Do Not Harden Your Hearts

The Warning of Hebrews 4 and the Call Not to Harden Your Hearts

Our dear Heavenly Father, as we look to Your Word, we ask that once again we would hear with hearing ears and obedient hearts, especially this evening, as once again Your Word provides a very sober warning.

May we be amongst those who, by the Spirit's power, take stock of our own lives, examine ourselves as Your Word commands, in obedience to Christ. It is in His name that we pray. Amen. Hebrews chapter 4, you will recall, as we have been working through this tremendous book, that we have already encountered words of warning at the beginning of chapter 3.

You recall the context, but once again I remind us of the context of this tremendous book, and that is the exhortation of the people of God to not go back to the old ways. That is, you had Hebrew believers who were under tremendous pressure to go back to Judaism, a good reason that we see that this book is written prior to the destruction of the temple.

They are being pressured to go back to offer sacrifice, and by offering sacrifice, deny the unique once-for-allness of Jesus Christ, deny that He is the Messiah, and especially deny that His death is a sacrifice for sins.

And we had seen at the end of chapter 3, the author had begun explicating through chapter 3, the 95th Psalm, and was warning the people that we need to press on, that there is nothing to go back to, that Christ is superior to all the things in the Old Covenant.

They are all pointing to Him. He is the greater fulfillment of these things. And so with that, at the end of chapter 3, we encounter this discussion of entering into God's rest. In verse 18 of chapter 3,.

And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. This then is going to become the theme of chapter 4 as well.

There is a rest, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. And the nature of that rest, and why it is that people by unbelief cannot enter into that rest, is going to be what the writer is warning the people about.

This text really illustrates for us the fact that here we have the preacher addressing the people of God as a mixed multitude. He is going to liken the people he is addressing to the people of Israel of old.

And that means that he sees that in the church you have the wheat and the tares. And that is a very sobering thought indeed. So let's look at the first 11 verses here of Hebrews chapter 4 in the brief time we have this evening.

Therefore let us fear if while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also. But the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He said, As I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest. Although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He had said somewhere concerning the seventh day, and God rested on the seventh day from all His works.

And again in this passage, they shall not enter my rest. Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience.

He again fixes a certain day, today, saying to David, After so long a time, just as it has been said before, Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken of another day after that.

So, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore, let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall through following the same example of disobedience.

Fear, Faith, and the Example of Israel in the Wilderness

Now, here once again, we have exhortation based upon the same text that had been cited earlier in chapter 3. Indeed, one might make the argument that chapters 3 and 4 really are just one continuous presentation.

There really isn't any division to be found between the two. And, of course, we know that those chapter divisions came long, long, long after the originals were written. Be that as it may, we have an exhortation.

Remember what has been said about those that He was angry with for 40 years, whose bodies fell in the wilderness in chapter 3, verse 17. And so, having brought forth the fact that there was this whole group of people who had been delivered out of Egypt.

Think about what those people had seen. If you were one of those people who had experienced the exodus, you saw the pillar of fire. I don't know, for most folks that would be enough. But then you had the cloud by day, the pillar of fire by night.

You had seen the plagues. You had seen how the plagues had struck one part of Egypt, but not another part of Egypt. You had seen the death of the firstborn. You had put the blood on the doorposts of your house.

And your firstborn was standing next to you. And the Egyptian firstborn were dead. And you had then left Egypt. And you had seen the army coming after you. And you had gone across the Red Sea with pillars of water on both sides of you.

Walls of water. And you're walking on dry land. And now you're standing on the far side. And you see the elite corps of the greatest army in the world at that time, dying in front of you in the water you had just passed through.

I don't know about you, but when I hear atheists saying, well, if God would just show up, you know, do a little miracle, something like that, I believe, well, here are people that have had about all the evidence you could possibly have.

Not only of God's power and God's existence, but most assuredly of God's being with them. And yet how many of those people entered into the Promised Land? It's a sobering thing to think of. But what this text is telling us is that you can see all those things.

You can be delivered out of the world as the Israelites were in the Exodus. But that doesn't mean you've entered into his rest. What does it mean to enter into his rest? That's one of the things that we need to understand.

Therefore, let us fear. Verse 1. And in fact, the very first word of verse 1 is fear. Fear. And I will never forget the deep insight. I'm sure Pastor Fry remembers some of these. He was talking about some of his seminary professors.

