Commentary on Hebrews and the Catholic Epistles John Calvin
John Calvin though he had said, ``This is the generation to which I denied the possession of the promised land, for during whole forty years afterwards it betrayed its obstinate madness by innumerable sins.''
12. Take heed, (or See,) brethren, lest there be at any time in any of you a wicked heart of unbelief, etc. I have preferred to retain literally what the Apostle states, rather than to give a paraphrase as to the wicked or depraved heart of unbelief, by which he intimates that unbelief would be connected with depravity or wickedness, if after having received the knowledge of Christ they departed from his faith. For he addressed them who had been imbued with the elements of Christianity; hence he immediately added, By departing; for the sin of defection is accompanied with perfidy. 64
13. He also pointed out the remedy, so that they might not fall into this wickedness, and that was, to exhort one another. For as by nature we are inclined to evil, we have need of various helps to retain us in the fear of God. Unless our faith be now and then raised up, it will lie prostrate; unless it be warmed, it will be frozen; unless it be roused, it will grow torpid. He would have us then to stimulate one another by mutual exhortations, so that Satan may not creep into our hearts, and by his fallacies draw us away from God. And this is a way of speaking that ought to be especially observed; for we fall not immediately by the first assault into this madness of striving against God; but Satan by degrees accosts us artfully by indirect means, until he holds us ensnared in his delusions. Then indeed being blinded, we break forth into open rebellion. 65
We must then meet this danger in due time, and it is one that is nigh us all, for nothing is more possible than to be deceived; and from this deception comes at length hardness of heart. We hence see how necessary it is for us to be roused by the incessant goads of exhortations. Nor does the Apostle give only a general precept, that all should take heed to themselves, but he should have them also to be solicitous for the salvation of every member, so that they should not suffer any of those who had been once called to perish through their neglect, and he who feels it his duty so to watch over the salvation of the whole flock as to neglect no one sheep, performs in this case the office of a good shepherd.
While it is called today. He now applies what David said more particularly to his own subjects; for he reminds us that the word today, mentioned in the
64The word connected with "heart" is {ἐν} {τῶ}, which properly means diseased and hence corrupted, depraved, wicked. Depraved or wicked would perhaps be the best rendering of it here. ``Unbelief'' is a genitive used for an adjective or a participle, --- ``a wicked unbelieving heart.'' It is unbelieving owing to its wickedness or depravity. Grotius says, that there are two kinds of unbelief, --- The first the rejection of the truth when first offered, --- and the second the renouncing of it after having once professed it. The latter is the more heinous sin. ``The departing,'' etc.; {ἐν} {τῶ} is rendered ``by'' by Macknight: it is considered by Grotius to be for {εἰς} {τὸ}, which word makes the meaning more evident, ``so as to depart,'' etc. --- Ed.
65"Deceitfulness of sin" is rendered by Stuart "sinful delusion." It ought rather to be "deceitful (or seductive) sin" as "deceitfulness of riches" in Matthew 13:22, means "deceitful riches." The "sin" was evidently that of apostasy: and it was deceitful, because there was a present prospect of relief from troubles and persecutions. The power of any sin to deceive and seduce, consists in some present gratification or interest. See note on verse 6. — Ed.