Hebrews 3:12-19: They Could Not Enter In Because of Unbelief
2022-09-24
After considering the historical significance of Hebrews 3:7-11, the next verses expound some of its theological significance. This section feels like a sermon body that expounds on the Old Testament verses quoted.
Hebrews 3:12
If we consider the context before the parenthetical Old Testament reference, we see the world “Wherefore.” To be a part of the household of Christ (Hebrews 3:6), we must “hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” Therefore, we must take heed, or be careful. We need to consider if we have “an evil heart of unbelief.”
The source of unbelief is an evil heart. This tells me that unbelief comes from an unregenerate person. This also means that faith comes from a regenerate person.
Consider Acts 2:36-38. Here, after the Jews from abroad heard the preaching of the Word of God, they were “pricked in their heart.” The Word converted their hearts. Only when they had been changed by God’s Word about Jesus Christ did they believe. Then they could receive the commands to repent (change their minds about Christ, sin, salvation, etc.), be baptized, etc.
Consider Acts 13:47-48. Here, we see the same thing again. The word was preached to the Gentiles, and they rejoiced. Whoever was “ordained” believed. The regeneration precedes faith. So, what order do we see? Preaching, regeneration, faith.
We know that it does not always work perfectly this way. Consider the Jews at Ephesus:
And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not (Acts 18:19-20)
Paul preached at the Ephesian synagogue. There is no real talk about conversions, but they seemed interested.
And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. (Acts 19:8-9)
After a while of preaching, instead of regeneration, they were hardened. Consider the famous soul-winning verse: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). These are the two choices. The people who hear the word have two paths, and there is finality in both. The “To day” in our Scripture is for those who are standing at a crossroads. They need to either believe or not believe. There is a limited time, while it is called “To day,” while they can still believe before they get hardened to the Gospel.
The difference is likely found in the parable of soils in Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23. Everyone is prepared at different rates. Some are ready to hear, and others are not. Soil must be prepared to receive seed. People come with different baggage. What religion did the come from? What are their experiences? There are probably a multitude of factors that makes one fertile for the seed of the Word of God, and we likely cannot know everything. Depending on who they are, they may need more foundational teaching to prepare them for the Gospel.
There is a possibility that among the recipients of this letter, there are still people standing at that crossroads on whether to believe or not. It is probably true everywhere.
What is unbelief? I believe it is qualified by the phrase, “in departing from the living God.” They heard the Word of God. They may have even seemed interested in Christ. They might have even said “Lord, Lord” and did many “wonderful works” (Matthew 7:21-22). But because they were not regenerated and were just playing church and Christianity, they departed. Consider 1 John 2:18-22. These “antichrists” once held to the apostles and their doctrine, but then they left. If they were truly regenerated believers, they would not have apostatized. “...they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” says that such apostates may become very public enemies of Christ. You can see this with the synagogue at Ephesus. On the other hand, the born-again Christian has an “unction from the Holy One.” They have a divine anointing in the Holy Spirit. They do not depart from the faith, and they know the truth.
Hebrews 3:13
Because of self-deception, or people in the congregation that may fit this description, we are called to “exhort one another daily.” We need to be together as a congregation. Take for example:
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
As the Day of Christ approaches, we need to be together as a congregation, spurring each other on in the faith.
Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger. (Zephaniah 2:1-3)
Why get together, exhort each other and pray, but to make sure that we are right before God before the Lord’s coming?
We spoke previously of the “Today.” While there is still a chance before one is hardened in unbelief, we must urgently continue to exhort others, while also making sure of our own salvation. “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Peter 1:10). For if we are unregenerate, after “To day” is a tomorrow where it is too late, where we are hardened against the Lord.
Hebrews 3:14-15
“For we are made partakers of Christ...” where partaker can also be like a partner. It is translated that way in Luke 5:7. Other than this reference, it is used exclusively in Hebrews. We are partakers “of the heavenly calling” (Hebrews 3:1); “of the Holy Ghost” (Hebrews 6:4); and of chastisement from the Father (Hebrews 12:8).
We receive Christ, and we also become partners with Him.
The rest of this verse should sound like Hebrews 3:6, though the word for confidence is different in that verse. In verse 6, the word seems to be a more spoken confidence, while in verse 14, the word is more about substance. Either way, we see that an endurance to the end demonstrates the truly saved.
Hebrews 3:15 quotes again from Psalm 95. Why emphasize this again, but to make sure the audience understands? The Word “today” is not speaking to people out there somewhere. It is speaking to the Jewish believers of those days but also to us here. We examine ourselves like the Hebrew Jews were to do when they first heard this epistle.
Hebrews 3:16-17
Not everyone who was delivered from Egypt and heard the voice of the Lord rebelled against Him. Many did. “And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?” (Numbers 14:11).
Whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? Recall what happened after the 12 spies came back to Kadesh: “Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun” (Numbers 14:29-30).
Everyone 20 years and upward died in the wilderness, except Caleb and Joshua. Even Moses died before entering the promised land. Only two of hundreds of thousands made it to the promised land. Of those who fell, the Lord was angry with them until the day they died. Each made their decision to reject the Lord, and “the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).
Few made it to the promised land. Most rejected the Lord. So when you see church after church on the horizon of this country, recall that it is the few that are saved unto perseverance. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Hebrews 3:18-19
The central issue of the people in the Old Testament who did not make it to the promised land was an issue of faith. They did not rest in the promises of God, but rather strove with and provoked Him. God had promised His people the land. Regardless of how things looked, be it the adversity of the wilderness, or the persistence of the Egyptians, whatever it may have been, God is able to provide through and override all those troubles. They believed their senses over the promises. This mistrust caused them to revolt against the Lord. They were out of water many times, saw His provision each time, but still did not believe God was able to provide.
We all do this to a degree. Things seem so bad that it is hard to trust God when everything seems so contrary to Him. The storms that destroyed our area might be one thing. The state of our nation is another. However, the things that God promises are for sure going to happen, regardless of what the world says or seems.
Recall that “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:13). Adam and Eve could believe God or eat the fruit. Many choices are like this. We choose to believe God and what He says, or we sin in not doing so, and fight against Him.