Hard-Hearted

Hebrews 3

​“People with hard hearts know the truth but resist it and refuse to obey it. They know that God chastens disobedient children, but they almost defy God to act. They think they can sin and get away with it. The first step toward a hard heart is neglect of the Word of God, not taking it seriously. It is either “hearing” or “hardening.” Take your choice.” Warren Wiersbe
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Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, 9 ​when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. ​10 For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways. 11 Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest.” Psalm 95:6–11

The Book of Hebrews focuses on Jesus Christ and requests the Hebrew people and us to consider to follow Him, not Moses, the traditions or celebrations, or works of righteousness evaluated by the law.

The writer, who is unknown, but often times thought to be Paul, wants us to “see” Jesus, to “consider” Jesus, and keep our eyes of faith fixed on Jesus alone, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Whenever you are tempted to look at your circumstances or at yourself, look to Jesus by faith and rejoice in His faithfulness.
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“Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. Hebrews 3:1–6 (ESV)

The writer not only ask his readers to consider Jesus, but to obey Him, as He is God.

“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. 10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ 11 ​As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’” 12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:7-15 (ESV)

Here, the writer uses the failure of Israel as a warning against a hard heart. How does a believer’s heart become hard? By refusing His words, despising His works, and being ignorant of His ways. Sin is deceitful. Many think they are getting away with sin, but all the while it is hardening their heart and robbing them of peace, hope, and blessings.
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Dr. Tony Evans writes, “One of the primary purposes of the local church is to create an environment in which believers can help each other persevere. This is why the New Testament emphasizes (and why churches should emphasize) the “one anothers”—the exhortations to care for and encourage each other. If we want to be Christ’s companions, those who partner with him in his kingdom agenda, we must hold firmly until the end (Heb 3:14). To do that, we must help one another avoid sin’s deception.”

“For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:16–19 (ESV)

In these final verses of Hebrews 3, there is another exhortation to follow after Jesus in faith. The fact that the Jews were delivered from Egypt was no guarantee they would claim their inheritance, as the future is only secure in Jesus Christ alone.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:1–7 (ESV)

Because of their unbelief, according to Numbers 13, the Hebrew people failed to enter the Promised Land. This is a picture of the times to come for those who refuse to follow Jesus, for those who choose to follow their own way and rely on their own good works and kindness to secure their future in the presence of God.

An “evil heart of unbelief” will rob them of what God has planned for them and for us in the Christian life. So, pay attention to God’s Word. As Paul wrote the Romans, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).

Are you listening for the voice of God by the Word of God, by the leading of the Holy Spirit? Have you considered following Jesus Christ and making Him the focus of your worship as Lord? If you have, are you following Him in obedience? Are you trusting in His truth and growing in faith and in spiritual disciplines?
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Today, listen for God’s still small voice.

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