very important for us to have a High Priest – one that sets in order our problem with sin. 

v2: The writer introduces a paradigm. Moses was faithful to G-d and fulfilled the work of redemption.  Like Moses, Messiah too, faithful to His Father, perfectly completed the work of redemption.  

v3: Worthy of more glory: Moses’ redemption, even though it did have some spiritual aspects to it, was primarily a physical redemption from Egypt. Messiah is worthy of greater glory because His redemption has primarily spiritual implications. His redemption sets us apart from the world and transforms us into a Kingdom people. 

• He who built the house has more honour than the house: The builder built the house not for the sake of the house but for his own sake, that he could dwell in it.  He is of greater significance than the house itself.

v4: He who built all things is G-d:  G-d is the Builder of all things, and He is also the Builder of our eternal home. When we speak of this home we are not speaking about heaven. Heaven is our temporary home, as G-d is going to make a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13). Our eternal home will be in ‘The New Jerusalem’ (Rev 21:1-5). 

v5: Faithful …as a servant: Moses was faithful, but he was a servant – he was not an heir. Moses had no authority and obeyed G-d as a servant. He did things according to what he heard from G-d. As a servant, Moses was replaceable. When Moses disobeyed an order from G-d (striking the rock instead of speaking to it as G-d had commanded – Num 20:7-12) he was replaced by Joshua. Messiah did not come simply as a servant (Matt 20:26-28) but He is the Builder of all things. 

• A testimony of those things which would be spoken:  The paradigm: Moses was an example, a testimony/witness, part of the framework to help us to better understand the person and work of Messiah. 

v6: But: This is a word that means ‘in contrast to’ what we have just read.

• Son over His own house: Messiah was not a servant. He was a son, an heir, and He has authority.
• Whose house we are: This verse tells us that we are the house of Messiah. He lives in us. As we learnt, in verse 3 of this chapter, the One who builds the house is of greater honour than the house itself. Part of the plan of redemption is that Messiah is going to work in our lives – we are the workmanship of G-d (Eph 2:10). 
• Since: Many Bibles translate this word as ’if’.  The word ‘if’ places doubt in the mind of the reader. ‘Since’ means ‘as an outcome of’. It is because/since Messiah is working in our lives that we have confidence and can boast of our hope in the promises, and Kingdom, of G-d.