Hebrews 3:7-19

Hebrews 3:7-19

[7] Wherefore  (as  the Holy  Ghost  saith,  To day  if  ye will hear  his  voice,  [8] Harden  not  hearts,  as  in  the provocation,  in  the day  of temptation  in  the wilderness:  [9] When  fathers  tempted  and  works  forty  years.  [10] Wherefore  I was grieved  generation,  and  said,  alway  err  in their heart;  and  they  not  known  ways.  [11] So  I sware  in  wrath,  not  enter  into  rest.)  [12] Take heed,  brethren,  in  any  an evil  heart  of unbelief,  in  departing  from  the living  God.  [13] But  exhort  one another  daily,  while  it is called  To day;  any  of  be hardened  through the deceitfulness  of sin.  [14] For  we are made  partakers  of Christ,  if  we hold  the beginning  of our confidence  stedfast  unto  the end;  [15] While  it is said,  To day  if  ye will hear  his  voice,  harden  not  hearts,  as  in  the provocation.  [16] For  when they had heard,  did provoke:  howbeit  not  all  that came  out of  Egypt  by  Moses.  [17] But  with whom  was he grieved  forty  years?  was it not  with them that had sinned,  whose  carcases  fell  in  the wilderness?  [18] And  to whom  sware he  not  enter  into  his  rest,  to them that believed not?  [19] So  we see  that  they could  not  enter in  because  of unbelief. 

What does Hebrews 3:7-19 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"The comparison between Christ and Moses leads to one between their followers. The writer uses the conduct of the Israelites as a means of challenging his readers to a closer walk with God." [1]
The writer next reminded his readers of the fate of the Israelites when they failed to continue believing God at Kadesh Barnea. His purpose was to help them realize the serious consequences of that behavior and to motivate them to persevere faithfully in the apostles" teaching. This exhortation is really a commentary on Psalm 95:7-11 in which the writer assumed a correspondence between the successive generations of God"s people and consistency in God"s character. [2] In Hebrews 3:6 the writer warned of losing our privilege of serving as priests in the present. Now he warned of losing some of our privileges as heirs in the future.