12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
12 So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God.
12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.
17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness?
17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
17 And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness?
17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?
17 And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn't it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness?
(Read Hebrews 3:14-19)
The saints' privilege is, they are made partakers of Christ, that is, of the Spirit, the nature, graces, righteousness, and life of Christ; they are interested in all Christ is, in all he has done, or will do. The same spirit with which Christians set out in the ways of God, they should maintain unto the end. Perseverance in faith is the best evidence of the sincerity of our faith. Hearing the word often is a means of salvation, yet, if not hearkened to, it will expose more to the Divine wrath. The happiness of being partakers of Christ and his complete salvation, and the fear of God's wrath and eternal misery, should stir us up to persevere in the life of obedient faith. Let us beware of trusting to outward privileges or professions, and pray to be numbered with the true believers who enter heaven, when all others fail because of unbelief. As our obedience follows according to the power of our faith, so our sins and want of care are according to the prevailing of unbelief in us.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hebrews 3:12
Commentary on Hebrews 3:7-13
(Read Hebrews 3:7-13)
Days of temptation are often days of provocation. But to provoke God, when he is letting us see that we entirely depend and live upon him, is a provocation indeed. The hardening of the heart is the spring of all other sins. The sins of others, especially of our relations, should be warnings to us. All sin, especially sin committed by God's professing, privileged people, not only provokes God, but it grieves him. God is loth to destroy any in, or for their sin; he waits long to be gracious to them. But sin, long persisted in, will make God's wrath discover itself in destroying the impenitent; there is no resting under the wrath of God. "Take heed:" all who would get safe to heaven must look about them; if once we allow ourselves to distrust God, we may soon desert him. Let those that think they stand, take heed lest they fall. Since to-morrow is not ours, we must make the best improvement of this day. And there are none, even the strongest of the flock, who do not need help of other Christians. Neither are there any so low and despised, but the care of their standing in the faith, and of their safety, belongs to all. Sin has so many ways and colours, that we need more eyes than ours own. Sin appears fair, but is vile; it appears pleasant, but is destructive; it promises much, but performs nothing. The deceitfulness of sin hardens the soul; one sin allowed makes way for another; and every act of sin confirms the habit. Let every one beware of sin.