Copyright 2010

Steven M. McCalip

The user can copy and distribute freely.

Not for sale or profit of any kind by any user.

Website: kingjamesman.com

Some Reasons Why

We Harden Our Hearts

1. We harden our hearts because of overall unbelief in God

Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Heb. 4:6 [those mentioned in previous verses he called hardhearted]

2. We harden our hearts when we tempt God

Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 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. Heb. 3:8-11))

3. We harden our hearts when we err in our hearts

Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 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. Heb. 3:8-11))

4. We harden our hearts when we don’t know his ways

Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 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. Heb. 3:8-11))

5. We harden our hearts when we don’t cease from our own works

For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Heb. 4:10

6. We harden our hearts when we won’t hear his words

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words. Jer. 19:15

7. We harden our hearts “through 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. Heb. 3:13

8. We harden our hearts when we are not humble

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel. 2 Chron. 36:12-13

But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. Neh. 9:16-17

9. We harden our hearts when we don’t fear God

O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. Is. 63:17

Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. Prov. 28:14

10. We harden our hearts when we refuse to hear correction

O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. Jer. 5:3

But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. Jer. 7:28

Ramifications of

Hardening Your Heart

1. Hardness increases the wrath of God:

But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Rom. 2:5

2. Hardening your heart causes you to fall from God into serious trouble (“mischief”)

Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. Prov. 28:14

3. Hardening your heart brings Jesus’ anger and grief:

For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: ….Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:Ps. 95:7-8, 10

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. Mark 3:5

4. Hardening your heart keeps God from healing you

He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. John 12:40

5. Hardening your heart will cause you not to hear his voice: (in danger of being deceived by the word of God)

Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Heb. 4:7

6. Hardhearted people don’t enter into God’s rest

Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 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. Heb. 3:8-11))

 Characteristics of People

with Hard Hearts

1. Hardhearted people stop listening to God and his people

But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. Ezek. 3:7

2. Hardhearted people become accusatory towards God’s people and God

And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. …And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. Mark 3:5

3. Hardhearted people stop considering the miracles of God

For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. Mark 6:52

4. Hardhearted people’s reason, perception, and understanding diminishes and can disappear entirely

And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Mark 8:17

5. Hardhearted people become hardened in pride

But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: Dan. 5:20

6. Hardhearted people don’t yield to God

Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. 2 Chron. 30:8

7. Hardhearted people don’t believe

But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. Acts 19;9

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. Mark 16:14

8. Hardhearted people speak evil of “the way” (believers)

But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that waybefore the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. Acts 19;9

9. Hardhearted people provoke God

While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. Heb. 3:15-16

Just How Serious is a Hard Heart?

1. Hardheartedness is so serious God allowed divorce  because of it

He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

2. Hardheartedness continually will get you destroyed

He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. Prov. 29:1

3. Hardheartedness is directly associated with unbelief

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. Mark 16:14

4. Hardening your heart will keep you from prospering with God

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

 

How to Prevent a Hard Heart

(See first list above–believe God, dont’ tempt God, dont err in your hearts,  know his ways, cease from your own works, hear his words, don’t be deceived by sin, humble ourselves, fear God, receive correction)

1. Exhort one another daily

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; Heb. 3:13-14

2. Hold the beginning of your confidence steadfast unto the end

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; Heb. 3:13-14

3. Deal with any sign of hardheartedness of it TODAY:

Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

4. Cease from your own works:

For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Heb. 4:10