Jesus, the faithful High Priest, leads us into the good land

The word “consider” here means giving full attention. Is it possible for us to give Christ full attention? After all, we have so many things to take care of and our minds are constantly preoccupied. Yet it is precisely here that we must learn to direct all our attention to the High Priest. Outwardly, we are often unable to change the situation, but inwardly we learn to focus on him.

The Epistle to the Hebrews emphasises perseverance. The people of Israel spent forty years in the wilderness, yet they lacked perseverance. We, too, need not only a good start, but faithfulness right to the end.

… We are his house, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. (Heb. 3:6)

If we do not remain focused on Him to the end, we are no longer His house – perhaps still our own home, but no longer His.

Hebrews 3 shows how we must allow our hearts to be dealt with so that we may enter into God’s rest – that is, the good land and the coming kingdom. Through many situations, the Lord reaches into the deepest parts of our hearts. The real battle is for our hearts.

To have our hearts healed and to remain faithful, we need to hear the Lord’s voice every day. That is why it says:

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, … (Heb. 3:7)

And we also need daily encouragement and admonition, so that our hearts do not become hardened:

… Do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, In the day of trail in the wilderness. (Heb. 3:8)

Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways. (Heb. 3:10)

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God ... (Heb. 3:12)

The Lord is faithful to His house. But can He to do when His people harden their hearts and refuse to listen? It was not the Lord’s fault. Through their unbelief and disobedience, the people missed out on entering into rest.

For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? (Heb. 3:16)

They heard his voice and yet rebelled. When the Lord speaks, we must receive His word with faith and not rebel. May the Lord preserve us from an evil heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.

The Epistle to the Hebrews also gives us examples of faithfulness: Moses was faithful in all God’s house and built every detail of the Tabernacle according to the heavenly pattern. Yet at the same time, the people made a golden calf. Joshua and Caleb wanted to take possession of the good land, but the people wanted to stone them. How much more, then, is Christ faithful today over His entire house – yet how do we, as Christians, respond to his faithfulness?

On the one hand, the Epistle to the Hebrews contains powerful words of encouragement: Christ is our High Priest on the throne. On the other hand, we also find here some of the strongest exhortations in the New Testament.

For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold fast to the confidence we had at the beginning right to the end. (Heb. 3:14)

Many walk with the Lord for years and then leave all of a sudden. That is why the Epistle to the Hebrews repeatedly urges us to hold fast until the end. Only the called, the chosen and the faithful will be with the Lord (cf. Rev 19:14).

There is a great reward for the faithful. We shall be His house and co-heirs with Christ. The Lord holds this reward before our eyes so that we may run the race to the end and do not give up before.

None of us is faithful out of ourselves. Yet that is precisely why we have a merciful and faithful High Priest. His mercy not only covers our faults, but is intended to bring forth faithfulness within us. He Himself works this faithfulness into us.