We’re not making much progress in Hebrews, are we? So let’s press on into chapter 3 where there is a very clear message that many of our churches seem to have missed:

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 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. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3.12 – 19, ESV)

“Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” is quoted twice in chapter 3. And who rebelled? Those who experienced:

• Passover (and the other plagues in Egypt – see Exodus 7 – 13)
• The Red Sea (Exodus 14)
• Sinai (Exodus 20)

Three of the greatest events in history. The lesson we often miss?

Events, even three fantastic events, don’t get it done.

What’s the solution? We are to…

• Take care (verse 12) – compare Matthew 26.41:

[Jesus said, ] “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

• Exhort one another DAILY (verse 13) – this is one we lack today. Most of us are not in close enough daily community that daily exhortation occurs.

I think we’ll explore this a bit more in a couple of days.

[Sunday…] They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21.7 – 9, ESV)

[Friday, same place, many of the same people…] Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” (Matthew 27.20 – 22, ESV)