Hebrews 3:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The word "Today" means "always," as long as the world stands. "But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called Today." That is, edify one another and correct yourselves, so that the same thing may not happen to you. "That none of you may be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Do you see that sin produces unbelief? Just as unbelief is the cause of a corrupt life, so also the reverse is true. When the soul descends into the depth of evils, it becomes disobedient. Having become disobedient, it does not wish to believe, so that it may stifle fear within itself. "And they said," Scripture says, "The Lord will not see, nor will the God of Jacob understand" (Ps 93:7). Again: "Our lips are with us; who is lord over us?" (Ps 11:5).

"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called Today." That is, edify one another and strengthen one another, so that you do not fall. If anyone falls, correct him while he is alive. This is what the phrase means: "as long as it is called Today," for there is hope. Above all, let there be no evil heart in anyone. But if this should happen, let him not fall into despair. Rather, comfort him, and you will gain him back again. "That none of you may be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." That is, lest through despair he come to hardness and remain incurable. Just as hardened and coarse bodies do not yield to the efforts of physicians, so hardened souls do not obey the word of God.

But comfort your hearts on every day of your life, lest you become hardened and fall into deception through the deceit of the sin of your flesh.

Comfort yourself, beloved, while enduring every affliction, lest you become high-minded if others often comfort you. For the Apostle says, "Exhort one another daily, while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

As long as we live, we must exercise every care for ourselves each day, lest sin gain mastery over us and make our heart stubborn. By the word "Today" the Apostle meant the present life.

"But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today." Guide one another and support one another while it is called Today, that is, constantly, as long as the present world exists.

"Lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." This means lest any of you be hardened into unbelief, which usually comes from being deceived by sin. For unbelief is born from sin. When someone falls into the depths of vice, negligence then takes possession of him. Through negligence he already grows weak in faith, being deceived by sin. For then no correction can be expected ahead, and there will not even be resolve for it.

The Apostle's saying, "Exhort one another, while it is called Today" (Heb 3:13), and what is written in the book of Job, "And it came to pass on this day" (Job 2:1), signify the whole present age. For the whole life of man is one day.

Therefore "Satan" continually and always "desires to sift you as wheat" (Lk 22:31). Thus it is said, "It came to pass on this day." That means that even then something happened like what now happens among us to those tempted by the devil.

Therefore it is good not to lose heart, but to strengthen one's thoughts by the invocation and consolation of the Spirit, lest the enemy swallow us up because of despair.

The Apostle presents the present age as one day (Ps 90:4).

"But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today." The word "Today" here means always, as long as the world stands, according to Chrysostom and Theodoret. "Lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." While one can say "Today," strive to avoid sin, because sin hardens a man against God.

The discourse just completed above concerning Moses' apostleship gives the Apostle occasion to draw several strong moral exhortations for his readers from the history of that same ministry of Moses. Having become partakers of the heavenly calling and having yielded themselves to Christ's guidance, Christians must firmly preserve their boldness and hope to the end. They must do this despite every temptation from Christ's enemies. In this matter the New Testament Israel should take as an example those Israelites of Moses' time who were steadfast and strong in spirit. Throughout the forty years of wandering, they did not lose their faith and kept themselves from murmuring. Such were Joshua and Caleb, despite all the temptations and calamities in the wilderness.

"For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed" (Rom 13:11). And what is "now"? Perhaps it means that salvation is nearer to us now, in the New Testament time, when we have already seen Christ who has come, and have known and received His mysteries. It is nearer than in the Old Testament time, when people believed in the Christ who was still expected. Or it means this: now, when we have spent sufficient time in the Church of Christ and could have found sufficient means for strengthening ourselves in the spiritual life, salvation is nearer to us than when we were only approaching the Christian faith. However this may be, one thing deserves our deep attention. The apostolic teaching demands that we rise from moral sleep now, not tomorrow.

The Apostle advises his readers to take the psalmist's words more deeply to heart. As a remedy against hardness of heart, he points to mutual strengthening, which must continue as long as it is possible to receive forgiveness of sins and grace.