TRV
“Today, if you hear God’s voice,
don’t harden your hearts, as you did in the Bitter Quarrel,”
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Commentary on Hebrews 3 verses 7–19
Here the apostle proceeds in pressing upon them serious counsels and cautions to the close of the chapter; and he recites a passage out of Psa 95:7, etc., where observe,
I. What he counsels them to do - to give a speedy and present attention to the call of Christ. "Hear his voice, assent to, approve of, and consider, what God in Christ speaks unto you; apply it to yourselves with suitable affections and endeavours, and set about it this very day, for tomorrow it may be too late."
II. What he cautions them against - hardening their hearts, turning the deaf ear to the calls and counsels of Christ: "When he tells you of the evil of sin, the excellency of holiness, the necessity of receiving him by faith as your Saviour, do not shut your ear and heart against such a voice as this." Observe, The hardening of our hearts is the spring of all our other sins.
III. Whose example he warns them by - that of the Israelites their fathers in the wilderness: As in the provocation and day of temptation; this refers to that remarkable passage at Massah Meribah, Exo 17:2-7. Observe,
1.Days of temptation are often days of provocation.
2.To provoke God, when he is trying us, and letting us see that we entirely depend and live immediately upon him, is a provocation with a witness.
3.The sins of others, especially our relations, should be a warning to us. Our fathers' sins and punishments should be remembered by us, to deter us from following their evil examples. Now as to the sin of the fathers of the Jews, here reflected upon, observe,
(1.)The state in which these fathers were, when they thus sinned: they were in the wilderness, brought out of Egypt, but not got into Canaan, the thoughts whereof should have restrained them from sin.
(2.)The sin they were guilty of: they tempted and provoked God; they distrusted God, murmured against Moses, and would not attend to the voice of God.
(3.)The aggravations of their sin: they sinned in the wilderness, where they had a more immediate dependence upon God: they sinned when God was trying them; they sinned when they saw his works - works of wonder wrought for their deliverance out of Egypt, and their support and supply in the wilderness from day to day. They continued thus to sin against God for forty years. These were heinous aggravations.
(4.)The source and spring of such aggravated sins, which were, [1.] They erred in their hearts; and these heart-errors produced many other errors in their lips and lives. [2.] They did not know God's ways, though he had walked before them. They did not know his ways; neither those ways of his providence in which he had walked towards them, nor those ways of his precept in which they ought to have walked towards God; they did not observe either his providences or his ordinances in a right manner.
(5.)The just and great resentment God had at their sins, and yet the great patience he exercised towards them (Heb 3:10): Wherefore I was grieved with that generation. Note, [1.] All sin, especially sin committed by God's professing privileged people, does not only anger and affront God, but it grieves him. [2.] God is loth to destroy his people in or for their sin, he waits long to be gracious to them. [3.] God keeps an exact account of the time that people go on in sinning against him, and in grieving him by their sins; but at length, if they by their sins continue to grieve the Spirit of God, their sins shall be made grievous to their own spirits, either in a way of judgment or mercy.
(6.)The irreversible doom passed upon them at last for their sins. God swore in his wrath that they should not enter into his rest, the rest either of an earthly or of a heavenly Canaan. Observe, [1.] Sin, long continued in, will kindle the divine wrath, and make it flame out against sinners. [2.] God's wrath will discover itself in its righteous resolution to destroy the impenitent; he will swear in his wrath, not rashly, but righteously, and his wrath will make their condition a restless condition; there is no resting under the wrath of God.
IV. What use the apostle makes of their awful example, Heb 3:12, Heb 3:13, etc. He gives the Hebrews a proper caution, and enforces it with an affectionate compellation.
1.He gives the Hebrews a proper caution; the word is, Take heed, blepete - look to it. "Look about you; be upon your guard against enemies both within and without; be circumspect. You see what kept many of your forefathers out of Canaan, and made their carcasses fall in the wilderness; take heed lest you fall into the same sin and snare and dreadful sentence. For you see Christ is head of the church, a much greater person than Moses, and your contempt of him must be a greater sin than their contempt of Moses; and so you are in danger of falling under a severer sentence than they." Observe, The ruin of others should be a warning to us to take heed of the rock they split upon. Israel's fall should for ever be a warning to all who come after them; for all these things happened to them for ensamples (Co1 10:11), and should be remembered by us. Take heed; all who would get safely to heaven must look about them.
2.He enforces the admonition with an affectionate compellation: "Brethren, not only in the flesh, but in the Lord; brethren whom I love, and for whose welfare I labour and long." And here he enlarges upon the matter of the admonition: Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. Here observe, (1.) A heart of unbelief is an evil heart. Unbelief is a great sin, it vitiates the heart of man. (2.) An evil heart of unbelief is at the bottom of all our sinful departures from God; it is a leading step to apostasy; if once we allow ourselves to distrust God, we may soon desert him. (3.) Christian brethren have need to be cautioned against apostasy. Let those that think they stand take heed lest they fall.
