Topical Bible: Character of the Wicked: Hard-Hearted

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The concept of a hard heart is a recurring theme in the Bible, often used to describe the disposition of the wicked. A hard heart is characterized by stubbornness, insensitivity to God's will, and a refusal to repent or acknowledge the truth. This condition is frequently depicted as a spiritual ailment that leads individuals away from righteousness and into sin.

Biblical Examples and Descriptions

One of the most notable examples of hard-heartedness is found in the account of Pharaoh during the Exodus. Despite witnessing numerous signs and wonders performed by God through Moses, Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his heart and refused to let the Israelites go. Exodus 7:13 states, "Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said." This narrative illustrates how a hard heart can lead to persistent rebellion against God.

The prophet Ezekiel also speaks to the condition of a hard heart, contrasting it with the heart of flesh that God desires for His people. In Ezekiel 36:26 , God 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 signifies a move from obstinacy to receptivity and obedience to God's commands.

Characteristics of a Hard Heart

1. Stubbornness and Rebellion: A hard heart is often marked by an unwillingness to submit to God's authority. This is evident in the behavior of the Israelites in the wilderness, who repeatedly tested God despite His provision and guidance. Psalm 95:8 warns, "Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness."

2. Insensitivity to God's Word: Those with hard hearts are often unresponsive to the teachings and corrections found in Scripture. Jesus encountered this in the Pharisees, who were more concerned with their traditions than with the heart of God's law. Mark 3:5 describes Jesus' reaction: "And He looked around at them with anger, grieved by their hardness of heart."

3. Lack of Repentance: A hard heart is resistant to repentance, often justifying sin rather than confessing and turning from it. Romans 2:5 warns of the consequences: "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."

Spiritual Implications

The hard-hearted are often depicted as being under judgment, as their resistance to God leads to spiritual blindness and separation from His grace. Hebrews 3:12-13 cautions believers, "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."

Hope for Transformation

Despite the dire state of a hard heart, the Bible offers hope for transformation through God's intervention. The promise of a new heart and spirit, as mentioned in Ezekiel, points to the redemptive work of Christ and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit. Believers are encouraged to remain vigilant, nurturing a heart that is open and responsive to God's leading.

Nave's Topical Index

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.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Messiah Despised, and Rejected of Men
... or, if they are stingy and hard-hearted, or voluptuous ... 2; 21:18; John 4:9) . His
character was aspersed ... from the powers of darkness and from wicked men, when ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xvii messiah despised and.htm

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
... and Josiah was the son of wicked Amon. ... Josiah's conduct on this discovery marks his
character. ... would have become self-willed, self-confident, and hard-hearted. ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vii josiah a pattern.htm

"And this is his Commandment," &C.
... because the heart of man is desperately wicked, and hath ... grossest sinners, who are
yet stout, hard hearted, and far ... to their own seal to the character or truth ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon iii and this is.htm

The Sabbath
... selfish and arbitrary men rather than the character of the ... as He required it, made
men hard-hearted and cruel. ... He confronted them with their own wicked purposes ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 29 the sabbath.htm

Faustus Does not Think it Would be a Great Honor to Sit Down with ...
... supposing it to be genuine, although they led wicked lives, as ... [1074] Who is so
hard-hearted as to ... that has nothing to do with the hateful character of their ...
/.../faustus does not think it.htm

The Meek and Lowly One
... both poor and ignorant; but they cannot stoop to the wicked. ... Why, she is a bad character,
one of the worst women ... in his school I am such a hard-hearted one, he ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the meek and lowly one.htm

How the Bishop is to Treat the Innocent, the Guilty, and the ...
... which is that of one sustaining the character of God ... ought not to establish the will
of hard-hearted men, but ... that such as converse with the wicked, in order ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec iii how the bishop is.htm

The Shameful Sufferer
... The shame of everlasting contempt to which wicked men awake in ... it was so contrary
to his character, that he ... from a staring, gazing, mocking, hard-hearted crowd ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the shameful sufferer.htm

Struggles of Conscience
... the man; you are far nearer the character than if ... be chewed over in your soul, "The
wicked shall be ... devil, "and because thou art so hard-hearted Christ cannot ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/struggles of conscience.htm

Sin Immeasurable
... now, every error you commit becomes unutterably wicked, and of ... before we can know
the awful character of sin ... Come, then to Christ, hard-hearted as thou art, and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/sin immeasurable.htm