I had the same professor for seven years in Greek. I've said many times before that he started with hair and did not have much of it left at the end of seven years. I don't know what that had anything to do with me or anything like that.

But I was taking a Life and Letters of Paul class with the same professor. And I have the recollection that I was one of the few people still conscious or interested at this particular point in time in the class.

But the professor was talking about this idea of fear. And he droned out a very insightful phrase that I'll never forget. He said fear. And the original language means fear. And I remember writing that down because I had already heard many, many sermons where fear had been turned into something other than fear.

But in reality, there should be and can be a healthy fear. It is not a distrustful fear. But this is a fear that is shared by the people of God regarding the fact that there may be some sitting amongst us even this night who will indeed fall short.

Not fall short of somehow accomplishing something to get themselves saved. But fall short in the sense of not having true, saving faith in Christ. It's the great danger of religious hypocrisy. It's the great danger of having heard the Gospel preached over and over and over again.

But to have that hearing not joined with faith. That's what he's referring to here. Let us fear if while a promise remains. Not if a promise remains. The promise is remaining. The promise remains of entering his rest.

Any of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had the Gospel, the good news preached to us. Just as they also. But the word they heard did not profit them. Because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

Now there's a textual variant to this point. And it could be translated this way. And that is that they did not join themselves with those who heard by faith. Now if we translate it that way. Then there's a reference there to the two different peoples in the people of God as they are gathered.

The remnants who hears, who has faith. And then the others who do not truly have faith. But in either case the point is. That here we have in the Old Testament. An example from the 95th Psalm. Remember we looked at that the last time.

Of a people who have seen God's words. God's works. They have heard God's words. They have all the evidence in the world right in front of them. And yet. That was not joined with faith. And so their bodies fall in the wilderness.

They are disobedient. What does the word say? They are a stiff necked people. And so the writer says. We as the people of God should never rest on our laurels. We should never look at ourselves and say.

Well you know. Here we are in the church and we've arrived. You know as long as your names on the membership rolls. And you've walked through those waters of baptism. You know we can just become spiritually apathetic.

We don't need to be encouraging one another. In being consistent in our Christian lives. We can just simply you know kick back and relax. And we've made it. We've got our ticket punched. There are a lot of people who preach that kind of a concept.

That well once you're to a certain point. You've got your ticket punched. That's all there is to it. Well once again we find we need to have balance. That is we rejoice in recognizing that Christ. And Christ alone is our savior.

And we trust in his infinite merits. We are looking solely and completely to him. But that person will not be the person who becomes spiritually apathetic. So that holiness and a concern for being like Christ.

And for following his commandments. Is of no interest whatsoever. I just live like the world over here. There is always the balance that exists between the two. And so the writer says fear. For he says there are some of those they heard the good news.

But the word they heard did not profit them. Because it was not united by faith. Or they did not unite themselves with those who had faith. Either way we want to look at that particular text. For we who have believed.

Verse 3. Have entered that rest. We who have believed enter that rest. Just as he said as I swore in my wrath. They shall not enter my wrath. So his point is that those against whom his wrath burned. They don't enter into his wrath.

But those who are not experiencing his wrath. Who have believed. They enter into his wrath. Although that then says. His works, speaking of God's works. Were finished from the foundation of the world.

So what's he talking about here? What is this rest? Well we need to go back. He's going to tell us. Well he has said somewhere concerning the seventh day. God rested on the seventh day from all his works.

Now if it strikes you as a little bit funny. He'd say somewhere. Remember they didn't have chapter and verse divisions. So he could have said well in Genesis. But his point is everyone knows that. I mean that was the first story.

That any child amongst them would have learned. Was of the creation story. And so he makes reference to Genesis chapter 2. God rested on the seventh day from all his works. And again in this passage. They shall not enter my wrath.

So he's saying. These are the same things. Now it's interesting to me. That when we think of God resting from all his works. We should never get the idea. That at the beginning of the sixth day. God's mopping his brow.

He's going. Alright. Only one more day to go. I'm getting right to the end of my rope here. You know I've got some Gatorade going. And we're just barely going to make it. That's not why he needed rest.

There wasn't any exhaustion on his part. Why do I mention that? Because the Muslims think that's what the Bible is saying. In fact the Quran. The writer of the Quran thinks that's what the Bible is saying.

