Topical Bible: Character of the Unrenewed Heart: Hard

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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of the "hard heart" is a recurring theme in the Bible, often used to describe the spiritual condition of individuals who resist God's will and remain unresponsive to His truth. This hardness of heart is emblematic of the unrenewed, sinful nature that stands in opposition to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.

Biblical Descriptions and Examples

1. Pharaoh's Heart: One of the most notable examples of a hard heart is found in the account of Pharaoh during the Exodus. Despite witnessing numerous signs and wonders performed by God through Moses, Pharaoh's heart remained obstinate. Exodus 7:13 states, "Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said." This hardness led to his downfall and serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of resisting God's commands.

2. Israel's Rebellion: The Israelites, during their wilderness journey, frequently exhibited hardness of heart. Psalm 95:8 admonishes, "Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness." This verse reflects the persistent unbelief and rebellion that characterized their relationship with God, despite His continual provision and guidance.

3. Spiritual Blindness: In the New Testament, Jesus encounters the hardness of heart among the religious leaders and even His own disciples. Mark 3:5 describes Jesus' reaction to the Pharisees: "And He looked around at them with anger, grieved by their hardness of heart." This hardness prevented them from recognizing Jesus as the Messiah and accepting His teachings.

Characteristics of a Hard Heart

· Resistance to Truth: A hard heart is marked by an unwillingness to accept or submit to God's truth. This resistance can manifest as skepticism, doubt, or outright rejection of divine revelation.

· Lack of Compassion: Hardness of heart often results in a lack of empathy and compassion towards others. Ephesians 4:18-19 describes those with hardened hearts as "darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts."

· Pride and Self-Reliance: A hard heart is frequently associated with pride and a reliance on one's own understanding rather than seeking God's wisdom. Proverbs 28:14 warns, "Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble."

Consequences of a Hard Heart

The Bible warns of the severe consequences that accompany a hardened heart. Such a condition leads to spiritual blindness, separation from God, and ultimately, judgment. Romans 2:5 cautions, "But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed."

Hope for Renewal

Despite the grim portrayal of a hard heart, Scripture offers hope for renewal and transformation. Ezekiel 36:26 promises, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." This transformation is made possible through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, who softens hearts and enables believers to walk in obedience to God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 3:7
But the house of Israel will not listen to you; for they will not listen to me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Mark 10:5
And Jesus answered and said to them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 2:5
But after your hardness and impenitent heart treasure up to yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Vile Ingratitude!
... that no toil would be too hard, no sacrifice ... We will not say that our character had
become such ... with the moral abominations that dwell in the unrenewed heart. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/vile ingratitude.htm

Prayerless Christians
... His heart is set on this one thing. ... the Father and the Son in spirit, character and
conduct. ... the angelic nature, or man's carnal nature unrenewed and unchanged ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the weapon of prayer/v prayerless christians.htm

Moral Insanity.
... therefore, the heart, in all unrenewed men, is ... how perfectly the Bible daguerreotypes
human character; has it ... their own constitutional powers, the heart at war ...
//christianbookshelf.org/finney/sermons on gospel themes/ix moral insanity.htm

Prayer and Obedience
... To infer it, is to slander the character of God ... incident to the natural man removed,
but a heart which gladly ... If it be claimed, that the unrenewed man, with all ...
/.../bounds/the necessity of prayer/ix prayer and obedience.htm

The Sower.
... like the natural in its cause as well as in its character. ... grew for a time in the
life of an unrenewed man ... pull out the root of bitterness from your heart to-day ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/i the sower.htm

Instruction for the Ignorant:
... Q. You have given me a very bad character of the heart, but how shall I know that
it is so bad as ... There is a faith that will stand with a heart as hard as a ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/instruction for the ignorant .htm

Entire Sanctification
... of error will work in the unrenewed heart, filling it ... man that he ever met." As the
character of Socrates ... say, God leaves concupiscence in the heart of every ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clarke/entire sanctification/entire sanctification.htm

A Message from God for Thee
... Unrenewed persons find fault with God's justice ... this morning, for my text is addressed
to a special character. ... I am, never one who had so hard a heart, and was ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/a message from god for.htm

The Blind Beggar
... The unrenewed mind is so blind, that it perceives not ... poor man's faith was of such
a character that it ... to be renewed;" tell him thou hast a hard heart, ask him ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the blind beggar.htm

The Warrant of Faith
... evangelical repentance never can exist in an unrenewed soul. ... for me, for I was not
the character intended; and ... the wounds, but to bind up the broken in heart. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/the warrant of faith.htm