Hebrews 3:7-13 (WEB) Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you will hear his voice, 8 don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers tested me by proving me, and saw my deeds for forty years. 10 Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, ‘They always err in their heart, but they didn’t know my ways;’ 11 as I swore in my wrath, ‘They will not enter into my rest.’” 12 Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God; 13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm to the end, 15 while it is said, “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion.”
V7 “Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you will hear his voice…” The Holy Spirit is seen active here urging believers through the Scriptures to heed what is written and especially, the message of the Lord Jesus. Procrastination in the things of God can have devastating results (2 Samuel 20:1-10). See the results of delayed obedience to God in Deuteronomy 1:19-46. The quote here is found in Psalm 95:7-11. Note how David is the author of the Psalm yet the words are attributed to the Holy Spirit.
V8 “…don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness…” A hardened heart is one that sets the will against God as, “I will not.” The rebellion in the Wilderness refers to not only the above account but also in Exodus 17:1-7. Before we heard the Gospel, our understanding of God and His ways is darkened (not totally absent buy very difficult to see) caused by a hardened heart. A hardened heart refuses to believe the truth (Matthew 13:14-15), a hardened heart may lead to God hardening it (Exodus 9:12), a hardened heart is a common finding in the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-4), a hardened heart can arise from being deceived by sin (thereby a decision is made to sin)–Hebrews 3:13, and lack of faith may be a cause for Christians (Hebrews 3:12). To prevent a hardened heart, we must believe God, study and believe the Bible, and not refuse to believe God (Proverbs 28:14), seek God’s wisdom early (Proverbs 3:5), confessing our sins (1 John 1:9), or if we seek earthly riches instead of godly riches, we might end up hardening our heart (Matthew 6:21).
V9 “…where your fathers tested me by proving me, and saw my deeds for forty years.” God does test hearts. Adam was tested after God gave the command to not eat and the consequences of obedience and disobedience (Genesis 2:16-17). God did this not to learn but for Adam to learn what he really was and desired. For people to test God is to challenge Him to do or not do something. The thought is, “How far can I push God before… See 1 Corinthians 10:9, Numbers 14:22, and Psalm 78:41. God is longsuffering but He does have a red line.
V10 “Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, ‘They always err in their heart, but they didn’t know my ways;’…” Sad are the words “always err in their heart.” This shows an attitude towards God and His word. There are consequences to such an attitude. The attitude of refusing to believe God leads to hell.
V11 “…as I swore in my wrath, ‘They will not enter into my rest.’” This refers to the 40 years of Jewish wandering in the Wilderness until all older than 19 died except Caleb and Joshua (possibly Eleazar and to Ithamar).
V12 “Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God…” Having a believing heart, trusting in Jesus for salvation, and then to stop believing is one of the most horrible decisions anyone could make.
V13 “…but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” We need encouragement and discipline (if needed) from the Holy Spirit and from each other to remain faithful. God help us. Proverbs 12:20 in God’s Word version is: Proverbs 12:20 (GW) “Deceit is in the heart of those who plan evil, but joy belongs to those who advise peace.” We do not want to be deceived in such a way as to start thinking and living in evil and encouraging evil. To protect ourselves we need the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). The main instigator of sin is satan and his agents (whether they know that or not). See 1 Peter 5:8-9 and 2 Corinthians 11:14-15. We have the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us into truth, but we also need each other.
V14 “For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm to the end…” Again, partakers refers to Christians, not just someone who explored the beliefs of Christianity. Partakers refers to those who join in a common experience. The Greek word is (G3353) μέτοχος métochos, which means partners. Compare Luke 5:7. The partners in Luke 5:7 are Peter, James, and John. The partners here are believers. All believers are adopted by God and servants of the Lord Jesus. The Greek word is used in Luke 5:7, Hebrews 1:9, Hebrews 3:1, Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 6:4, and Hebrews 12:8. If here indicates a conditional statement. Israel is the example, and the same principle applies to us.
Some quotes:
(Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary) A Christian so long as he is not made perfect, considers himself as a beginner [BENGEL].
(Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible) The saints’ privilege is, they are made partakers of Christ, that is, of the Spirit, the nature, graces, righteousness, and life of Christ; they are interested in all Christ is, in all he has done, or will do. The same spirit with which Christians set out in the ways of God, they should maintain unto the end. Perseverance in faith is the best evidence of the sincerity of our faith.
(NKJV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible Notes) God’s own people, whom He had already redeemed, rebelled rather than persevered (vv. 8–10, citing Ps. 95:8-10) and thus were barred from God’s promise (Ps. 95:11); perseverance was thus essential.
V15 “…while it is said, “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion.”
The Israelis of that day rebelled instead of believed. It is one of many times they rebelled and refused to believe. Thus, it is said of them that they are hardened. This principle is given to us as well. We are to remain faithful to the truths taught in Scripture and interpreted in the plain, normal sense. His voice = the Scriptures, God’s word. The more we harden our heart, the easier it becomes and makes the heart even harder than it was.