Continuing from Hebrews 3:1-4, where Jesus is shown to be greater than even Moses (without diminishing the honor that Moses earned), the author continues on that topic in the next couple of verses.
“Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.
Hebrews 3:5-6 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/heb.3.5-6.NIV
So, if the initial Jewish audience (i.e., of the book of Hebrews) already understood how faithful Moses was in serving God (including a reference to Numbers 12:7, where that fact had previously been established by Scripture), they should then have a frame of reference to understand how Jesus the Christ was faithful – as a Son, no less – over His house.
And, the author of Hebrews explains that Jesus’ “house” isn’t a tabernacle or a temple in a physical sense. Jesus doesn’t “live” at a church building, even if children might misunderstand that to be the case. What we learn here is that Christ’s house is His people.
Going back to Moses, the Israelites in the wilderness (and later, the Jewish people in Jerusalem) could think about a special place where God’s glory dwelt. And, since God gave Moses designs for the tabernacle, then God honored both the tabernacle and the temple with His glory, I don’t think that the ancient understanding of God’s presence was wrong at all. God understands the value of practical and tactical symbols to human beings, which persist today in things like the Lord’s Supper. And, tangible things like the tabernacle (with its furnishings) not only provided insight to the Israelites, but they also served as examples of things that were to come, as a benefit to those of us who lived years later, in the age of the church.
So, I think that it’s fine to think about the church – the community of people around the world who have individually accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior – being built up like a building:
- We have a foundation of Jesus Christ.
- We each have a role to play.
- We all work together towards something greater.
- We aren’t the architect, the builder, or the owner.
However, based on what we learn here, it seems that Jesus’ house – while potentially comparable to a building – also has a lot more in common with another kind of house: the “house” that we think of as a dynasty, a lineage, or a family. So, maybe we can also take what we know about “noble houses”, to help us understand our relationship with God. (Wikipedia defines a “noble house” as “an aristocratic family or kinship group” or a “clan”, and I think that “kinship” is a good attribute of the church.)
- We know that the ultimate authority of this house is God.
- We weren’t worthy – not noble or righteous enough – to be part of this “house”, but we were adopted into it.
- We have an ultimate benefactor leading this house, Jesus Christ.
- We know that this house will overcome all others who fight against it.
That doesn’t mean we should act aristocratic or snobbish, of course, like certain stereotypes of nobility. After all, we are part of a house of humility, following a Savior who was humble, even though He is now exalted. However, being part of the “house of Christ” does mean that we are valued, and that we can have authority from God over any other “house”. Our authority is not for the purpose of putting other people down, but rather to call down rebuke from our Father in Heaven upon evil forces that are trying to keep other people from joining us in Christ’s family.
So, in this light, what house do you most relate with? In the spiritual realm, there are only two, and each of us is affiliated with one or the other, based on our decisions.
- Are you of the house of Satan, where everyone looks out for themselves, scraps and scrapes to try and get everything that they can, but where those who remain faithful to that fallen house will eventually lose when it is cast out?
- Or, are you of the house of Jesus Christ, where the Lord of the house is perfect, where everyone [ideally] submits to each other in love and humble service, and which will eventually overcome evil for good – for eternity?
Personally, I am of the house of Jesus (and I hope that you are, too), but I know that I need to keep working to live like that: not because the leader of that house is threatening to kick me out, but because I want to be like Him. This includes showing love for others (even when it costs me something), and it includes sharing the same good news that He taught. Like wedding vows, it includes what I perceive (from my limited viewpoint) to be “for better and for worse”, even though He sticks with me all the way. That is the house I hope you are in when you finish your walk here on earth. It’s not too late to join!
From Sunday School lesson prepared for January 18, 2026
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Hebrews, by Jim Girdwood and Peter Verkruyse. © 1997 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 