Hebrews - worksheet 6
Jesus promises rest - Hebrews 3:7-19
NKJV headings are Be Faithful and Failure of the Wilderness Wanderers

Teaching video by David Guzik


Hebrews 3:7-19 (NKJV) says 7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, 9where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. 10Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’ 11So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My

.’ ”12Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have become of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Failure of the Wilderness Wanderers 16for who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19So we see that they could not enter in because of .

Again, this section begins with the word “Therefore”, pointing back to the previous section. In that previous section the writer to the Hebrews instructed that there is a difference in the following of the law of Moses, and the following of the Messiah Jesus. This was certainly difficult for the early Christians with a largely Jewish mindset, focused on obedience towards the Law.

Verses 7-11 were built on a quotation of Psalm 95:8-11. But telling the audience that now the Holy Spirit is speaking. The question is: is the Bible speaking or the Holy Spirit? The correct answer is: Yes. The whole Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit. If you want to know what God says, read the Bible. If you want an audible voice from God, read the Bible out loud.

Q1 God spoke to the Israelites during their wandering the wilderness. The Hebrews 2000 years ago received the same message. What was it (verse 8)? Have you hardened your heart sometimes? What was the reason and do you need to confess and seek healing and rest? Is it urgent (see the word Today in verse 7 and God’s anger in verse 10)?

Q2 Verses 12-15a instuct us to avoid having a hardening of heart. What is your practical outworking in this area? Notice the word Today in verse 15 again. So don’t delay.

Q3 Belief and unbelief are seen differently these days compared to the times of the writing of Hebrews. Is belief an intellectual agreement and unbelief an intellectual disagreement? Or has it to do with the trust or the love of a person? Elaborate on this, below. Include intellectual, moral, and spiritual aspects of your (un)belief. And maybe also the deceitfulness of sin (verse 13).

Q4 What is the most powerful aspect of sin (verse 13)? Write down, privately, in which cases you were involved in deception regarding giving in to temptations.

Disobedience (verse 18) is not the root of our sin-problems. It’s unbelief (verse 19). Disobedience is just one aspect of unbelief.

If we struggle with unbelief, then practice what verse 13 says “exhort one another daily”.

Q5 Talk to God now. Ask Him to root out unbelief. And replace it by belief, which is trust and love. Then, God will promise you rest and peace. Write down your prayer, in the box below. Do you want to re-connect with Christ (verse 14, partaker)?

Close with singing this song.