According to Hebrews 3:5 Moses was faithful in the house of the Lord (cf. Numbers 12:7; Hebrews 10:21) as a servant. Paul concluded that all Moses was able to do was to point to the coming of Christ (Deuteronomy 18:15) and witness to the righteousness of God by commanding the observance of those things, which prophesied (1Corinthians 13:8b-12) of the labor and saving work of the Messiah (cf. Romans 3:21; Hebrews 10:1). So, the service of the Messiah was that of a Son, not a servant, as was Moses’ service (Hebrews 3:5). But, notice that Paul claims Moses was faithful “in” (en – G1722) not “over” (epi – G1909) the house of God, but Christ is faithful over (epi – G1909) his house.
Although Paul had earlier claimed the One who became Jesus took upon himself the form of a slave (Philippians 2:7-8), because it was necessary for him to fulfill those things that were mentioned by Moses and the Prophets, the service Jesus did was performed as a Son (i.e. the Messiah – see Psalm 2) who was over his own House (Hebrews 3:6). So, without saying it in so many words, Paul concludes Jesus, the Messiah, was God in the flesh, because, if the Messiah is the Builder of the House (Hebrews 3:3), and this same House is his own (Hebrews 3:6), and the Builder of all things is God (Hebrews 3:4), then the Messiah must, therefore, be God manifest in flesh.
Paul told the Jews of the first century AD that they would be considered the House of the Messiah, which is also the Temple of God (1Timothy 3:15; 1Peter 4:17; cf. Hebrews 10:21) : “If we hold fast…” (G2722). That is, they must be faithful to the Messiah. This same word is used in the Parable of the Sower for those who hear the word of God and, if they **keep** (G2722) it, they will bring forth fruit, if they are patient (Luke 8:15). Paul claimed that the Gospel, which he preached to the Corinthians, and which they received, would save them, if they “keep” (G2722) it. Furthermore, he says in Romans 7:6 that the Law slew us, because it held (G2722) us to the letter, but the reverse is implied (i.e. we live), if we serve the word of God in spirit rather than by the letter.
Paul concluded this thought by saying the Jews, to whom he wrote his epistle, would be considered the House of the Messiah, if they held fast to “…the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope, firm unto the end” (Hebrews 3:6). In other words, if Paul’s readers held fast (G2722) to hope (G1680), which is the Gospel that was preached to them (cf. Colossians 1:23), and, if they did so with confidence (G3954), that is with “boldness” or “openly” and “clearly” and, finally, if they rejoiced (G2745) or “boasted” in that hope (G1680) “unto the end,” then they would be numbered with Christ at his coming.
In Hebrews 3:6b Paul mentions rejoicing in the hope firm to the end, and this hope is that which is contained in the Gospel (Colossians 1:23). It is assumed in Paul’s epistle, since he never elaborates on this hope, that the Jewish believers would understand what he meant. The hope, to which Paul refers, is expressed in many ways throughout the New Covenant. For example, in Acts 24:14-15 it is the hope of the resurrection of the dead (cf. Acts 23:6) and eternal life (cf. Titus 1:2; 1Peter 1:3-4); in Romans 5:2 it is the hope of the glory of God. In Galatians 5:5 Paul mentions the hope of righteousness by faith, apart from the Law (cf. Romans 3:21), and in Colossians 1:27 that same hope is “Christ in you” (cf. 1Timothy 1:1), which is the way in which gentiles are saved without their having to become Jews.
It was this sort of thing and rejoicing and even boasting in it that was so troublesome for Jewish believers in Jewish lands, because the traditions of the fathers (Judaism) denied the fulfillment of the promises God made in the Old Covenant in the same manner that was embraced by Jewish believers. The fact is, believing otherwise (i.e. contradicting Judaism) would have been considered unpatriotic, especially in the presence of Jewish zealots. So, going public with the Gospel and boasting in it not only drew persecution to Jewish believers, but also endangered their lives. However, in this respect that also had one more consoling hope, and that was “looking for …the glorious appearing of the great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
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