Hebrews 3:1 Meaning: Jesus Our Apostle and High Priest
Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession: Jesus,
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, even Jesus;
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the apostle and chief priest of our profession, Christ Jesus,
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of [the] heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus,
Meaning in one sentence
Hebrews 3:1 calls believers to consider Jesus as both God's Apostle to us and our High Priest before God, a dual role that anchors our faith.
Context
The letter to the Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were exhausted. They had faced public ridicule, lost property, and now felt the pull to return to the familiar patterns of their old faith. The writer has just spent two chapters showing that Jesus is far greater than angels, a daring claim for readers who revered angels as messengers of the Law. Now he turns a corner. The word "Therefore" points back to everything he has said about Christ's humanity and suffering in chapter 2. Because Jesus shared our flesh and died for us, something is required of us. Not action, but attention. The call is to stop and really look at who Jesus is. This verse launches a new section that will compare Jesus to Moses and Aaron, the two greatest figures in Israel's story.
Key Words
Three Greek words carry the weight of this verse, and each shapes how you read the rest of Hebrews.
Consider translates katanoeō, a verb that means to fix your mind on something, to stare at it until you grasp its full meaning. The same word is used in the Greek version of Isaiah 5:12, where God's people feast and drink but never consider what He is doing. The writer wants the opposite for you, a deliberate, lingering gaze at Jesus, not a glance.
Apostle (apostolos) means one sent with full authority. Jesus is God's ultimate delegate, the final messenger who speaks the Father's own words. For Jewish readers steeped in the story of Moses, this title says: Jesus is the prophet greater than Moses, the one who brings God's full message.
High Priest (archiereus) is the title for the one who enters God's presence on behalf of the people. The high priest carried the names of Israel on his heart. Jesus carries yours. He is not distant; He represents you before the Father.
The two titles together, Apostle and High Priest, mean Jesus fully represents God to you and fully represents you to God. That is the one to fix your mind on.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have found this verse rich with meaning. Reformed commentators like Calvin and the Geneva Bible emphasize the double office: Christ is both the Teacher sent from God (Apostle) and the Mediator who intercedes (High Priest). Wesleyan writers like Adam Clarke stress that this title names Jesus as the one who fulfills both the prophetic and priestly roles that were separate in the Old Testament.
Catholic and Anglican readings, represented by the Douay-Rheims and Cambridge Bible, see here an affirmation of Christ's unique mediation: He alone is the one sent from the Father and the one who offers Himself for us. Orthodox tradition also recognizes the dual title as pointing to Christ as the fulfillment of all types in the Law.
All traditions agree: the combination of Apostle and High Priest is unique to Jesus, and the word "our confession" binds this to the believer's own faith, He is the one we publicly own as our representative.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers take the word "consider" to mean a casual thought, like mentioning someone in passing. In fact, the Greek verb katanoeō is much stronger. It means to stare intently, to study something until it shapes you. The same word is used in Haggai 1:5 when God says "Consider your ways", a call to stop and face the truth. This verse is not asking you to spare a thought for Jesus. It is asking for your full, undivided attention.
Living This Out
This week, pick one situation where you feel distant from God or confused about His will. Before you act or worry, stop and name Jesus as your Apostle. He has already spoken everything the Father wants you to hear. Then name Him as your High Priest. He is already interceding for you in that very situation, so you do not need to earn God's attention. Let those two truths settle before you decide what to do. The writer uses the verb "consider" in the aorist tense, a single, decisive act. You may need to do this more than once, but start by giving Jesus your focused attention for five minutes today, not as a duty but as an anchor.
Main takeaway: Jesus is both God's final messenger to us and our perfect representative before God, so we must fix our full attention on Him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus came from God to tell us about God. That makes Him like a special messenger. And Jesus goes to God for us, like someone who prays for you. When you look at Jesus, you see both God's love and your friend in heaven.
For ages 9, 12
In Bible times, God sent prophets to speak to His people, and priests to speak to God for the people. Jesus is both. He is the perfect messenger from God, so we can trust everything He says. And He is the perfect priest, so we can be sure God hears us through Him. This verse tells us to really think about that, not just know it, but let it change how we see Jesus.
Questions People Ask
Why is Jesus called an Apostle in Hebrews 3:1?
Apostle means "one who is sent." Hebrews calls Jesus an Apostle because He was sent by the Father to reveal God fully to us. The title links Jesus to the Old Testament prophets, especially Moses, but shows that Jesus is the final and greatest messenger.
What does it mean that Jesus is our High Priest?
A high priest represents the people before God, offering sacrifices for their sins. Jesus is our High Priest because He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice and now intercedes for us in heaven. Unlike earthly priests, He is sinless and lives forever, so His work never ends.
What does the word 'consider' mean in the original Greek?
The Greek word is katanoeō, which means to fix your mind on something, to observe it attentively and thoroughly. It is not casual thinking but a deliberate, sustained focus. The writer uses the same word that appears in the Greek Old Testament when God says 'Consider your ways' in Haggai.
What is the 'heavenly calling' mentioned in Hebrews 3:1?
It refers to God's invitation to salvation and eternal life, which comes from heaven and leads us to heaven. This calling is not about earthly status or goals; it is a summons to share in Christ's life and future glory.
How is Jesus both Apostle and High Priest at the same time?
No one in the Old Testament held both roles. Moses was a prophet (messenger) but not a priest; Aaron was a priest but not a messenger. Jesus combines both: as Apostle, He brings God's word and authority to us; as High Priest, He brings our needs and confession before God. He is the complete mediator.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study