Hebrews 3:9-12 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 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 To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
‘Proved’ [Greek: dokimazo] to put to the test; tested Me. Translated as “prove” (3:9; Luke 14:19; Rom. 12:2; 2Cor. 8:8, 22; 13:5; Gal. 6:4; Eph. 5:10; 1Thess. 5:21; 1Tim. 3:10) to assay metals; to prove or test. Also translated as “try” (1Cor. 3:13; 1Thess. 2:4; 1Pet. 1:7; 1Jn. 4:1); “examine” (1Cor. 11:28); “discern” (Luke 12:56); “approve” (Rom. 2:18; 1Cor. 16:3; Php. 1:10); “allow” (Rom. 14:22; 1Thess. 2:4); and “like” (Rom. 1:28).
‘Grieved’ [Greek: prosochthizo] to be angry with; to be offended at (3:17). Used in the Septuagint in Psalms 95:8, from which this is quoted.
‘Take heed, brethren.’ Here Paul again warns brethren – Christians – by the examples of Israel’s failures in the wilderness. They were brought out of Egypt with the fullest assurance of blessing, prosperity, and eternal rest. By their sin and unbelief, they came short of the promised blessings, fell in the wilderness, and were cut off from God. Paul states plainly that Christians – born-again or saved men – can also return to an evil heart of unbelief, departing from the living God, be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, be cut off by God, and be finally lost (3:12-14).
‘Lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.’ Seven stages of apostasy: Refusal to hear God (3:7). Hardness of heart through refusal to hear and obey God (3:8, 13, 15). Unbelief is a consequence of hardening the heart against God (3:12). Departure from the living God (3:12). Open rebellion against God to provoke and tempt Him (3:8-9, 16). Habitual sinning, careless living, and flagrant violation of God’s laws (3:10, 17). Apostasy – all faith in God and His redemptive work thrown overboard – beyond all hope of repentance because of no more faith (3:11, 18-19).
‘Exhort one another daily.’ This is further proof that Christians are referred to. Sinners are not advised to exhort one another daily, neither can they revert to sin and depart from the living God, for they are already estranged from God.
Living the Word 