Hebrews warns believers to take heed against an evil heart of unbelief, which kept Israel from entering God's rest.
The warning is drawn from Israel's wilderness experience, where they provoked God through unbelief despite witnessing His works for forty years. God swore in His wrath that they would not enter His rest, and the writer of Hebrews applies this as a caution for believers to avoid hardening their hearts through unbelief. Les Feldick emphasizes that unbelief, not other sins, was the root cause of Israel's failure and remains the central danger for believers today.
Hebrews 3:12 — This verse directly states the warning against an evil heart of unbelief.
Hebrews 3:7-11 — It quotes Psalm 95, recounting Israel's provocation and God's response.
Hebrews 3:18-19 — It clarifies that unbelief prevented entry into God's rest.
The writer of Hebrews, quoting Psalm 95, reminds the readers of Israel's rebellion in the wilderness: "Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest" (Hebrews 3:7-11). This is a direct warning to "take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3:12). The chapter concludes that Israel "could not enter in because of unbelief" (Hebrews 3:19), emphasizing that unbelief is the barrier to experiencing God's rest.
Les Feldick explains that the warning in Hebrews is rooted in Israel's history at Kadesh Barnea, where they refused to enter the Promised Land because of unbelief, despite God's promise of victory. He highlights that God was grieved with that generation because they "did always err in their heart" and "had not known His ways," leading to His oath that they would not enter His rest (Clip 2). Les points out that the writer of Hebrews (whom Les attributes to Paul) draws a lesson for believers: the danger is not immorality or other gross sins, but an evil heart of unbelief (Clip 3). He stresses that unbelief is what kept Israel from the land, and it is also what hinders believers today from enjoying God's promises (Clip 6). Les emphasizes that God hates unbelief, and without faith it is impossible to please Him (Clip 6).
The warning in Hebrews cites Israel's wilderness experience, specifically the incident at Kadesh Barnea, where the people refused to enter the Promised Land. They had seen God's works for forty years, yet they tested Him and went astray in their hearts, not knowing His ways. God was grieved and swore in His wrath that they would not enter His rest. Les Feldick explains that their failure was due to stark unbelief, not because of other sins like immorality or covetousness. He points out that even though they had witnessed God's power, they still refused to believe His promise, and thus their carcasses fell in the wilderness.
Les Feldick teaches that the warning is still applicable to believers today. He says that God hates nothing more than when He makes a promise and we do not believe Him. The writer of Hebrews admonishes, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." Les emphasizes that unbelief is the root problem in Christianity today, as people find it hard to simply say, "I believe what God says." This is not about other sins but about failing to trust God's Word.
The evidence highlights that unbelief is the opposite of faith. The warning in Hebrews is to guard against unbelief so that believers may enter God's rest. Les Feldick points out that Israel could not enter because of unbelief, and the example of Joshua and Caleb, who believed God's promise, stands in contrast. They were the remnant that believed, while the rest fell in the wilderness. Thus, the warning implies that faith is essential to please God and to receive His promises.
Israel's Unbelief at Kadesh Barnea
Les uses the example of Israel wanting to return to Egypt to show that their problem was stark unbelief, despite having seen God's miracles.
The Provocation in the Wilderness
Les explains that Hebrews 3 refers to the provocation when Israel hardened their hearts, and God swore they would not enter His rest because of their unbelief.
God's Grief Over Israel's Unbelief
Les quotes Psalm 95 to show that God was grieved with that generation because they erred in their hearts and did not know His ways, leading to His oath.
The Evil Heart of Unbelief
Les emphasizes that the writer (Paul) warns against an evil heart of unbelief, not other sins, which is the central danger.
What Does It Mean to Be Crucified With Christ?
Now, that's going to enter in, no doubt, because they're going to be judged to the great white throne according to the books, plural. But it isn't their sin that is condemning them. It's their what? Unbelief. Oh, let's look. Hebrews. I think I've got a minute or two left. Go back to Hebrews, and this is such a graphic illustration.
Why Did Israel Reject God? Romans 10:18-21 Explained
So he says, �Take heed, brethren, and learn from that horrible experience, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of drunkenness, adultery, or any other gross sin that we normally think of, but the evil heart of unbelief.� God hates nothing more that when He says it, He thinks we should believe it.
Unbelief as the Root Cause
Les states that Israel could have entered the land but did not because of unbelief, and that unbelief is also the problem in Christianity today.
Why Did Israel Reject God? Romans 10:18-21 Explained
Was it not with them who had sinned in unbelief, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness, because they didn�t believe that they could take Canaan?� Verse 18, �Quickly unto whom swore he that they should not enter in his rest, but them to that believed not.� So we see they could not enter in because of what? Unbelief. Thank you for watching Through the Bible with Les Feldick, a weekly Bible study.
Hebrews 3:7-11: Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
This passage quotes Psalm 95, recounting Israel's unbelief in the wilderness and God's response.
Hebrews 3:12: Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
This is the explicit warning against an evil heart of unbelief, which is the central topic.
Hebrews 3:18-19: And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
This states clearly that unbelief was the cause of not entering God's rest.
Hebrews 11:6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
This reinforces the seriousness of unbelief, as faith is necessary to please God.
It refers to a heart condition that doubts God's word and departs from the living God. Les Feldick explains that this is not about other sins like immorality or drunkenness, but specifically about failing to believe what God says, which was Israel's downfall.
Yes, Les Feldick emphasizes that the warning is appropriate for us today. He states that unbelief is the major problem in Christianity, as people struggle to simply believe God's promises.
It refers to the Promised Land of Canaan, which Israel could have entered but did not due to unbelief. Les Feldick explains it was a foretaste of God's provision, and they could have had it if they had believed.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Rejected the Promised Land — Kadesh-Barnea Explained