Chapter Three Verses 7-13

HEBREWS CHAPTER THREE VS. 7-13 (USING KING JAMES STUDY TEXT, STUDY BOOK WILL REFERENCE A DIFFERENT VERSION FOR READING)

Heb 3:7  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice, 

Heb 3:8  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 

Heb 3:9  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 

Heb 3:10  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 

Heb 3:11  So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 

Heb 3:12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 

Heb 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 

3:7-13   Main Point: Perform a self check. Are you looking to try God? An unbelieving heart separates itself from God.

               

4. There are a number of phrases in verses 7-11 that describe the “unbelief” that the Israelites had. List those phrases: (Do Not) Harden your hearts. “put me to the test”   - “they always go astray in their heart” – “they have not known my ways” – Summary: evil, unbelieving heart

5. You may have noticed that “unbelief “ begins in the “heart”. Since we are to “beware” of this, how do you recognize the beginnings of this departure from God in your own heart? What are we told to do to correct it? Harden: 4645- to indurate, that is, (figuratively) render stubborn: ROOT word indicates dry (like clay). Perhaps an analogy of “clay” is appropriate. We make sure we stay malleable so God can form us for His purpose. A clump of dried up clay is useless. The example of the people in the wilderness highlights trust. There was even back then a misconception of what deliverance would look like. When troubles started, their faith (trust) was tested, and in turn they tested God. Always consider first, that we are God’s clay our trust ion found in Him, not in our own ability(s).

6. How can we exhort each other every day so that we are not hardened by the lies of sin? Exhort: 3870 - to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation) – (Secular: strongly encourage) - How do we “strongly encourage” through invitation or “calling near”? One must first have a close enough relationship with another to even think of exhorting. There first must be a trust, as between friends that each other’s best interests are being considered. Then and only then can we attempt to draw someone nearer to God.

Additional: Vs 12 Evil: 4190 From a derivative of G4192; hurtful,

4192: From the base of G3993; toil, that is, (by implication) anguish: - pain.

3993: From a primary “peno” (to toil for daily subsistence); starving, that is, indigent: - poor. Compare G4434.

4434: (to crouch; akin to G4422 and the alternate of G4098); a beggar (as cringing), that is, pauper

We find this rendering of evil describes more of the outcome of an unbelieving heart as opposed to the intent. The unbelieving heart is destitute, always struggling, and ultimately “hurtful”…both to the person, and to those surrounding.