Daily Bible Nugget #741, Hebrews 3:13

The Nugget:

Hebrews 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

My Comment:

This is “How to Make Disciples Part 4.” “How to Make Disciples Part 3” is posted as Daily Bible Nugget #738, 1 Thessalonians 3:5.

The present decline in church affiliation can be reversed by following the principles of “How to Make Disciples” (Matthew 28:20) taught in the Bible. The problem is that very few Christians are reading and diligently studying the Bible for themselves. Genuinely saved Christians have an insatiable hunger for God’s Word. They are eager to read and study it every chance they get.

We are to desire the “sincere milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:2) with the same intensity as a newborn baby desires its milk. If you do not possess this hunger, consider that you might be spiritually dead! The way to develop and strengthen your interest in and hunger for God’s Word is to get to know more about it. The way to do that is to start by reading from the New Testament every day (Joshua 1:8. Psalm 1:2. Acts 17:11). The more you know about a subject, the stronger your interest will become.

When it comes to making and keeping disciples, the Bible teaches that this, too, is a daily task.

We read in the immediately preceding context of Hebrews 3:13,

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 a major concern today that MUST be addressed by every genuine Bible-believing, Bible practicing Christian. I have encountered many former Christians who have become atheists. This need not happen and would not happen if fellow Christian believers and pastors and Sunday school teachers and youth leaders would faithfully obey the commands given in Hebrews 3:12, 13.

Study this important subject by reading the notes and cross references given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury or The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as given below from the UCRT:

Hebrews 3:13

exhort. Gr. parakaleō (S# G3870, 2Co 1:4). Heb 10:25; Heb 13:22, +**Rom 12:8 note. +1Co 14:3.

one another. Our duty towards one another in watching over one another’s spiritual lives (Heb 13:7; Heb 13:17) merits careful study in this context. Prompt action based upon the signs of spiritual decline given in Heb 3:12 is essential. Scripture furnishes much material which should form the basis of exhortation. We should encourage one another in

(1) receiving one another: +**Rom 15:7.

(2) love: Eph 3:17; Eph 4:15, 16, *1Pe 1:22.

(3) good works: *Eph 2:10, +*Tit 3:8.

(4) regular fellowship: **Heb 10:25, Exo 34:24, 1Sa 2:30, *Mat 6:33, *Act 2:42; *Act 2:43.

(5) avoiding willful sin: *Heb 10:26, +*1Co 6:9, 10, 11, *Gal 5:21, Eph 5:5, +*Rev 21:8; Rev 21:27.

(6) maintaining confidence: +*Heb 10:35, +*Act 11:23; *Act 13:43; +*Act 14:22.

(7) the hope of Christ’s coming: +*1Th 4:13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, Tit 2:11, 12, 13, 14, Jas 5:7, 8, 1Jn 3:1, 2, 3, **2Pe 3:14.

(8) stedfastness and perseverance: Heb 10:38, 39, +*1Co 15:58.

(9) not drawing back unto perdition: +*Heb 10:35, +*1Co 15:2, +*1Ti 4:1 note. *2Pe 2:20, 21, 22.

(10) maintaining daily personal independent Bible study: Heb 6:9 note. 2Pe 2:2 note. See the related notes pertaining to exhortation at +**Psa 9:10 and **Rom 12:8 note, and follow-up evangelism, of which exhortation is a most important component, at +1Th 3:5 note. **Heb 10:24; **Heb 10:25, Gen 11:3, +Psa 9:10 note. +*Dan 11:33 note. +*Act 11:23, +**Rom 12:5, +*2Co 8:16, 1Th 2:11; +1Th 3:5; 1Th 4:18; 1Th 5:11, *2Ti 4:2.

daily. Spiritual needs should not wait until the next stated meeting of the congregation. Exhortation is to proceed on a daily basis, as the need requires, through personal contact (Act 20:20). It is necessary to reach a person before it is too late, and spiritual hardness sets in. See on Heb 3:7, +*Pro 19:18, +*Dan 11:33, +*Mal 3:16, Mat 4:4; Mat 6:11; Mat 24:45, *Luk 19:44, *Joh 12:35; *Joh 12:36, *Act 20:20.

while it is called Today. *2Ch 14:7, *>Psa 95:7, **Isa 55:6, Mat 5:25, *Luk 19:42, Act 2:40; Act 24:25, +**2Co 6:2.

lest. **Joh 3:19, +*Col 3:21, +*Jas 5:19.

hardened. Gr. sklērunō (S# G4645, Act 19:9). Heb 3:8; Heb 3:15, Heb 4:7, Exo 7:13, 1Sa 6:6, 2Ch 36:13, Neh 9:16, Psa 95:8, Isa 48:4, Eze 11:21, *Dan 5:20, Act 19:9, Rom 2:5.

through. 1Ti 6:10 mg.

the deceitfulness. Gr. apatē (S# G539, Mat 13:22). *Gen 3:4, 5, 6, Pro 28:26, Isa 44:20, Ob 1:3, **Mar 12:24, *Luk 19:21, *Rom 7:11, Eph 4:22, 2Th 2:10, +*1Ti 6:5, Tit 2:14, Jas 1:14.

of sin. Lev 8:32, *Rom 2:8.