4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.
The Messiah was the one who founded the nation Israel. In that role, He was superior to any aspect within Israel.
4 For
The “for” explains how Jesus was superior to Moses in the first three verses.
every house is built by [instrumentality] someone,
Someone built every house that exists; houses do not spring up of their own accord. Christ is the one who builds “all things.” No matter how high the Jews regarded Moses, even they could accept that God stood above him. This is an attribution of deity to Christ.
but He who built all things is God.
“God” in this phrase refers to the Son of God. Moses was part of the house, but the Son built the house (Jn 1:3). Praise should go to the craftsman rather than the craft. Moses was merely part of the house that the Son built. The Son made Moses’ theocratic kingdom. The greater honor goes to the person who built the house.
PRINCIPLE:
The Christian life is a sacred trust from God to be managed carefully.
APPLICATION:
Although Moses was faithful in his responsibilities as a servant, the Son held the position of more glory because He was the Son. They were both faithful in what they did, but the status of the Son carries more weight than that of a servant.
There is a big distinction between a servant and a son (Jn 8:35). Moses was a mere servant, but Jesus was the Son of God. Moses’ relation to the house was as a servant, but Jesus’ was that of a Son. Moses was part of the house, but the Son was the owner of the house.
The idea of stewardship is important in God’s view of things (1 Co 4:2). The steward does not own the house; he manages it for someone else. Moses managed God’s purpose for Him. He dispensed commandments and promises from God found in the first five books of the Bible.
Christ was even more faithful than Moses. His “house” was a spiritual house (1 Pe 2:4-5). Jesus is faithful to the church; He cares for us. In reference to the Father, He glorified Him on earth (Jn 17:4).
All believers are stewards of the mission God gave them. God has a plan for each of us. He has given us gifts to execute that plan.
