For followers of Jesus, entrance is granted into the Paradise by faith in a risen Lord, even though we continue to struggle with the First Commandment, because Jesus is greater than Moses.
Martin Luther begins his Small Catechism by addressing the Ten Commandments. To explain the First Commandment, “You shall have no other gods.” Luther asks: “What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” As Luther moves through the rest of the Commandments, he beautifully points them back to the First by beginning each explanation with this same phrase: “We should fear and love God so that...” In this way, he shows how both tables of the Law are an unpacking of the foundational truth found in the First Commandment. However, no one actually fears, loves, and trusts in God above all things. Lacking repentance, this unbelief will harden the heart. Hardness of heart then results in further unbelief. This lack of reliance and trust is supremely evil as it ultimately separates us from the living God. That is why, until our last day, “today” is still a fine time to turn from our unbelief and have faith. As an example, we can see how “unbelief in the Word of God” prevented the first generation of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt from entering the Promised Land. But for followers of Jesus, entrance is granted into the Paradise by faith in a risen Lord, even though we continue to struggle with the First Commandment, because Jesus is greater than Moses.
Textual Context
The first ten chapters of Hebrews are a multi-pronged argument for the superiority of Jesus. Last week, Chapter 2 laid out the case for Jesus’ superiority over the angels. This week, Chapter 3 lays out the case for Jesus’ superiority over Moses. If the hearers were thinking about going back to what they came from, namely following the Law, the author shows them what their ancestors missed out on. He is pleading with them not to make the same mistake Moses and his followers made, especially considering the earthly consequences which resulted. The author’s hearers have eternal consequences at stake. They may be getting weary in their faith, but if they let unbelief gain a foothold, there will be no rest for them as there was no rest for their ancestors from their wanderings in the wilderness of Sinai.
Textual Summary
The plea for vigilance was just as urgent for all those who left Egypt, as it was for the Hebrews, and as it still is for us today. Sin and temptation are like a mousetrap. It seems innocuous at first, but by the time you realize the depth of the danger, it is already too late. Take, for example, American Christianity. In our ultra-individualism, the average Christian seems to have an insufficient view and understanding of the role and importance of the Church. This gift of being in close proximity with fellow sinner-saints ought not to be neglected. The “communion of saints” is where we go to “exhort one another every day,” even if we do not like some of them very much. For those who have come to share in Christ, the Church is where we are called by Christ to go and hear His voice calling us to repentance. The communion of saints is our home away from home, where we go to have our tears wiped away until He comes again to deliver us from all grief and fear once and for all. In the Church is where we receive “Blessed Peer Pressure” to turn from our own ways and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. The Church is where we come to bear each other’s burdens and practice celebrating. It is in being “church-ed” where Luther asserts, we learn to “fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.” (Small Catechism, Third Commandment)
Sermon Structure
You might consider an adaptation/conglomeration of the Crossings and a Comparison/Contrast structure. Here is an example outline from Hebrews 3:12-19 describing what I mean:
+What is the internal Problem? (Unbelief!)
A. Israel/Moses followers
B. You-Jesus followers
+How does the internal problem present externally? (Outward rebellion-bodies falling in the wilderness)
A. Israel/Moses followers
B. You-Jesus followers
+What does this problem mean eternally? (Denial of Entrance to the Promised Land)
A. Israel/Moses followers
B. You-Jesus followers
+ What is the eternal solution? (Jesus dying, rising, and ascending)
A. For the Church corporately
B. For you, the Jesus follower, individually
+How does Jesus fix the internal problem? (see the Explanation to the Third Article in the Small Catechism)
A. For the Church corporately
B. For you, the Jesus follower, individually
+How does Jesus fix the external problem? (He has given me house, home, family and neighbors, and a congregation as locations to go and sacrificially love and serve in my vocations)
A. For the Church corporately
B. For you, the Jesus follower, individually
Christ in the Text
The writer of Hebrews asserts that we have come to share in Christ (see verse 14!). In other words, we are united to Him in His death and resurrection through our Baptism. We also have a share in the Body of Christ by virtue of being in the Church, where Christ has promised to send the Holy Spirit to consistently and repeatedly call me to repentance through the Law and forgiveness in the Gospel.
“In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ (Small Catechism, The Third Article of the Creed).”
This is most certainly true!
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out 1517’s resources on Hebrew 3:12-19.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you preaching Hebrew 3:12-19.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
Lectionary Podcast- Dr. Arthur Just of Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN walks us through Hebrew 3:12-19.
