Today, If You Hear His Voice: A Deeper Look at Hebrews 6

Ever read a Bible passage that left you feeling a bit worried, maybe even a little scared? The book of Hebrews can certainly have those moments, especially when we encounter verses that seem to suggest a point of no return. I want to address one of those passages in Hebrews chapter 6 and come to a conclusion that I believe offers a really positive and helpful perspective for us.

The Worrying Passage

Hebrews chapter 6, starting in verse 4, says:

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance Hebrews 6:4-6.

If we read this in isolation, it can be quite alarming. We might think, "Well, I'm a sinner. I've done wrong things. I've had times of shaky faith. Maybe I've even drifted away from my Christian walk for a while." And then it gets even more intense, finishing in verse 6:

...since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame Hebrews 6:6.

Not only can this passage make us feel worried, but there's this profound suggestion that our actions, or even a lack of faith, could somehow "crucify again the Son of God and put Him to an open shame." It's heavy stuff, and it's prompted much discussion and concern among believers throughout history.

A Key to Hebrews: "Today, If You Will Hear His Voice"

To understand this passage better, I want to give you a little key that I think is very helpful when reading Hebrews. Let's look back a few chapters. In chapter 3, we see a quote from the Psalms:

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion" Hebrews 3:7-8.

This is repeated in verse 15 Hebrews 3:15. Then, in chapter 4, the writer refers to this same passage again, saying:

From which I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest'" Hebrews 4:3.

And again in verse 7:

again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" Hebrews 4:7.

Do you see how many times in those two chapters this idea of "Today, if you will hear His voice" is emphasized? This theme is absolutely central to the message of Hebrews, and it comes from Psalm 95.

Let's take a look at that Psalm:

For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: "Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they saw My work" Psalm 95:7-9.

Here we have a crucial clue! It speaks of "the day of trial in the wilderness" when, despite witnessing God's mighty works, they hardened their hearts instead of listening to His voice. This points us directly to the Exodus narrative and the Israelites' time in the wilderness.

Sinai vs. Zion: The Old and New Covenants

Where was this "day of trial" where they hardened their hearts, even though they saw God's work? It was when they came to Mount Sinai. And Hebrews confirms this connection in a powerful way. Look at Hebrews chapter 12, where it discusses the works of God that they saw:

For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest Hebrews 12:18.

It was unmistakably clear to the Israelites during the Exodus that God was present at Mount Sinai. There was the mountain shaking, the darkness, the cloud, the fire, and even a tempest. Verse 19 continues:

and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore Hebrews 12:19.

This is why Hebrews keeps repeating "Today, if you will hear His voice"! For the Israelites, that's where things went wrong. They heard God's voice at Sinai but were terrified, begging for it to stop. They "could not endure what was commanded" Hebrews 12:20.

This gets to the very heart of the Book of Hebrews. Who was the writer addressing? They were writing to the Hebrews, Jewish believers who had accepted Jesus as their Savior. The temptation for them was to reject Jesus and turn back to their old ways – ways based on fear of the law and its penalties. The message of Hebrews is that there is a better way.

As it beautifully continues in Hebrews 12:

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel Hebrews 12:22-24.

This passage powerfully contrasts the dark, fiery, tempestuous scene at Mount Sinai, where the law was given, with Mount Zion – the city of the Lord Jesus Christ. For us, unlike the restricted access under the Old Covenant, in Jesus Christ, we have full access to God through our mediator who obtains forgiveness for us. We have a priesthood that is far more wonderful and effective!

Don't Turn Away: Embrace the Better Way

So, to truly understand Hebrews, this key – "Today, if you will hear His voice" – is vital. And the summary for us, at the end of chapter 12, urges us:

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks; for if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven Hebrews 12:25.

We have been given a much greater, a much better, and a much more accessible priesthood through the Lord Jesus Christ. We have direct access to God in prayer through him, an access far surpassing anything available under the law of Moses. So, if we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, let us not reject Him for something far less wonderful, less powerful, and less able to save us. Let us, today, hear His voice and draw near. There's no turning back from His grace!