And there's actually an element of mockery. Of the Bible. Saying well God doesn't need to rest. He doesn't get tired. Not even beginning to understand. What it is. When the scriptures say God entered into his rest.

The point is. That there is a period of creation. And at the end of that creation. There is a change. A substantive change. From creation. To sustaining. Remember what Jesus said in John chapter 5. My Father is working until now.

And I am working. Speaking of the Sabbath day. God continues to work. In the sense of holding the universe. But he's not bringing the universe into existence. It is a change of activity. A change of state.

And he has. As it said. His works were finished with the foundation of the world. Verse 3. For he said somewhere. God rested on the seventh day. And then in this passage. Therefore since it remains for some to enter it.

And those who formerly had good news preached to them. Failed to enter because of disobedience. He again fixes a certain day. So what he's saying is. God's rest. Has to do with a state. It's not just well.

He was creating and he got tired. And now it's time to regenerate for a while. For just one day. No. He remains in his rest. Six days creation. Seventh day enters into his rest. And remains there. Because it is a mode of being.

It's a mode of activity. But there are others who don't get to enter into his rest. There are others who do. But only by faith. Is the point that is being made. And so in verse 6. Therefore since it remains for some to enter it.

And those who formerly had good news preached to them. Failed to enter because of disobedience. Now what's he talking about there? The people are delivered out of Egypt. But they don't enter into the promised land.

Here's where the analogy is being made. There can be a deliverance from Egypt. Picture of the world. You can be brought into the Christian fellowship. And because you're around moral people. Who have a concern for godliness.

That can result in moral change in you. And you can see. And as Hebrews chapter 6 is going to say. Taste of the heavenly gifts. Sing the songs. Pray the prayers. Being amongst the people of God. Can have all of that effect.

But still. That's where the wilderness is. And there is a need to enter into the rest. And how do you enter into the promised land? Only by faith. There were those who heard. They experienced all the benefits.

They saw all the miracles. But that's not what gets you into the presence of God. Faith. Faith alone. Faith alone. Is what needs to be there. They failed to enter because of disobedience. So he again fixes a certain day.

Today. Saying to David. After so long a time. Just as has been said before. Today if you hear his voice. Do not harden your hearts. Now you've got to tune in with me here for a second. Because it's a little bit difficult.

This. Most people when they read this. Just don't understand what in the world is being said. But it's actually fairly straightforward. If you just remember the timeline. And that's where the Old Testament timeline trips a lot of us up.

David comes long after the Exodus. David is in his palace in Jerusalem. And David is way down the road. And yet he's the one writing. About what happened during the time of the Exodus. And he says. Today if you hear his voice.

Do not harden your hearts. This is a long time later. And so what he's saying. In the next few verses is. Well if you go back to the Old Testament. When the people entered into the land. Joshua said for example.

To the tribes of Manasseh. Now that we have rest. Go back across the river to your land. Because remember they had been given land on the other side. And he's anticipating. Someone might argue. Oh well they did enter into rest.

But that was just an external rest. Of fighting against the enemies. Clearly what the writer is trying to tell us is. This text is talking about something spiritual. Something that transcends the physical.

So he says. For if Joshua had given them rest. He would not have spoken of another day after that. So yes Joshua. He talks about a physical rest. Now that we have rest. You can go back to your people.

But David by saying today. Is emphasizing to us. That for every generation. Of those who follow God. There is necessity of faith. This call of today. If you hear his voice. Do not harden your hearts. Is valid for every generation.

Not just the generation in the wilderness. But the generations of David's day. And until the final rest is ushered in. In the end of time. For every generation. The word goes forth. Today if you hear his voice.

Do not harden your hearts. That's just as true for us today. It's not just something from back then. Today if you hear his voice. Do not harden your hearts. Or if Joshua had given them rest. He would not have spoken of another day after that.

So there remains. A Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered his rest. Has himself also rested from his works. As God did from his. You see. Here is the empty hand of faith again.

This person is not trying to bring works to God. To earn something from him. By faith. He enters into the very rest of God. He has rested from his works. As God did from his. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest.

So that no one will fall. Through following the same example of disobedience. So there is the exhortation. Here in this time period. Where we cannot see. We don't have the ability to see. Who is the elect by some supernatural means.

It is the duty of the ministers. And the congregation. To warn the people. Do not become apathetic. Do not think that just because. You stand amongst the people of God. Just because you've seen. The Spirit of God working in people's lives.

