Hebrews 3:10-12
The Evil Heart
Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. (Hebrews 3:10)
So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) (Hebrews 3:11)
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12)
In verses 10 – 12 of Hebrews Chapter 3 we have a span of time from the generation of the Israelites who came out of Egypt to the day of the Apostle and on to our day. A time span of thousands of years; yet, the Holy Spirit once again reminds us that the things that happened to them are for our learning. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. (1 Corinthians 10:6) For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4) Paul reminds us of this link in the Scriptures not to be forgotten by the present day. For one cannot see all the jewels of the New Testament without a good working knowledge of the Old Testament.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:17)
Now on to our study in the Book of Hebrews . . . . the heart is mentioned twice in these three verses in Hebrews 3:10-12. However, they have two different applications: the first application is to the children of Israel who came out of Egypt. The second application brings us to our present day. The children of Israel had a heart of unbelief and that heart instead of drawing them to God led them to resent God, and to murmur against God. They did err. If these verses were read without any knowledge of the Old Testament, we would not understand the tremendous amount of error and unbelief that they suffered from or the extent of their wicked hearts in murmuring against Moses and Jehovah.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:10)
One of the amazing works of the Holy Spirit is dealing with the heart of man. The Holy Spirit wants us to know that the heart of man is evil. It is deceitful, and desperately wicked. This is the heart that Adam gave us. His heart was turned from a heart given of God to a sinful heart through his disobedience to God. In the Book of Job the Lord shows us the heart walking after the eyes or what we see. If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands; (Job 31:7) What we see registers in the heart. As we have a physical anatomy, we also have a spiritual anatomy that cannot be seen by physicians or the human eye. And the only place you can find an accurate description of this spiritual anatomy is in God’s Word. God describes the heart of man, He gives the result of the heart of man, and He gives His desires for the heart of man. We have in the anatomy the heart of man, the spirit of man, the soul of man, the conscience of man, and the presence of man. All this is explained in the Bible. We can search the Bible to find out who God is, we can also search the Bible to find out who we are, our hidden parts that man does not see. Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? (Job 38:36) There are two questions presented by the Spirit of God: the first, Who has put wisdom in the inward parts, or hidden parts, then the question of understanding, and this understanding is directed to the heart. We are a mystery unto ourselves. A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. (Proverbs 18:2) This leaves you not being able to explain or see or know half your anatomy. For most men believe that they do not have a spiritual anatomy; yet, even amongst the unbelieving world we see evidence of an evil spirit and an evil heart. A man without Christ is void of spiritual knowledge. As a child of Adam he searches for spirits, for the activity of the occult, but has no knowledge of the Spirit of God. In Adam you are tumbling down the road of life, not knowing who you are until it is too late. To acquire the knowledge of the Holy one must act NOW in belief and faith of the Lord Jesus Christ — for He is the Holy One.
Your heart is more than just a pump. It is a spiritual part of man. When the psalmist declared ‘he was fearfully and wonderfully made,’ he understood the heart as led by the Spirit of God. This caused him to write in the Psalms that it was God who knew the secrets of the heart. Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. (Psalm 44:21) The psalmist also stated that it was the heart that feedeth the soul.
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. (Psalm 4:4)
LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: (Psalm 10:17)
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. (Psalm 24:4)
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.(Psalm 51:17)
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. (Psalm 84:2)
From these verses we learn a lot about our heart when it is moved by the Spirit of God. For one to have a heart for God, He must create a new heart within. This begins to built the spiritual anatomy of the new creature in Christ. Remember that Paul declared ‘all things have become new,’ this means that there is nothing of Adam left. We have new heart, the Spirit of God gives us a new soul, a new spirit, a new conscience, a new presence, and lastly, we are given the mind of Christ. The Spirit of God brings the new creature in Jesus Christ to long after God, to thirst after God, to be filled with the living waters of the Spirit of God. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)
In the world surrounding us there are two bodies of man: one, in Adam, and the other, in Christ. These two beings have two different hearts. One heart is in Adam under sin, this is the spirit of man, or the spirit of Adam. This heart leads man away from God and in the path of sin. Now, those who have been born of God, have a new heart. This heart gives them the desire to seek the God that has redeemed them, and to love Him as He requested in the first commandment with all their heart. The Spirit of God excites the heart and plays it like a fine instrument with the Person of Christ. With the heart of Adam man is walking away from God. With the new heart, the new creature seeks after God. I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. (Psalm 144:9)
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31) The heart for God declares itself both vocally and through action. The heart that is renewed with the grace of God proclaims how great is that grace.
