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This "profession" is also the "confession" of Heb. 11: 13. They "confessed that they
were strangers and pilgrims on the earth". This confession is veiled somewhat in the
A.V. rendering of Heb. 13: 15, where it is translated "giving thanks". The context, like
that of Heb. 10: and of 3:, 4: speaks of a position of exposure, temptation and loss.
Those who hold the confession "bear His reproach", and the fruit of their lips is
"confessing to His name" (13: 15 margin). The whole section may be visualized as
follows:--
A | 2: 17 - 3: 1. Jesus. High Priest. Tempted. Succour. The Profession.
B | a | 3: 2-6.
Christ the Son. Moses the Servant.
Whose house are we
If ___ ___ ___
b | 3: 7-14.
Forty years. Moses.
We are made partakers
If ___ ___ ___
c | 3: 15 4: 8. Forty years. Moses. David. Joshua.
Some never entered
If ___ ___ ___
A | 4: 12 - 16. Jesus. High Priest. Tempted. Grace to help. The Profession.
Two great leaders are instanced in these chapters--Moses and Joshua. The words of
4: 8 in the A.V. are misleading. They should read, "If Joshua had given them rest".
The land of Canaan was the type, not the reality. It is also important to notice that in
3: 1 and in 4: 14 the simple name "Jesus" stands; not "Christ Jesus", as the A.V. reads.
The points of superiority that are brought together in 3: 2-6 are emphasized either by
comparison or by contrast. Both Moses and Christ were "faithful". This has already
been said in 2: 17. Faithfulness is especially associated with endurance ("Be thou
faithful! unto death" Rev. 2: 10). Christ is spoken of as the "Faithful Witness"
(Rev. 1: 5); and identical language is rendered "faithful martyr" in Rev. 2: 13. Moses
failed to reach the promised land, but unfaithfulness to his charge could not be laid
against him. Christ is superior to Moses, however, in this; Moses was placed over the
house of God, but Christ built the house Himself. Moses' faithfulness also was as a
Servant, but Christ's faithfulness was as a Son over His own house.
It is important that we realize something of the great place which Moses held in the
estimation of the Hebrews. In Numb. 12: 7 the Lord Himself differentiates between
Moses and the prophets: "My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house".
No other prophet would arise like unto Moses until Christ came (Deut. 18: 18). Moses'
faithfulness was "for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after". The
slavish adherence to Moses when the Greater than Moses had come was in reality
denying the very testimony of Moses' life and ministry.
It is clear from Heb. 3: 6 and 14 that membership of the house, and the partaking of
Christ, are conditional. "Whose house are we IF we hold fast the confidence and
rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."