Just because you've come out of Egypt. Doesn't mean you've entered into the place of rest. Only those who join the hearing. With faith. Faith comes by hearing. Hearing by the Word of God. Only those who hear.

With faith. Enter into his rest. Look at the example of disobedience. People who saw with clarity God's power. How could anyone question. The teachings of Moses. When they had drunk from the rock. When they had seen the sea open and close.

When they saw the miracles. The plagues. The destruction of Korah, Dathom and Abiram and his compatriots. The earth opens up and swallows them. Oh my goodness! They had all the evidence you could possibly have.

And yet the vast majority die in the wilderness. Because it's not how much you've seen. It's whether you have believed. Whether you have embraced. So you might say, well, boy, it would seem like an absolute impossibility.

To end up going into hell. From the congregation that saw all those things. Well, the greatest tragedy is that there will be people who will sit in the pews of churches where the Word of God is opened every single Lord's Day.

Every single Wednesday night. The Word of God is opened. It's proclaimed. The call for repentance goes forth. In one ear. Back out the other. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. Do not think that this is something you can deal with tomorrow.

Young people, listen to me. You can sit in this church and you can hear the Word being preached over and over and over again. And especially in our midst, you have heard it proclaimed to you with consistency.

You can't sit there and go, well, you know, once somebody said this and once somebody said that. No, you have heard the Gospel in its fullness. But the world wants you. And the world will bedazzle you with its temptations and its desires.

And say, you don't want to go there. You want what I have to offer. And you might say to yourself, you know, I hear that Gospel. I hear that call to repent and to believe and to follow Christ and to give my life to Him and to be His servant.

But, oh, I have such strong desires for the things of the world. I love the things of the world. I'll put it off. You're drinking poison. You're drinking poison. You cannot boast of tomorrow. You do not know what tomorrow will bring.

Today, if you hear His voice. How do I know I'm hearing His voice? Do you hear the consistency of the Word as it speaks to your sin? When you close your eyes? When you turn off the noise, the world long enough to even think about eternal things?

Do you not recognize your own sin? Even when you say, well, I'm not as bad as others. Don't you fear? Don't you hear that voice that says, but you're standing before a holy God. It doesn't matter what somebody else has done.

If you hear that, you know your sin. Then you know there is only one you can flee to. God has provided only one way of salvation. And you can maybe hide it from your parents and hide it from other people in the church.

You may have grown up in the church. You know what words to say and things to do on Sunday and Wednesday night. But you know what fills your heart. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.

Today, not tomorrow. To wait until tomorrow is to harden your heart. And say, I will not. I resist. Don't do it. Think of all those who have gone before. One of the reasons I appreciate here we don't divide the young people up from the older folks.

Because if you talk to some of us older folks, we could tell you a lot of stories about people we knew who put that off. In some cases, the Lord was still merciful to them, but all the scars they brought into their Christian life because they didn't turn at a young age.

But others never turned back. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. Do not follow the same example of disobedience that led to an entire generation. Standing on the borders of the promised land, looking across at what could have been there, but they never enter it.

Today, tonight, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. Turn. Flee. There has never been one who has turned to Jesus Christ, who has found Him to be anything less than a perfect and willing Savior.

A Pastoral Appeal to Repent and Enter Christ's Rest

Turn to Him. Our holy yet merciful God, we ask that even now in this place, if there be any who sit in these pews, who came here this evening in love with the things of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the foolish pride of life, the promise of riches, the things of this world, if there be any here that have not bowed the knee to Jesus Christ, Lord, that You would be pleased for them to hear Your voice and that You would grant faith and repentance so they would not harden their hearts.

Lord, for those of us who have bowed that knee, may we think back upon that time. May we rejoice in what You've done in our lives. And if we have become apathetic, O Lord, grant forgiveness, repentance, a revival to our spirits and to our lives.

We do thank You for Your Word. It searches us out. As this very text is going to go on and say, it is alive and sharp, and it searches us out. And we thank You for that. We ask that as we encounter these challenging passages, that we will rejoice that You have preserved them for us and that You do it for our good and our benefit.

And now, Father, even as we pray You have dealings with those amongst us, as we gather for a time of rejoicing after this service, we ask that You would bless our time, our conversation, the food and everything to Your honor and to Your glory.

We pray in Christ's name.