A Warning against Unfaithfulness & Unbelief Part 1
Hebrews 3:12-13 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. KJV
The writer of Hebrews now warns those Hebrew converts then (and this warning is for every professing Christian now and in every era and generation) to make sure of your calling and election by declaring these words to them and to us now and in every era and generation, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." (Hebrews 3:12) (KJV). This is a warning to them then and to us now to beware, that is, to be on one's guard; be cautious or wary about; be alert to having an evil heart of 'unbelief' and this English word is translated by the Greek word apistia meaning faithlessness, that is, (negatively) disbelief (want of Christian faith), or (positively) unfaithfulness (disobedience): - unbelief. Also the evil heart of unbelief will result in departing from the living God. The little English phrase 'in departing' is translated by the Greek word aphistēmi which means to remove, that is, (actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert, etc.: - depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self. There is no sin that the Blood of Jesus Christ cannot wash and cleanse, but the heart that resists, refuses, and rejects believing TRUTH by figuratively closing the door to their heart is one our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ will not (not that He cannot, for He is God and can do anything) kick down or kick in, for He desires willing entry into the human heart not a forceable takeover because forced love is no love at all, as it is written, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:19-20) (KJV).
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church at a time when they were living in conflict, chaos, and confusion in order that he might by the instructions in his letter set things in order (Titus 1:5). At the very end of his second letter written to them, Paul exhorted them to make sure of their own salvation by declasring these words to them, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Corinthians 13:5) (KJV). Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "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 (1 Corinthians 10:11), and should be remembered by us. Take heed; all who would get safely to heaven must look about them. 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."
The writer of Hebrews now desires to see these Hebrew converts not fall into unfaithfulness and unbelief, but instead wants to see them encourage one another to be faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ and so does he declare so with these next words, "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:13) (KJV). The writer calls them to be earnestly reminding one another to be faithful to Christ Jesus our Lord and to be praying for one another to receive the grace needed from the Throne of Grace to keep them and us faithful indeed, as it is written by this same writer of Hebrews in the very next Chapter, "For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16) (KJV). The little English phrase 'be hardened' is translated by the Greek word sklērunō which means to indurate, that is, (figuratively) render stubborn: - harden. The English word 'deceitfulness' is translated by the Greek word apatē which means delusion. In other words, the writer of Hebrews is here warning them/us against unfaithfulness and unbelief which are the parents of stubbornness and delusion resulting in continuous sinful rebellion to the Will of God which is the Word of God. Here again is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "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, Hebrews 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."
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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