Hebrews 3:13
The Deceitfulness of Sin
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
The Root of Sin
It was a beautiful day in the garden as Adam and Eve walked through the paradise of God, all around them was the beauty of His creation, and all was well in their hearts and souls. Then the deceiver came into her presence, and deceived the woman, and she partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and then passed the fruit on to her husband, Adam. We should remember that the condemnation against them and the judgment was foretold by God. He had declared that they should not eat, nor touch of the fruit of tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (Genesis 3:3) They listened to the voice of the deceiver and partook of the tree; therefore, they surrendered their glory and became sin. Not only did sin enter into the world, but sin brought death. Adam bore full responsibility for bringing sin into the world. His glory was gone, his DNA was changed, now there was a helix of sin that became part of him, and therefore, part of every man descended from Adam. This sin is so much a part of man that it drives us and deceives us. The root of unbelief is centered in sin; for they believed the serpent and not the Almighty God. Sin has passed upon all men for all have sinned whether it be one individual or the collective.
The Sphere of Sin
In our study verse of Hebrews 3:13 the apostle stresses to the Hebrews to exhort one another daily with the truth of the Almighty God lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. The word ‘deceitfulness’ should bring before us the complete works of the devil for he has been a deceiver from the beginning. We need to see the power of this word in our text in the Book of Hebrews that sin is not always obvious and pronounced before the act. Yet, man is still responsible whether he is deceived or whether willfully sins. We, as Christians, need to see the weight of sin that completely surrounds us like a dome of deceitfulness. There is an ever presence of sin because of each and every descendant of Adam. Men deceive men for power and land, for fame and riches. Man will even deceive those who are closest to him. He will deceive his family, he will deceive his nation, he will deceive all that is around him; and if it were possible the spirit of sin in man would deceive the very elect. For we can say of the natural man, God is not in all his thoughts. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. (Psalm 10:4)
The descendants of Adam, like their father, follow a path of sin. They are alienated from the path of God’s righteousness, and only through the divine act of the holy and righteous Lord Jesus giving Himself as a sacrifice on Calvary’s cross took sin and nailed it to His cross. He became sin for us to deliver us from sin. The Spirit of God is exhorting us, each and every Christian, to contemplate the greatness of that sacrifice for our souls. The Spirit of God in Hebrews 3:13 is not speaking softly, but shouting from this epistle that we should exhort one another daily in our path of faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. There is a divine path of God, we are led by God by faith. The Spirit of God imparts faith that we might be forged by Him through the death and resurrection of God’s dear Son. In Hebrews, Chapter 3, we have a continual reminder of those who wandered in the wilderness. Paul, in his writings to the Corinthians, also pointed back to the wilderness wandering of the children of Israel, and used them as an example for us in our day.
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (1 Corinthians 10:1)
And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (1 Corinthians 10:2)
And did all eat the same spiritual meat; (1 Corinthians 10:3)
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4)
But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. (1 Corinthians 10:5)
Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. (1 Corinthians 10:6)
The Journey and Trial of Faithfulness in the Old and in the New Testament
The nation of Israel was on a path given of God. He gave them the Passover, and by their obedience they were preserved from the angel of death. God led them from Egypt through the Red Sea, and was prepared to take them into the land of Canaan. The deceitfulness of sin, however, prevented them from entering into the land of promise. We are told by the Spirit of God that all who came out of Egypt perished in the wilderness except the two witnesses, Joshua and Caleb. They had found grace in the sight of the Lord, only two out of the hundreds of thousands who came out of Egypt, thus, both Joshua and Caleb were rewarded for their faithfulness to God. They completed the path from Egypt to Canaan. They were brought in by God to see the good of the land. By faith they walked the path of God, and the Rock that followed them was Christ.
In our study in the Book of Hebrews, we have spent time in the wilderness with the children of Israel. We have seen their failures, and now the Holy Spirit presents to us the deceitfulness of sin, and how one by one they fell to the deceitfulness of sin. Should we not exhort one another in the faith once delivered to the saints, lest any of you should come short of the living God. If Eve could be deceived by the serpent in God’s paradise, or garden of light, how much more today in this world under a curse, and saturated with sin, can the deceitfulness of sin overtake a soul; truly the blood of Abel cries out in this day of unbelief. The spirit of Cain is working harder and harder to stamp out any flicker of faith; therefore, we are to exhort one another. It is the faith of the living God that He has given to us in His Son, Jesus Christ.
