The term "hardhearted" is used in the Bible to describe a spiritual condition characterized by insensitivity, stubbornness, and an unwillingness to respond to God's commands or to the needs of others. This condition is often associated with a lack of compassion, mercy, and understanding, and it is frequently condemned in Scripture as a serious spiritual failing.

Biblical References

1. Pharaoh's Hard Heart: One of the most notable examples of hardheartedness in the Bible is Pharaoh during the Exodus narrative. Despite witnessing numerous miracles and plagues, Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his heart against God's command 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 hardheartedness led to severe consequences for Pharaoh and his people.

2. Israel's Rebellion: The Israelites themselves are often described as hardhearted, particularly during their wilderness wanderings. In Psalm 95:8 , the psalmist warns, "Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness." This reference recalls the Israelites' repeated disobedience and lack of faith, which resulted in their prolonged journey to the Promised Land.

3. Jesus' Teachings: In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the issue of hardheartedness, particularly among the religious leaders of His time. In Mark 3:5 , Jesus, grieved by their hard hearts, heals a man on the Sabbath, demonstrating that compassion should override rigid legalism. "And looking around at them with anger, grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored."

4. Spiritual Blindness: Hardheartedness is often linked with spiritual blindness and a refusal to accept the truth. In Ephesians 4:18 , Paul describes the Gentiles as "darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts."

Theological Implications

Hardheartedness is seen as a barrier to spiritual growth and a relationship with God. It reflects a resistance to the Holy Spirit's work and a refusal to submit to God's will. This condition can lead to a cycle of sin and judgment, as seen in the examples of Pharaoh and the Israelites.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

From a moral standpoint, hardheartedness is associated with a lack of empathy and an inability to love others as oneself. It is contrary to the Christian virtues of love, kindness, and humility. Believers are encouraged to cultivate a soft heart, open to God's guidance and responsive to the needs of others.

Practical Application

Christians are called to examine their hearts regularly, seeking to avoid the pitfalls of hardheartedness. This involves prayer, repentance, and a willingness to be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2). By remaining sensitive to the Holy Spirit and responsive to God's Word, believers can guard against the dangers of a hardened heart.7186. qasheh -- hard, severe
... stubborn* (3), stubbornness* (1). churlish, cruel, grievous, hardhearted,
thing, heavy, impudent, obstinate,. From qashah; severe ...
/hebrew/7186.htm - 6k

Blessing the Children
... children would listen to Him and accept Him as their Redeemer far more readily than
would grown-up people, many of whom were the worldly-wise and hardhearted. ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 56 blessing the children.htm

Christianity Requires the Temper of Childhood.
... That man may become hardhearted, skeptical and sensual, a hater of his kind, a hater
of all that is holy and good, he must divest himself entirely of the fresh ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/christianity requires the temper of.htm

The Ten Lepers
... What stupidity, hardhearted- ness, ingratitude of those nine, never to have even
thanked the Lord for their restoration to health and happiness. ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxviii the ten lepers.htm

Wesley at Greenock and Glasgow
... thecongregation. I spoke exceedingly plain, and not without hope that we
may see some fruit, even among this hardhearted generation. ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesley at greenock and glasgow.htm

"Is not this the Carpenter's Son?"
... hearers. The servants whom God had chosen for a special work were not allowed
to labor for a hardhearted and unbelieving people. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 24 is not this.htm

Events of Early Christian Life
... Even hardhearted sinners left their work and came to these meetings. God heard
our petitions, and in three days the grasshoppers were gone. ...
/.../cole/trials and triumphs of faith/chapter vi events of early.htm

Christian Sympathy
... The grinding, hardhearted man may gain the approbation of those who are like himself,
and therefore applaud him for his prudence and discretion, but the big ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/christian sympathy.htm

How Antony Made Herod and Phasaelus Tetrarchs, after they had Been ...
... Nor could any enemy of his who then saw him in this case be so hardhearted, but
would have commiserated his fortune, while the women drew along their infant ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how antony made.htm

A Discourse of Mercifulness
... It is not justice but cruelty, when others lie at our mercy, to be like that
hardhearted creditor in the gospel who took his debtor by the throat saying, Pay ...
/.../15 a discourse of mercifulness.htm

Conformed to the Image of Christ
... anxious one, a discouraged gloomy Christian, a doubting Christian, a complaining
Christian, an exacting Christian, a selfish, cruel, hardhearted Christian, a ...
/.../smith/the god of all comfort/chapter 16 conformed to the.htm

Hardhearted (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Hardhearted (2 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 15:7 If
there be among you a needy man, one of thy brethren, within ...
/h/hardhearted.htm - 7k

Impudent (5 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 3:7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not
hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. ...
/i/impudent.htm - 7k

Hard-hearted (12 Occurrences)
Hard-hearted. Hardhearted, Hard-hearted. Hardheartedness . Noah Webster's
Dictionary ... (WBS). Hardhearted, Hard-hearted. Hardheartedness . Reference Bible
/h/hard-hearted.htm - 10k

Hard-faced (1 Occurrence)
Hard-faced. Hardest, Hard-faced. Hardhearted . Multi-Version Concordance
Hard-faced (1 Occurrence). ... Hardest, Hard-faced. Hardhearted . Reference Bible.
/h/hard-faced.htm - 6k

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