Hebrews 3:2

Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.

In Hebrews 2:17, Jesus had already been mentioned as a merciful and faithful high priest, and it is his "faithfulness" that needed stress here. Note how delicately the inspired writer defers to the deserved honor of Moses, whom he did not belittle or diminish in any way. Both Moses and Jesus were faithful to deliver God's message to people, each in his own way, and each in his own capacity. A more detailed study of Moses the type and Jesus the antitype reveals both the similarities and the contrasts.

MOSES AND JESUS

Similarities:

In their birth, both became sons of virgin princesses, Moses through adoption by Pharaoh's daughter, Christ by means of the incarnation, and his birth by miracle, of the virgin Mary.

Both were Israelites, it being specifically prophesied that the Messiah would be raised up from amidst "the brethren" (Deuteronomy 18:15).

Both were sent to the children of Israel, Moses from Midian, and Christ from heaven.

Both forsook the high status of their lives to perform a mission of rescue, Moses leaving the court of Pharaoh, and Christ leaving heaven.

Both were rejected. The Jews said to Moses, "Who made thee a ruler and judge over us" (Exodus 2:14). Christ was rejected and crucified.

Both accomplished their missions. Moses delivered Israel from Egypt; Christ delivers from sin all who follow him.

Both wrought many miracles, signs and wonders.

The first miracle of each had a startling resemblance. Moses changed the water into blood; Christ changed the water into wine.

The inauguration of the Law of Moses and that of Christ had this in common: that three thousand souls were involved in each case, three thousand being lost at Sinai, three thousand being saved at Pentecost (Exodus 32:38; Acts 2:38ff).

Both were transfigured, Moses on Sinai (Exodus 34:29,30), Jesus on Mount Hermon (Matthew 17:2).

Both delivered God's law to people.

Both offered themselves to die for Israel (Exodus 32:32; John 10:17).

Both made a marriage with the Gentiles, Moses literally, Christ in a figure, the Gentiles becoming a part of his bride (Numbers 12:1; Ephesians 5:25ff).

Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness; Christ lifted himself upon the cross (John 3:14).

Israel was baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea (1 Corinthians 10:2); spiritual Israel are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27).

Moses gave to the people bread from heaven (Exodus 16:15); Christ gave the people loaves and fishes in the wilderness, a figure of him who is the Bread of Life (John 6:31,49ff).

Both were the subjects of a special interposition on the part of God when they died, Moses being buried by God (Deuteronomy 34:6), and Christ being raised from the dead (Mark 16:6).

There are also many similarities between the lives of Moses the great Lawgiver of Israel and Jesus Christ the great Lawgiver of all mankind; but the above are far more than enough to establish the truth that Christ was indeed "the Prophet" like unto Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15).

Contrasts:

Moses was faithful as a servant, Christ as a Son, over God's house.

Moses labored in a house he did not build, Christ in the house he built, his own house.

Moses did not lead the people into the promised land; Christ does lead the people into glory.

Moses was sinful, Christ is sinless (Deuteronomy 32:51,52; Hebrews 4:15).

Moses brought only the patterns of things to come, Christ the realities.

Moses' miracles were inferior to those of Christ, as in the changing of the water already noted, and because Christ raised the dead.

Moses delivered from physical bondage, Christ from the spiritual bondage of sin.

Moses gave bread from heaven to sustain physical life, Christ bread from heaven that gives and sustains eternal life.

Moses appeared with Christ on the mount of transfiguration but was caught away, so that people saw "Jesus only" (Matthew 17:8).

Moses' mission pertained only to Israel, Christ's, ultimately, to the "whole creation" (Mark 16:15).

Moses was only a man; Christ was and is both God and man.

Moses' body was buried and saw corruption; Christ's was spared that by means of the resurrection.

Moses was not a high priest; Christ is the eternal High Priest.

It would be nearly impossible to note all of the contrasts which proved the absolute supremacy and superiority of Christ over Moses, but enough are listed to give some indication of it.