There were many Jews in Israel who had both witnessed and heard the things that took place concerning the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. There were many who had heard the gospel in its fullness, yet did not believe. But the Holy Spirit would not give up on them; therefore, He wrote this entire epistle to persuade them and to exhort them to have faith in Jesus Christ. And the application of this epistle for the current age is that many have heard the gospel, and yet have not believed. These are the ones who we are to exhort, lest they perish from this world without Christ. The children of Israel ate manna in the wilderness, and are dead . . . why? Because the manna from heaven (angels’ food) was not mixed with faith. Paul was not the only one who reminded us of the wilderness journey. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, declared to the Jews that He was the bread that came down from heaven.
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (John 6:38)
And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (John 6:39)
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40)
The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. (John 6:41)
The Troubled Sea of Humanity 
All the evidence of His Person as the Son of God was before them, and they believed Him not. The 6th Chapter of John is a wonderful stage to reveal unbelief. The true bread from heaven was among them in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet they believed Him not. Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John begins with a journey across the sea of humanity, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Read Chapter 6 very carefully, allow the Spirit of God to open the eyes of your understanding; for this 6th Chapter begins with both Jewish and Roman life.
The Jews owned the location called the Sea of Galilee, and to the Romans it was known as the Sea of Tiberias. The Sea of Galilee took on the name of the Sea of Tiberias because of the city of Tiberias on it’s coast. The city was built by Herod Antipas, and was named after the Emperor Tiberius.
After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. (John 6:1)
And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. (John 6:2)
In this 6th Chapter of the Gospel of John, the Spirit of God does not mention the city for He wants us to concentrate on the sea . . . the sea of all mankind. (Jeremiah 6:23; 50:42; Ezra 26:16)
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. (Isaiah 57:20)
These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;(Jude 1:12)
Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jude 1:13)
The Message to Mankind – the Mixed Multitude
Because of the captivity of Babylon, and the occupation by Rome, the city of Tiberias, and the surrounding towns were inhabited with both Jews and Greeks, and governed by the Romans. There were many other nationalities who had assimilated into that region; therefore, John 6:1 has a special message for all men. We are aware of the symbolism of the number 6, which encompasses all mankind in Adam. We also have the sea which denotes mankind. In the previous chapter, the Lord Jesus was dealing directly with the Jews in the witness of the scripture concerning Himself. In verses 46 and 47 of Chapter 5 of John’s gospel, the Lord stated, For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. (John 5:46) But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? (John 5:47) He had revealed that the Scriptures were written concerning His manifestation before them; for He came unto His own and they received Him not.
The deceitfulness of sin had hardened them to the words that He spoke concerning Himself. As we leave Chapter 5 of John’s gospel we see the connection to Chapter 3 of Hebrews, verse 13. Both Chapter 6 of John’s gospel and Hebrews Chapter 3, verse 13 are comparative. For many heard the very words of Christ, and still did not believe on Him as the Son of God. In John, Chapter 6 if we treat the Lord Jesus (over the great multitude) as the cloud by day, and the fire by night in relationship to the wandering Israelites in the wilderness, and compare this thought with John Chapter 6 we have Him over the great multitude on the mountain. He is there to give them food from heaven. This multitude was following Him because of the miracles that He had performed on the sick and the diseased. There is no description of the actual multitude except in numbers that there were 5,000 men plus. And even then they were seeking great signs, sadly they were still in unbelief. They could call Him a prophet, or the son of Joseph, the carpenter’s son, but they would not, and did not acknowledge Him as the Son of God. In Chapter 3 of Hebrews, like John 6, we have the trial of faith, and the deceitfulness of sin. Chapter 6 of John’s gospel begins with the great multitude of humanity, and ends with one traitor, Judas Iscariot, powered by the devil. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? (John 6:70) He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.(John 6:71)
The Barley Loafs and Israel
In between verse 1 and verse 71, the Lord feeds the multitude while on the mountain as Moses received the law from Sinai; Christ now looks on the multitude with compassion and feeds this great company with 5 barley loafs and 2 small fishes. This made it quite evident that He was a supernatural Being. The five (5) barley loafs are only mentioned in John’s gospel as being ‘barley loafs.’ In the three synoptic gospels the Spirit of God calls them merely ‘loafs.’ The number 5 is the number of grace, and they were fed by Him who was grace and truth. Should we not see through the mind of Christ, should not His Spirit speak expressly to us, it is the Lord of heaven who has come down among His people. They were a down-trodden people, their spirits broken by the world, and He looked on them as the seed of Israel. In John’s gospel the mention of ‘barley’ takes us back to Leviticus 27:15, 16. This section in Leviticus is in connection to the day of jubilee. The day of jubilee is a type of Israel’s redemption and deliverance in the end days.