3.He subjoins good counsel to the caution, and advises them to that which would be a remedy against this evil heart of unbelief - that they should exhort one another daily, while it is called today, Heb 3:13. Observe, (1.) We should be doing all the good we can to one another while we are together, which will be but a short and uncertain time. (2.) Since tomorrow is none of ours, we must make the best improvement of today. (3.) If Christians do not exhort one another daily, they will be in danger of being hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Note, [1.] There is a great deal of deceitfulness in sin; it appears fair, but is filthy; it appears pleasant, but is pernicious; it promises much, but performs nothing. [2.] The deceitfulness of sin is of a hardening nature to the soul; one sin allowed prepares for another; every act of sin confirms the habit; sinning against conscience is the way to sear the conscience; and therefore it should be the great concern of every one to exhort himself and others to beware of sin.
4.He comforts those who not only set out well, but hold on well, and hold out to the end (Heb 3:14): We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast to the end. Here observe, (1.) The saints' privilege: they are made partakers of Christ, that is, of the Spirit, nature, graces, righteousness, and life of Christ; they are interested in all that is Christ's, in all that he is, in all that he has done, or can do. (2.) The condition on which they hold that privilege, namely, their perseverance in the bold and open profession and practice of Christ and Christianity unto the end. Not but they shall persevere, being kept by the mighty power of God through faith to salvation, but to be pressed thus to it is one means by which Christ helps his people to persevere. This tends to make them watchful and diligent, and so keeps them from apostasy. Here observe, [1.] The same spirit with which Christians set out in the ways of God they should maintain and evidence to the end. Those who begin seriously, and with lively affections and holy resolutions and humble reliance, should go on in the same spirit. But, [2.] There are a great many who in the beginning of their profession show a great deal of courage and confidence, but do not hold them fast to the end. [3.] Perseverance in faith is the best evidence of the sincerity of our faith.
5.The apostle resumes what he had quoted before from Psa 95:7, etc., and he applies it closely to those of that generation, Heb 3:15, Heb 3:16, etc. While it is said, Today if you will hear, etc.; as if he should say, "What was recited before from that scripture belonged not only to former ages, but to you now, and to all who shall come after you; that you take heed you fall not into the same sins, lest you fall under the same condemnation." The apostle tells them that though some who had heard the voice of God did provoke him, yet all did not so. Observe, (1.) Though the majority of hearers provoked God by unbelief, yet some there were who believed the report. (2.) Though the hearing of the word be the ordinary means of salvation, yet, if it be not hearkened to, it will expose men more to the anger of God. (3.) God will have a remnant that shall be obedient to his voice, and he will take care of such and make mention of them with honour. (4.) If these should fall in a common calamity, yet they shall partake of eternal salvation, while disobedient hearers perish for ever.
6.The apostle puts some queries upon what had been before mentioned, and gives proper answers to them (Heb 3:17-19): But with whom was he grieved forty years? With those that sinned. And to whom did he swear? etc. Whence observe, (1.) God is grieved only with those of his people who sin against him, and continue in sin. (2.) God is grieved and provoked most by sins publicly committed by the generality of a nation; when sin becomes epidemic, it is most provoking. (3.) Though God grieves long, and bears long, when pressed with the weight of general and prevailing wickedness, yet he will at length ease himself of public offenders by public judgments. (4.) Unbelief (with rebellion which is the consequent of it) is the great damning sin of the world, especially of those who have a revelation of the mind and will of God. This sin shuts up the heart of God, and shuts up the gate of heaven, against them; it lays them under the wrath and curse of God, and leaves them there; so that in truth and justice to himself he is obliged to cast them off for ever.
Then he adds, "When it is said, To-day if ye hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." This is a transposition, "when it is said, To-day if ye hear His voice, harden not your hearts."
Fearful of the saying. See, he says, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, from the rest, the kingdom of heaven.
In the departing, that is, through unbelief,
from the living God. For otherwise unbelief does not find a way unless one departs from God. For as long as one holds on to God and trusts in Him, as the Almighty, he considers nothing impossible.
"But encourage one another.” Build each other up, and spur one another on.
“As long as it is called ‘today’.” Until the end, he says; for until the end, today is called. For he said, “Today, if you hear his voice,” he says, until that which is spoken of as today.
“so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” So that it does not happen, he says, as it occurred with our ancestors, and that their hearts may become hard and unyielding, deceived by unbelief, which now calls sin.
“For we have become partakers of Christ.” One, he says, we have become partakers with Christ, since He has deemed it worthy to be our head and to make us His members.
“if we hold the beginning of our confidence." The beginning of confidence is faith towards Christ. For by it we have endured and have become partakers of Christ.
“to the end.” The 'to the end' clearly indicates that they had begun.
“As in the rebellion.” Hyperbaton [ὑπερβατὸν] is: for we must understand it as "Let us fear."
The surpassing thing; in what is said: Today, if you hear the voice, and the things following, let us fear, lest, a promise being left behind, and the things following.
“an evil heart.” There are many wicked hearts of unbelief. For there is a wicked heart of unbelief, which does not believe, but is greedy for gain, is arrogant, is drunken, and many other things. Moreover, and incomparably, a heart is a wicked heart of unbelief, which departs from the faith in God.
