Hebrews 3:1
Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse subtly highlights that Jesus is both the "Apostle" and "High Priest" of our confession. This means He's not just fulfilling these roles in Himself, but they are directly tied to the faith we profess, emphasizing that our very act of believing and declaring our faith is deeply connected to His divine commission and mediating work.
Having just shown Jesus’ superiority to angels and his role in bringing redemption, the writer now addresses the believers directly, calling them holy brothers. He urges them to intensely focus on Jesus as both the messenger sent from God (apostle) and the great High Priest who represents them before God, setting him up for comparison with Moses and Aaron, the leaders of the past.
What does it mean to be part of a 'heavenly calling'? And how does our faith connect to this calling?
The phrase 'holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling' is a profound description of believers.
A Call From Above
This calling isn't just an invitation; it's divine. It originates from heaven and is directed to heaven. It's a call to something greater than earthly circumstances, drawing us towards God's eternal reality.
Our Response: Confession
The verse connects this calling to our 'confession' (or 'profession'). This isn't just a one-time statement of belief. It's the ongoing avowal of our faith, the testimony we live out daily. It's our agreement with God's word, our assent to His promises, especially in the context of baptism where this commitment is often solemnized.
Why does the Bible call Jesus both an 'Apostle' and a 'High Priest'? What does this dual role mean for us?
Hebrews 3:1 presents Jesus in two crucial, complementary roles that show His unique superiority.
Jesus as Apostle
As God's 'Apostle,' Jesus is the ultimate Messenger sent from God. He doesn't just bring a message; He is the divine word made flesh. He speaks God's truth to us, pleading God's cause and revealing God's will. This role is compared to Moses, who was also sent by God to lead His people.
Jesus as High Priest
As our 'High Priest,' Jesus mediates between God and humanity. He doesn't just bring God's word to us; He brings us to God. He advocates for us, presenting our cause before the Father. This role is linked to the Levitical high priests, but Jesus fulfills it perfectly and eternally, offering Himself as the sacrifice.
The Unified Mediator
Understand the original words
hagios adelphos · Greek Adjective and Noun
A designation for believers, indicating those set apart for God's purposes and made righteous through faith in Christ; emphasizing their shared spiritual identity and common relationship with God.
klēsis epouranios · Greek Adjective and Noun
An invitation to divine fellowship and salvation; it is the summons from God to experience the eternal blessings of His kingdom, initiated and sustained by Him.
apostolos · Greek Noun
One who is sent with a specific mission or authority; in this context, it refers to Jesus as the One commissioned and sent by the Father to represent Him to humanity.
archiereus · Greek Noun
This passage highlights Jesus' own declaration of being 'sent' by the Father, directly reflecting the concept of Jesus as the 'Apostle' in Hebrews 3:1, who is sent on a divine mission.
Exodus 3:10This verse shows God sending Moses, who is often seen as a prototype of Christ's role as a messenger and leader, paralleling Jesus' role as the Apostle of God in Hebrews 3:1.
Leviticus 16:1-34The detailed account of the High Priest's atoning work in the Day of Atonement directly informs the understanding of Jesus as the High Priest who makes confession possible through His sacrifice, as mentioned in Hebrews 3:1.
Philippians 3:14This verse speaks of 'pressing on toward the goal for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,' echoing the 'heavenly calling' that believers share in Hebrews 3:1 and pointing to the destination Jesus leads them to.
1 Timothy 6:12This verse calls believers to 'fight the good fight of faith' and 'lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called,' connecting to the 'confession' mentioned in Hebrews 3:1 and the spiritual battle believers face.
wesleyHebrews 3:1: "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;"
3:1 The heavenly calling - God calls from heaven, and to heaven, by the gospel. Consider the Apostle - The messenger of God, who pleads the cause of God with us. And High Priest - Who pleads our cause with God. Both are contained in the one word Mediator. He compares Christ, as an Apostle, with Moses; as a Priest, with Aaron. Both these offices, which…
pulpitHebrews 3:1: "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;"
Verse 1. - Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus (Ξριστὸν before Ἰησοῦν is ill supported, and to be rejected from the text). Reference to what has gone before is perceptible throughout this verse. The persons addressed are "holy," as being among the "sanctified" (Hebrew…
The verse subtly highlights that Jesus is both the "Apostle" and "High Priest" of our confession. This means He's not just fulfilling these roles in Himself, but they are directly tied to the faith we profess, emphasizing that our very act of believing and declaring our faith is deeply connected to His divine commission and mediating work.
Having just shown Jesus’ superiority to angels and his role in bringing redemption, the writer now addresses the believers directly, calling them holy brothers. He urges them to intensely focus on Jesus as both the messenger sent from God (apostle) and the great High Priest who represents them before God, setting him up for comparison with Moses and Aaron, the leaders of the past.
Having just shown Jesus’ superiority to angels and his role in bringing redemption, the writer now addresses the believers directly, calling them holy brothers. He urges them to intensely focus on Jesus as both the messenger sent from God (apostle) and the great High Priest who represents them before God, setting him up for comparison with Moses and Aaron, the leaders of the past.
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These two offices, often separated in the Old Testament (Moses as prophet/leader, Aaron as priest), are perfectly united in Jesus. He is our sole Mediator, embodying both God's authoritative message and our access to His grace.
A mediator between God and people who offers sacrifices and prayers on behalf of the people; Jesus serves as the ultimate mediator who offered His own life as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice.
homologia · Greek Noun
The act of professing, declaring, or agreeing with God's truth; it refers to the Christian faith or creed that believers hold to and publicly declare.
"Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession," — The verse subtly highlights that Jesus is both the "Apostle" and "High Priest" of our confession. This means He's not just fulfilling these roles in Himself, but they are directly tied to the faith…