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (Ephesians 2:15)
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. ( Galatians 6:15)
If we have been created in the image of Jesus Christ, how could God ever look on us as being in Adam? This would be an impossibility for God the Father would not taint His Son in any way. We walk IN Christ, this is our glory. He is the one who has placed us at the Father’s feet. We are the children of God, and cry out ‘Abba, Father.’ God considers the sacrifice of His Son as a ‘sweet savor,’ or an ascending sacrifice. This sacrifice is finished in the Lord’s words, ‘It is finished.’ Then, to conclude the whole matter. The work being done for our redemption, Christ is sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. He is not going to repeat His sacrifice, but there are those with an evil heart who believe He continues to sacrifice Himself. But after He sacrificed Himself ONCE, He sat down at the right hand of God.
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24)
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; (Hebrews 9:25)
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)
We have been created in Christ as a new creature. Adam is dead and buried. There is no old man, only a new man. We have been freed from the bondage of the heart of Adam, and the law of Moses. Sin is completely done away, and we walk freely in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. God has declared for the child of God there is no more remembrance of sin; therefore, we have perfect liberty in Christ Jesus with a new heart to follow after God. As Adam is dead and buried, so we in Christ live on resurrection ground. We live with Christ for He dwells in us. We have a home with Him, and a dwelling in His house — in His Body — the Church. It is through this divine union that we serve the Living God. Even though our service is on earth, it is reckoned or counted in heaven. We serve as ambassadors. We are from a heavenly country, and have a heavenly city, and have a heavenly King. Our life and our breathe is to glorify the Person of Christ. On earth we proclaim the gospel for the salvation of man, but the goal is to glorify Christ in our mortal bodies. Our service is not controlled by earth, or the people of the earth; it is controlled from heaven, from the very throne of God. If we glorify Christ on earth, He is also glorify in heaven. God the Father loves to hear praises and truth about His Son. When we glorify the works of Christ in the gospel, and through our life, we are praising and glorifying God. In comparison, the people of Israel where led out of Egypt, but their hearts were still in Egypt. The fullness of time had not yet come, Christ had not yet been revealed in the fullness of His grace; so that when they came out of Egypt there hearts had not changed. The Good Shepherd, however, has led us out of the fold. The walls of the law that were against us are no more in our sight. We walk and eat with the Good Shepherd in green pastures. We can eat as much spiritual food as we desire, fulfilling His word, ‘Learn of me.’ He will give us abundant light to share and to give to His redeemed. This is what I call the Lord’s personal ministry to me. If I neglect this ministry from the Lord then I have nothing to give of His grace. I must have spiritual food from Him to feed others. This food must be directed by the Spirit of God and not by man, and not the heart of man. If I take control and give food with my flavor without the Spirit of God, it is just a vain gibberish of man, and not the sweet savor of God to man. It is quite evident that the law cannot bring grace, or man’s tradition give light to the soul. Both the law and tradition are walls of containment or prison. This is where the Jew was in the days of Christ. They had shackles of law on the legs, and bracelets of steel on their wrists. They were imprisoned to the law. Chapter 10 of the Gospel of John removes the law and gives the Good Shepherd. He is leading His sheep OUT of the misery of sin and death into green pastures of grace. Compare Isaiah 29:13 to Mark 7:7 . . . . .
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: (Isaiah 29:13)
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mark 7:7)
Both law and tradition bind the spirit. Although the Spirit of God cannot be bound, if the heart of man is bound by law and tradition the Spirit of God cannot work freely because that man is still under sin and death — which is the penalty for breaking the law. If the heart — that is our subject in this study — is bound by the law and man’s tradition then grace cannot be known. God wants a free people under His grace. If the Son shall set you free, ye shall be free indeed. The world would have to take the Almighty God into captivity and bind Him to take away our liberty in Christ. And we know that this would be an impossibility. John Chapter 10 takes us to a dwelling place of green pastures. The Shepherd is in our midst, He is watching over us; whereas, under the law we were bound by it’s walls. In the Book of Hebrews, the Spirit of God is breaking down these walls. Remember that to the Jew the law was everything. And the Apostle through the work of the Spirit of God was drawing them away from the law, and revealing the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Old things must pass away, behold, all things must become new. In grace the sinner comes to the sacrifice of Christ before He meets Him in resurrection glory at the tomb. I will go out on a limb now (as I have been there before) if one would diligently search out the 10th Chapter of the Gospel of John, one would see the Spirit of God giving us the perfect Liberator and Sustainer in the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Good Shepherd of the sheep. In the Book of Hebrews that Liberator becomes the supernatural path to grace, and He establishes the better way or better covenant. You could say that the Book of Hebrews is the pasture of the sheep. (John 10) And the sheep look to the Shepherd for all their needs. As the natural heart is full of all earthly affections, the heart of the Spirit of Christ in the believer takes that heart of stone and crushes it and forms a brand new heart with the affections of Christ and His glory. This is what we have been seeing in the Book of Hebrews, not only the glories of Christ and His work for us, and His ministry to us, but we are on a higher plain than those who came out of Egypt under Moses. In a spiritual sense we have the cloud by day, which is the Spirit of God, and the fire by night in the risen Christ, who has paid our total debt. And God the Father looks on the work of Christ and the grace of His Son, the Son of His love, and is satisfied.
