Hardness of heart

Kinds of hardness of heart

As disobedience towards God

Ps 95:8–9 Referring to the disobedience of the Israelites in their wilderness wanderings.

See also Heb 3:7–9

Ephesians 4:18 NKJV

having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

See also Pr 28:14; Zec 7:12; Ro 2:5; Heb 3:12–15; Heb 4:5–7

As the work of God

Ex 10:20 God’s judgment on Pharaoh was to confirm him in his stubbornness so that he might feel the full weight of his wrath; Is 6:10

See also Jn 12:40

As an uncaring attitude towards other people

Deuteronomy 15:7 NKJV

“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,

See also Ps 17:10; Ps 73:7; Ps 119:70; Mt 19:8; Jas 2:15–16; 1 Jn 3:17

Examples of hardness of heart

Pharaoh

Ex 7:13; Ex 7:22; Ex 8:19; Ex 8:32; Ex 9:7; Ex 9:34–35

Israel

1 Sa 6:6; Je 5:23; Je 9:14; Je 11:8; Je 13:10; Je 16:12; Je 18:12; Je 23:26

Zedekiah

2 Chronicles 36:12–13 NKJV

He did evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord. And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God; but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord God of Israel.

Jesus Christ’s disciples

Mk 6:51–52; Mk 8:17

Jesus Christ’s generation

Mt 13:15; Mt 19:8; Mk 3:5

Paul’s hearers

Acts 28:25–27 NKJV

So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ’

God’s remedies for hardness of heart

Repentance

Psalm 51:17 NKJV

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.

See also 1 Ki 8:46–49; 2 Ch 34:27; Je 3:17; Eze 18:31

A work of grace

Eze 11:19 God’s promise to Israel.

See also 1 Ki 8:58; Je 31:33; Eze 36:26