(Heb 3:16) “For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.”  Notice the term,  “some….did provoke; howbeit not all…..” Not all were guilty of provoking God, yet some did and brought upon the nation much suffering. Take note: our sin “does” affect those around us indirectly as well as directly.

(Heb 3:15) “While it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”The word “provocation” is to draw our attention to the serious consequences of the judgment that fell. God is not only loving, but worthy of faith and obedience. He will and does judge – and that harshly. It is foolish not to obey.

(Heb 3:15) “While it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” Why would one not act upon the message? Simply because one does not wish to heed anything that would change their own desires. Their heart does “not” say, “Not my will but Thine be done.” 

(Heb 3:15) “While it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” After laying out in Chapter One exactly “who” Jesus is and the greatness of His person, Chapter two starts off with the responsibility we have of paying heed to His message. It is one of urgency. It is of more importance than anything else going on in the world around us.

(Heb 3:14) “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”  That confidence is true belief compared to unbelief. True belief brings the response from God of imparting spiritual life and the sealing of that life by the Holy Spirit. Since the true one holding is God Himself (1 Pet 1:5; Jn 10:28-30; 2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13, 4:30), ours can be seen as hugging Him back (Phil 3:12).

(Heb 3:13) “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”   Here we see the vital need of communication with fellow believers outside as well as inside the church. Of course, it is only effective if that fellowship is mutually honest and forth-right. Honesty is a rare constant with others in our day, not only in giving but also in a desire to receive as much. Yet, loving honesty is godliness.

(Heb 3:13) “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”  Why does it say to do so “today”, moreso “daily”? Answer: The heart (v.12) “hardens” by its association with sin. It tricks us through our old nature of pride into thinking we can handle it. Faithful honesty is needed today while it can be countered.

(Heb 3:12) “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”   Unbelief says God will not, cannot, has not, or cares not to keep His Word towards me. It comes from an evil heart of love for self rather than love for God.

(Heb 3:9) “When your fathers…saw my works forty years. (10) Wherefore….They do alway err in their heart;…(11) So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)”    Note the Lord is using an event that was regarding the physical entering into the Promised Land and comparing it with the spiritual – entering the spiritual realm of eternity. This proves Romans_15:4: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,…” 

(Heb 3:9) “When your fathers…saw my works forty years. (10) Wherefore….They do alway err in their heart;…(11) So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)”   The Holy Spirit here demonstrates there comes a time when God says, “Here it ends. You have rebelled enough.” It is false to says one can be saved whenever they like: (Heb 3:7) “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, (8) Harden not your hearts,”