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (John 10:17)
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:18)
The Lord Jesus is speaking of His crucifixion, that His life would be given for the children of God. God the Father would in turn be satisfied in the sacrifice of His Son. This allows God the Father to receive us unto Himself, not in our own merit, but in the merit of the Son of His love. We are received into His house. When the prodigal was returning home, the Father went out to meet Him. The Father prepared Him with a new robe or garment, and then brought him into his house. This in the case of the believer is the robe of righteousness given by God unto us by His beloved Son. And we through faith, and the love of God the Father, are brought into the house.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27)
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. (John 10:29)
I and my Father are one. (John 10:30)
In this grace we as the sheep of His pasture see the oneness of the Godhead bodily. This is the oneness of God’s love in the Father’s bosom. The Father’s bosom is the resting place of the Son, and the illuminating place of the Spirit of God. The work of the Spirit is to glorify the Son. The work of the Son is the glorify the Father. The result is from the Father’s lips, ‘This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And Jesus Christ, the Son of God is both glorified by the Father, and He (Christ) glorifies the Father. These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: (John 17:1)
In the finished work of Christ we have the glory of His sacrifice. And His sacrifice is the embryo of faith. For without the sacrifice of Christ we would be without hope in this world. In the Book of Hebrews the Apostle is directing the hebrews not to put aside the sacrifice of Christ. They had been under the law for a long time, all the way back to Moses and Sinai. It was hard to understand the complete new work of God requiring man only to believe. And that because of man’s belief he would receive grace and cover his past with the blood of Christ; and not only his past, but his future as well. Not only was the law to be eliminated, but after grace it could not be brought back in. Only the evil heart of man would trample under the blood of Christ. If one proclaims grace and lives under the law he is doing despite to the Son of God. You cannot add the law to grace, or substitute law for grace they are incompatible. Grace is free, law is earned. Only a heart of unbelief would substitute law for grace. But there was another evil also in the days of Christ. It was the traditions of men or the traditions of the fathers. If we take the gospel of grace and, by an evil heart, add law or tradition then men will never find grace. In law and tradition of the Nicolaitans, of Revelation Chapter 2, they came in to spy out the liberties of the saints (that is all believers). When they established themselves they then brought in law and the traditions of men. These were ungodly men, they were driving the sheep back into the fold. They were taking their green pastures away from them. They were making themselves more important than the Christ of God. They were taking away His authority and replacing it with the authority of man. This we have in the vast scope of religion today. So now you see that even in our day we have the evil heart of unbelief. This heart of unbelief in the days of Christ denied God and denied God’s law. They denied it by not keeping it, although they referred to it many times. And attempted to put the Son of God under greater laws than they would uphold themselves. This brings us to today — the law cannot be used to bring the children of God into subjection to the evil heart of man. We are given liberty in Christ, and nothing can nullify our liberties and grace. This is what the Apostle was trying to instruct the Hebrews in his day. To lead them out of the law by the ministration of the Spirit of grace. If they who came out of Egypt came out with a heart of unbelief and perished it will not be any different for you if with an evil heart you refuse grace for the law and for the traditions of men. Back to John Chapter 10 . . . Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. (John 10:31) After the Lord Jesus nullified Judaism and proclaimed Himself as the Good Shepherd of the flock not the fold, the Jews took up stones to kill Him. The Jews knew exactly what the Lord Jesus was saying. And the evil heart of unbelief was ready to kill the Prince of Life. He was equal with the Father. He was the Son of God, but they were not going to surrender to God. They wanted to keep their evil heart of unbelief and their power over the people. Now, let’s consider where we are in history today. Is evil abounding? Has men cast Christ out? Is man taking away the pasture of the sheep? Remember, the Good Shepherd walks among the sheep. I relate a story told by T. Ernest Wilson. He was visiting Israel many years ago, and as they were driving they came upon a flock of sheep, behind the sheep was a man driving the sheep. T. Ernest Wilson asked the driver, ‘Is that the shepherd?’ The driver replied, ‘No, that’s the butcher, the shepherd always walks among the sheep.’
© Copyright 2016, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)