Hebrews 3:10 - Printer Friendly

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

NIV: That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’

NASB: THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’;

CSB: for forty years. Therefore I was provoked to anger with that generation and said, "They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways."

NLT: So I was angry with them, and I said, ‘Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’

KJV: Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

NKJV: Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’

This is part of a quotation of Psalm 95. This Old Testament passage warns Israel not to repeat the mistakes of their past. After leaving Egypt, the people repeatedly disobeyed, defied, and resisted God. The "last straw" was their refusal to trust God in conquering the Promised Land. As a result, God forced the people to wander aimlessly in the desert for forty years, blocking all but a tiny remnant of that generation from entering Canaan. The application for a Christian is that those who do not "hold fast" to God's word can expect to lose out on the inheritance we have been offered. This is not a loss of salvation (no more than God sent Israel back to Egypt) but it is a consequence to be avoided.

This Psalm also points out that Israel's disobedience was not a one-time event. Sadly, God's chosen people were often seen complaining, rebelling, disobeying, and criticizing God (Exodus 16:1–3; 32:1–8; Numbers 14:1–4). And yet, God still worked to save, preserve, and bless them. There was discipline, but not destruction. This is an encouraging reminder for us, today, when we see our own repeated failures.

Hebrews 3:7–14 uses the example of Israel's forty years in the wilderness (Numbers 13—14) as a warning. This is directed at Christians who fail to ''hold fast'' their faith in God during persecution. Israel was saved from Egypt, as believers are saved from eternal death through salvation. Israel was offered the Promised Land, as believers are promised victory through our spiritual inheritance. Israel lost faith and didn't trust God against the ''giants'' of Canaan, as believers can be tempted to lose faith in the face of persecution. The ancient Israelites were not sent back to Egypt, just as God does not revoke the salvation of Christian believers. However, both can expect hardship and a loss of fellowship if they fail to trust in God.

Hebrews chapter 3 uses a reference to Israel's wandering in the desert from the story of the Exodus. In this incident, the nation of Israel came to the border of the Promised Land and then lost confidence in God. Rather than trusting Him, most of the people gave up hope. As a result, only a tiny remnant of the nation was allowed to enter into Canaan. This chapter explains that Jesus Christ is superior to Moses and all of Moses' accomplishments. Christians, therefore, need to encourage each other to fully trust in God, in order to see fulfillment of His promises.

In chapters 1 and 2, the author of Hebrews showed that Jesus was not an angel. In fact, Jesus' role as Messiah required Him to be fully human. Starting in chapter 3, the author will explain how Jesus is also superior to various Old Testament characters such as Moses. This will help to set the stage for later references to Christ's superiority. Part of the warning in this chapter extends into chapter 4. Namely, that Christians who doubt God's promises risk missing out on the victories He has in store for us.

The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.