Therefore, see," he says, "that there never be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief.” And of unbelief, I say, he means the departure from the living God.
And he says well. An evil heart of unbelief. For there is also a good heart of unbelief, as in, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.” (1 Jn. 4:1)
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SUMMARY
Hebrews 3:15 serves as a potent warning to believers, echoing the divine admonition found in Psalm 95:7-8. It urges immediate and tender-hearted responsiveness to God's voice, cautioning against the spiritual stubbornness and unbelief that characterized the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. The verse underscores the present urgency of faith and obedience, highlighting the severe consequences of a hardened heart, which can lead to exclusion from God's promised rest.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Hebrews 3:15 is Allusion, specifically to Psalm 95:7-8, which itself alludes to the historical events of Israel's wilderness wanderings, particularly the Provocation at Massah and Meribah. This layered allusion serves to ground the author's contemporary warning in the enduring lessons of Israel's past. The verse also functions as a powerful Exhortation, directly commanding the readers to "harden not your hearts," thereby emphasizing the volitional aspect of faith and obedience. The phrase "To day" acts as a Temporal Marker, creating a sense of immediate urgency and highlighting the fleeting nature of the opportunity to respond to God's voice. This urgency is a key rhetorical strategy to impress upon the audience the gravity of their spiritual choices.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 3:15 powerfully connects the Old Testament narratives of Israel's wilderness journey to the New Testament experience of believers. It underscores the timeless principle that God's call for faithful obedience is always urgent and demands an immediate, tender-hearted response. The theological implication is profound: just as physical entry into the Promised Land was contingent upon faith and obedience for ancient Israel, so too is spiritual entry into God's ultimate rest contingent upon a responsive heart to Christ for New Covenant believers. The past serves not merely as history, but as a prophetic warning against the spiritual lethargy and unbelief that can lead to missing out on God's full blessings. The "voice" of God is consistently present, and the human response to it determines spiritual destiny.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hebrews 3:15 is a piercing call to spiritual vigilance and immediate responsiveness in our daily walk with God. It reminds us that our spiritual condition is not static; we are either moving towards a softer, more receptive heart or a harder, more resistant one. The "today" in this verse is a perpetual present, urging us to seize every moment God speaks, whether through His written Word, the prompting of the Holy Spirit, or the counsel of godly community. Procrastination in spiritual matters is a subtle form of hardening, allowing apathy and unbelief to take root. To maintain a tender heart, we must actively guard against the subtle creep of cynicism, self-reliance, and disobedience, cultivating instead a posture of humility, trust, and eager anticipation of God's voice. Our spiritual health depends on our willingness to listen and obey, learning from the costly mistakes of those who came before us.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does it mean to "harden not your hearts"?
Answer: To "harden not your hearts" means to actively resist becoming stubborn, unresponsive, or insensitive to God's voice and truth. The "heart" in biblical terms refers to the core of one's being—the mind, will, and emotions. Therefore, a hardened heart is one that has chosen, through repeated disobedience or unbelief, to close itself off to God's influence, leading to spiritual insensitivity and an unwillingness to repent or obey. It's a warning against the gradual process of becoming resistant to divine prompting, which can lead to spiritual apathy and ultimately, apostasy. The opposite of a hardened heart is a tender, open, and receptive heart, eager to hear and obey God.
Why does the author of Hebrews repeatedly quote Psalm 95?
Answer: The author of Hebrews repeatedly quotes Psalm 95 (as seen in Hebrews 3:7-11 and Hebrews 4:7) to emphasize the enduring relevance of God's warning against unbelief and disobedience. Psalm 95 recounts Israel's rebellion in the wilderness, particularly at Massah and Meribah, where their hardened hearts led to their exclusion from the Promised Land. By quoting it, the author draws a direct parallel between ancient Israel's failure to enter God's physical rest and the danger for New Testament believers of failing to enter God's spiritual rest (salvation and eternal life, or the fullness of Christian experience) due to a similar lack of faith. It serves as a powerful, historical cautionary tale, underscoring the urgency of responding to God's voice "today."
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hebrews 3:15, while rooted in the Old Testament warning of Psalm 95, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest significance in Christ. The "voice" that God speaks "today" is preeminently the voice of His Son, Jesus Christ. As Hebrews 1:1-2 declares, God, who formerly spoke through prophets, has now "in these last days spoken to us by His Son." To hear His voice today is to hear the gospel message, the good news of salvation and rest offered through Christ's finished work. The "provocation" of ancient Israel, which resulted in their exclusion from the earthly rest, foreshadows the far greater tragedy of those who, having heard the voice of Christ, harden their hearts and are excluded from God's eternal rest. Jesus Himself is the ultimate "rest" for our souls, inviting all who are weary and burdened to come to Him and find rest (Matthew 11:28-30). Therefore, the warning in Hebrews 3:15 is a profound call to embrace Christ, the very embodiment of God's promised rest, and to maintain a tender, obedient heart to His ongoing call, lest we, like Israel of old, fall short of the glorious inheritance secured by His blood (Hebrews 4:1-11).