Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 3:5

"And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken;" — Hebrews 3:5 (ASV)

Having made his point that God transcends everyone, the writer returns to Moses. He repeats his statement that Moses was faithful in God’s house (cf. v.2). Now he makes a further point: Whereas Moses was no more than a servant, Jesus was greater, for he was Son over the house. The thought is still that of Moses’ faithfulness. There is no criticism of him, but his faithfulness consisted in his discharge of his role as servant. The word for “servant” (GK 2544) is found only here in the NT. It denotes an honored servant, one who is far above a slave but is still a servant. The emphasis is on the subordinate, if honorable, capacity. The writer goes on to say that Moses’ faithfulness did not relate to his own day only. He was “testifying to what would be said in the future”—implying that there would be revelations to others. This letter began with a reference to such revelations and to the importance of what God said (cf. 1:1; 2:3).