This question arose from a sermon on Hebrews 3, which can be found here.
Was Moses as faithful as Jesus? At first glance, it would appear that this question hardly merits a particularly long answer. Jesus was the sinless Son of God (2 Corinthians 5:21), never once disobeying his Father’s commands. Furthermore, he was not only perfect the sense that did not sin, but also in performing perfect obedience (John 12:49-50). In contrast with Christ, Moses demonstrated both failed and flawed obedience. His murder of an Egyptian (Exodus 2:12) and faltering faith at Meribah (Numbers 20:12) clearly demonstrate that he was neither sinless nor perfectly obedient. Therefore, it appears the question can be rather quickly answered: Jesus is significantly more faithful than Moses.
However, some may think that what seems to be an unshakeably solid verdict is cast into doubt in Hebrews 3, where the author calls for his readers to ‘consider Jesus…who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house.’ (Hebrews 3:1-2) The most straightforward reading of the connection between the faithfulness of Jesus and that of Moses, the language of ‘just as’, implies that the faithfulness of the two subjects is similar in scale. Therefore, it appears that the author understands Moses to be as faithful as Jesus. How is it that the author can say this?
The perplexity of this puzzle only persists when we consider that, from the author’s extensive interaction with the Old Testament throughout Hebrews, it is clear that this statement was not make due to a lack of knowledge about Moses. The author evidently understands and knows the Old Testament far better than we do. Furthermore, it is also clear that this statement cannot be attributed to misunderstanding the nature of Jesus. Of all Biblical books, Hebrews is perhaps the clearest in affirming and explaining the perfect righteousness of Jesus (Hebrews 4:15; 9:14). Given the superior knowledge of the author in relation to both Moses and Jesus, how then can he not see what appears to be a clear contradiction?
As we will find each time we see apparent contradictions in Scripture, the issue is with our sight rather than that of the authors. For the author of Hebrews draws definite distinctions between Moses and Jesus. We can see one of these distinctions in Hebrews 3:5-6, where Moses’ faithfulness is described as that of a servant, while Jesus’ faithfulness is that of a son. This explains why Jesus is ‘counted worthy of more glory than Moses’ (3:3). Although Moses performed his role faithfully, consistently carrying out his calling, Jesus faithfully fulfilled a far greater role and as a result is worthy of more glory.
While this is the primary distinction drawn between Moses and Jesus in the passage, there is another potential distinction in verse 2. Although Jesus is described as ‘faithful to him who appointed him’, Moses is ‘ faithful in all God's house’. Therefore, the author appears to say that Moses and Jesus are similar in the scale of their faithfulness, but differ in the sphere of their faithfulness. The primary direction of Christ’s faithfulness in verse 2 is towards the one whom appointed him, namely God (Hebrews 5:1-6). However, as we have seen, there are occasions in Moses’ life that his faithfulness towards God was flawed and faltered. Perhaps this is why the author comments on his faithfulness being directed towards the house of God, the congregation of Israel. As prophet and priest, Moses did not fail those that he led out of Egypt and through the wilderness. He was faithful in declaring the word of God to them in the law (Exodus 19:7) and displaying the way to God for them in the sacrificial system. Moses carefully and consistently carried out his calling with respect to the congregation of Israel.
Therefore, in making a distinction between the direction of their faithfulness, the author is able to say that Jesus is faithful as Moses was faithful. The scale of their faithfulness is the same, even if the sphere in which it is given is not.
ALEXANDER ARRELL