And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his. (Leviticus 27:15)
And if a man shall sanctify unto the LORD some part of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.’ (Leviticus 27:16)
The Purchased Field – Israel
The field of possession would be blessed by Him. Just as in the parable, the man finds a treasure in a field, he sells all that he has to purchase this field because the treasure is hid therein. The ‘barley’ speaks of His people, Israel, and their relationship to Him. The two small fishes takes us back to the sea of all humanity. The number 2 is the number of witness. The power He has over the sea of humanity is the power He has over all creation. Regarding the ‘barley’ He will purchase the field, and He will bless it Himself because of the treasure buried therein. We draw this together through Hosea 3, the connection is in all four (4) gospels, the fragments that were taken up were only of the ‘barley loafs’ and those barley loafs in each gospel filled 12 baskets, referring to the number of the sons of Jacob.
Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. (Hosea 3:1)
So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: (Hosea 3:2)
And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.(Hosea 3:3)
For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: (Hosea 3:4)
Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.(Hosea 3:5)
After a long period of time after His rejection the Lord will return to purchase His field which is the nation of Israel. We have fifteen (15) pieces of silver. Silver is always noted as redemption money. We have the homer and a half of barley (1½) used to purchase the field to possess His people Israel. In verse 5, the nation of Israel returns to the Lord and receives Him as the seed of David, and their king. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1)
Hear Now or Hear Later?
I ask you once again to study the Gospel of John, Chapter 6 in relationship to Hebrews 3. If you will study it intensely, the Lord will bless you with spiritual images of Himself. You will say to yourself, How could they not believe? This was God’s dear Son, and yet, they would not believe because of the deceitfulness of sin. The Almighty speaks today through His word, witnessed by the Holy Spirit of God, and the multitudes do not listen. The masses of this world are deaf and dumb to all spiritual prodding. Their ears have been clogged by the deceitfulness of sin. And through the lusts of their eyes they have been blinded by the darkness of sin itself. They might not listen now, but they will surely hear His voice at the great white throne judgment. Every mouth will be stopped, and the unregenerate evil of this world will hear the voice of God loud and clear. At this sentencing they will not speak, after the judgment is read out against them they will be cast into the lake of fire. In this torment they will wail, and they will gnash their teeth forever. We are reminded by the last verse of John, Chapter 6, this was Judas filled with the mind of Satan. He was sent to a place prepared for him for betraying the Lord into the hands of evil men. In this lake of fire both Satan and the beast will be enduring their punishment. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)
A World Without Hope
Do you see the hopelessness of a man without Christ? You might enjoy the world, you might enjoy its wealth, you might enjoy its fame, you might enjoy your own deceitfulness of sin, but without Christ you are without hope, and without God in this world and in eternity. Both small and great will stand before the Almighty at the great white throne.
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:11)
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.(Revelation 20:12)
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (Revelation 20:13)
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.(Revelation 20:14)
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)
Back to Hebrews 3:13 . . . . . it is evident that if you refuse the grace of God for the deceitfulness of sin you will come short of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (Hebrews 12:28)
For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)
Many Truths and Many Voices
The epistle to the Hebrews was written by the Holy Spirit of God to lead the Hebrews out of darkness, out of the law, and into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. How does this epistle affect us today? The Jews were the depository of the truth, yet they did not believe. They came short of salvation and the glory of God. Today, we have the outward professing church; it claims to have the truth, and according to the Spirit of God, the true Church, is the true depository of God’s truth for our age in Church history. If the outward display that we see has the truth then why are there so many divisions, each one claiming that they have the truth? There is only one faith that was delivered to the saints. The very fact of this division show us the deceitfulness of sin in our age. The masses remain ignorant of the word of God so that they are easily deceived. One must have the Word of God, and it must be taught by the Spirit of God (who is the Spirit of truth). That is why Hebrews, Chapter 3, is relevant for us today. There are many voices and cymbals clanging out there, but there is only one voice of the Spirit of God. Why if so many hear the word of God is there still so much unbelief? It is because of the deceitfulness of sin. Yes, I said sin. If one pricks a finger many times with a pin you have to prick the finger harder and harder to feel some pain. This is sin in the soul of man. It starts out in youth as a prick of pain in the conscience, then as one gets older the conscience become numb to the deceitfulness of sin. To all in this ungodly world, we exhort you with the mercies of God, be reconciled to God by Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
© Copyright 2016, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJB)