Mark 3:5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man… II. Let us show WHAT IS MEANT BY HARDNESS OF HEART. A hard-hearted man, in the current use of language, means a man void of humanity; a man of cruel habits. In the Bible it is a compound of pride, perverseness, presumption, and obstinacy. It is said of Nebuchadnezzar, "that when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took away his glory from him." II. THE CAUSES OF HARDNESS OF HEART. 1. By neglecting the word and ordinances of God. There is a salutary power in Divine truth of which it is not easy to give adequate ideas (Psalm 81:11, 12). 2. By our slighting and despising the corrective dispensations of Providence. When painful events do not rouse to seriousness, and fiery trials do not melt to tenderness, we generally see increased levity and obstinacy. 3. By cherishing false opinions in religion. 4. By persisting in any known course of sin (Deuteronomy 29:19). III. THE AWFUL CONSEQUENCES OF HARDNESS OF HEART. 1. It provokes God to leave men to their own errors, base passions, and inveterate passions. 2. It involves men in utter and irretrievable ruin. "He that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."Learn: 1. How much guilt there is in hardness of heart. 2. Take the warnings of Scripture against hardness of heart. 3. Take those measures which are absolutely necessary to guard you against hardness of heart. (J. Thornton.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. |
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