Week 5, Hebrews 3: Hook. Main Point: Do not harden your heart.

Transcription

1 Week 5, Hebrews 3:12 19 Hook Illustration: Teacher: Early in the week, procure two containers of Play-Doh. Open one of the containers, exposing the contents for several days so that it will become hardened. Bring both containers to class and ask for two volunteers. On a table in the front of the room, station one volunteer in front of the soft, unopened Play-Doh and another volunteer in front of the exposed, hardened Play-Doh. Do not convey to the volunteers or the class the difference between the two materials. Challenge the volunteers to mold their dough into a variety of shapes, giving them 15 seconds to complete each shape. Recommended sculptures include: a star, a rectangle, a spiral, and a heart. Discussion Questions Who won the competition? Why? How does Play-Doh become hardened? Is there a way to fix it? How does a heart become hardened? Is there a way to fix it?

2 Hebrews 3:12 19 Book Text Summary: The final portion of chapter 3 is an urgent warning that admonishes every reader to examine his heart. Hebrews 3:12 15 (Read) Sub Point: Believers are to exhort one another, fighting the deception of sin, which leads to a hardened heart. The author warns against a hardened heart. He encourages the believers to exhort one another. Verses 12 and 13 link the second half of chapter 3 to the first. The text below is taken from The Bible Knowledge Commentary: See to it, brothers introduces the author s application of his text to his Christian readership. Neither here nor anywhere else in his letter did the writer betray the slightest suspicion that his audience might contain people who were not real Christians. Instead, they were regarded as brothers (as here) or as holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling (v. 1). The widespread view that he was concerned about mere professors of the faith over genuine believers is not found in the text. Each Christian brother, therefore, should be most careful to guard against a sinful, unbelieving heart which God s flock in the wilderness displayed, the kind of heart that turns away from the living God. One preventative against such a tendency would be a spirit of mutual concern and admonition among the Christian brotherhood. Accordingly they were to encourage one another daily so that none would be hardened by sin s deceitfulness (v. 13). This exhortation is still completely pertinent to any local congregation at the present time, where the hardening tendencies of sin can often be counteracted by truly concerned fellow Christians. The expression as long as it is called Today alludes to the Today in Psalm 95:7 and means something like while you still have opportunity. 1 The author does not intend to say that there are those among the recipients of Hebrews who are not believers; nor is there evidence to suggest that the author believes the unbelieving 1 Zane C. Hodges, "Hebrews" In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), Heb 3:12 13.

3 heart already exists among the recipients. However, the author is concerned. The word unbelieving in verse 12 is in contrast to the example of the faithfulness presented by Moses and Jesus in Hebrews 3: When one is unbelieving, he or she demonstrates that in a lack of obedience to God. The lack of belief would result in fall(ing) away, a term used to describe someone moving from an anchor point (the living God). What does it mean to fall away from the living God? Some interpret it as becoming a classic apostate (one who leaves Christianity). In this context however, it seems best to interpret it as rebelling against God. 3 Verse 13 provides a positive way to avoid the frightening road that verse 12 presents. In order to avoid developing a heart of unbelief that results in disobedience and rebellion to God, accountability is necessary. And there is no time to waste. The phrase as long as it is called today emphasizes the fact that we are not promised tomorrow. 4 Verse 14 concludes with the idea that a Christian s belief is evidenced by his continuation in the faith. Buist Fanning wrote concerning verse 14 the wording shows that these lines do not cite what will be true if they hold on, but what is already true of them, and which is to be evidenced by their endurance through temptation. Holding on to their confidence will reveal the reality they already have come to share (perfect tense) in Christ, not what they will share. Verse 15 concludes this section by urging the recipients to avoid hardening their hearts as the wilderness generation did (Hebrews 3:7 11). Trusting Jesus is a posture of the heart and the admonition in Hebrews is to examine one s heart with honesty. Upon salvation, we must continually urge our hearts to remember what is true what is true about God and what is true about ourselves. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 As we believe the truth about who God is and who we are in Him, we experience peace. If we have any disobedience in our life, it can be traced back to a point of unbelief. This is why being surrounded by a community of encouraging believers is so important. We need one another to speak truth and exhort one another every day (3:13) to help us remember what is true about Christ and about ourselves in Him. 2 David Allen, Allen, Zane C. Hodges, "Hebrews" In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), Heb 3:12 13.

4 In John 6, the performance-based Pharisees asked Jesus what God wanted them to do. Jesus told them exactly what to do and His instruction is something we need to remember also: Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent (John 6:29). That sums up the action item from Hebrews 3: to believe. In cooperation with the Holy Spirit this week, take time to consider the condition of your heart. Ask the Lord to shine His light on areas of unbelief. Accept His guidance and choose to believe His Word. In what ways does sin s deceit harden our hearts? What should a believer do if he is in fear of a heart that is being hardened? Describe an accountability relationship that you have experienced in the past. What made this accountability partner effective? What should someone look for when choosing an accountability partner? The call in Hebrews is to exhort one another (3:13) and to soften your heart to the voice of the Lord (3:15). How do you do that? Hebrews 3:16 19 (Read) Sub Point: Unbelief is demonstrated in disobedience. The rebellion of Israel in Numbers 14 is brought to light. They rebelled and did not enter the Promised Land. Their rebellion was due to a lack of belief. Ultimately, the Israelites were unable to enter to the Promised Land because of unbelief (3:19). This passage again alludes to Numbers 14 in which the people of Israel rebelled against God, becoming afraid that He would not be able to provide (victory against the enemies of the Promised Land). What the wilderness generation lost because of unbelief was the opportunity to enter the Promised Land (3:19), not their covenant status as the people of God 5. Unbelief looked like rebellion and provocation and sin and death and disobedience. Read Numbers 14:1 12. Describe the cause for the unbelief of the people. Why did they have cause to fear? What so frustrated God about their unbelief (verse 11)? How are fear, a lack of belief in God s provision, and rebellion connected? How does someone fight a lack of belief? What fears would the recipients of Hebrews have been facing? What fears do you face that challenge your belief in God s provision? 5 Allen, David L. (2010), In The New American Commentary: Hebrews (p. 265). Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group.

5 Week 5, Hebrews 3:12 19 Took Class Discussion: What is the evidence of a hardened heart? How does someone avoid a hardened heart? Can a believer s heart become soft again? What does it take? Teacher: Draw the attention of the class to the hardened heart. Although the lump of Play- Doh is useless now, it can be restored. With a bit of attention, the clay can be returned to vitality. Lesson Conclusion: The author challenges the believer to respond to the Lord in obedience. The recipients were to avoid disbelief and allowing their hearts to be hardened and rebel against God. Responding to the Lord and entering into accountability with other believers is a way to avoid a hardened heart. Challenge Examine your heart. When was the last time that you prayerfully asked the Lord to bring any sin in your life to your attention? Devote a portion of your prayer life this week to petitioning God to reveal any rebellion in your heart. Do not harden your heart. Perhaps today finds you in some sort of sin. Repent. Forgiveness is waiting and the issue is urgent. The more you attempt to mute the voice of the Holy Spirit, the more difficult it will be to hear. Exhort one another. You need to be meeting with a mentor/accountability partner. Creating a structure of accountability in your life will help you discover areas in which you are unbelieving and will grow you in your faith.