Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes: Patronage, Honor, and Shame in the Biblical World

by E Randolph Richards

Nonetheless, the author of Hebrews points out that Jesus is a better broker than Moses because “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory” (Heb 3:5-6). Jesus is a better broker than Moses, first, because Jesus is closer to God than Moses was. Moses was God’s servant; yet Jesus is God’s Son. There can be no better mediator than a son to his father. Second, Jesus is superior by having more honor and status than Moses. Jesus has authority over the house, while Moses served in the house.7 The writer is combining brokerage and kinship to help us see the superiority of Jesus as a broker, even to Moses. What about our brokerage connection to Jesus? Hebrews argues it couldn’t be stronger: “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters” (Heb 2:11). Jesus is not just our broker but our brother. Because we are family, we can come to him for help without feeling embarrassed and ashamed. We can trust that Jesus will not be ashamed of us regardless of the issue and that he will broker for us to maintain our relationship.