greater than Moses, inasmuch as the New Covenant of spirit and life was greater than the Old Covenant with its

ministration of death. In the first case he would bid them consider the essential difference between Moses and

Christ. Moses was a part of the house over which he ruled, but Christ was the actual Builder of the house Himself.

This of necessity spoke of the greater honour of Christ, but in verse 4 the arguments are brought forward which form

the climax of his testimony in Hebrews 1:1,2.

`For every house is builded by some man; but He that built all things is God' (Heb. 3:4).

re can be no purpose served by this statement unless the writer intends the Hebrews to understand that Christ was God. Verse 3

demands this meaning, and the fitness of verse 4 is only preserved if we believe it to refer to the Person of Christ. In

Hebrews 1, after having spoken of the high dignity of the Son, he leads on to the same point:

`Unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever ... Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation

of the earth' (1:8-10).

Whether the `all things' of 3:4 be taken to refer to the creation at large, or in a more restricted sense to all the

dispensations, including the Mosaic and the Gospel, Christ is the Builder.

The apostle now proceeds to another feature. Moses was faithful as a SERVANT in all his house, but Christ as a

SON over His own house. Not only is there the contrast between Servant and Son, but between Moses IN, and Christ

OVER, the house.

Further, the added words `Over His own house' confirm the interpretation of verse 4 of Christ.

The reason for this carefully debated point is revealed in verse 6. This house over which Christ as the Son

presides has infinitely more glory than Moses in the house of which he formed a part, and it represents a special

people who are now to be named and described. `Whose house are WE', the `we' being the holy brethren, partakers

of the heavenly calling of 3:1, and the many sons who are being brought to glory (cf. 2:10). Their peculiar

characteristic is now added, and enforced by historical example.

`Whose house are we, IF we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end' (3:6).

This finds its echo in verse 14:

`For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end'.

These two passages are followed by almost identical words, which is a more forcible reason why we should

compare them together. Following verse 6 we read:

`Wherefore, (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, AS IN THE

PROVOCATION ... forty years ... I was grieved ... I sware ... They shall not enter into My rest.) Take heed,

brethren, LEST ...' (3:7-12).

Following verse 14, we read: