Hebrews 3 ~ Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness

 

Hebrews 3

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house.

3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)

 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son.

 And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.




7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,

where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.

Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’

As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

13 But exhort one another every day,
as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

 15 As it is said,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years?

 Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

If Jesus were to pair Hebrews 3 - where the obvious message we take away is give your all to God every day - what would He pair this with?


Jesus might use Luke 4

When did Jesus appear not to offer to Father God - today?


Luke 4

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil.

And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” 5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.’”

9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,’

11 and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.




Why would this be part of Jesus' life and ministry?

Jesus is God. Nothing is impossible to Jesus. Jesus arrived willingly to walk this life with Joy. God would and could see everyday in Joy.

Jesus went out the wilderness to realize what He did not want His ministry to be.

In this Temptation, Jesus puts down:

1. Being asked by evil to do a useful sign. Jesus has rejected a suggestion from evil. For any reason.

2. To harm Himself. Evil has asked Jesus to do harm to Himself. (Making a mockery of Salvation.)

3. To do an action in sheer public horror when The Temple is Life and Health and God.

4. To be grandiose and show instead of nurturing. Make claims of Self glorification. Jesus came to Glorify His Father.

5. To manipulate with lies.

6. The devil responded to the Word of God by leaving.




How did Jesus do? He was clearly demonstrating the decision never to be pushed by evil or feel He must change evil with proofs.

Jesus was polite.

Jesus did not bother trying to teach the evil the fact Scripture was twisted for purpose of control.

Jesus did this showing He is the Way, Truth, Life.

And what did the Word of God say for passing through and leaving evil?

Luke 4
14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit.

And then Jesus and His Word of being God had a reaction:

Luke 4:14b and 15
and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.



Our Father,

You are in Heaven,
Holy is Your Name.

Give us this day, our daily Bread.

Forgive me my sins,
as I forgive those who sin against me.

Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil.

For Your's is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. Forever Amen.

Thank You for Jesus, cover us in His name. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †