If you hear God's voice, do not harden your heart Chiastic structure of (Heb 3:7-4:13)

a Chiastic Structure in Hebrews 3:7-4:13. I wanted to introduce this concept early in our study as an illustration of the importance of how context, structure and especially literary structure can help in our understanding of Heb 4:12.

First note the general context that reveals the direction the author of Hebrews is going.

Chapter 1 The supremacy of Christ over Creation;
Chapter 2 the supremacy of Christ over the Angels;
Chapter 3 the supremacy of Christ as our High priest, (over Moses) and the promise of Sabbath rest.

This is a nice western outline showing the linear progression of thought that gives us an idea what is happening up to and including Hebrew 4:12 in relation to the important role of the Word of God and how it is used in our Spiritual growth (5:11-14).

There is yet another layer: the author of Hebrews writes in a Chiastic structure throughout this book that serves to weave together the linear concepts we have identified that tie together these concepts into relationships that serve to emphasize the direction of a main point in the passage.

1. In a Chiasm, the main point is in the middle instead of the end.

2. The structure then highlights specific thoughts or truths that come before and after that give thrust to the main point.

Our goal in this study is to discover the relationship between these thoughts and how they contribute to the main point.

In this example of a Chiastic structure, we mark the relationships with an arrow and a letter, and indent them to help them stand out (see diagram).

This helps us not only identify the relationships between the arrows, but also helps to surface the main point which is in the middle of the section rather than the end.

In the passage of Hebrews, relationships surface that contrast a hard and soft heart; Listening to God's voice through his Word, which lead to belief and obedience (cultivation a soft heart) in contrast to ignoring God's word, unbelief and disobedience (cultivating a hard heart).

Note the importance of listening to His voice, in 3:7, 15, and 4:7 and the relationship of listening to His voice to an understanding of His Word (3:9-11, 4:12-13),

This helps put Hebrews 4:12 into perspective in relationship to understanding how the word of God can help us discern the voice of God.

The relationship between the Word and the Spirit is what helps connects the Biblical passage to our personal lives. As we believe it, we apply (obey) it to our personal situation; Here God reveals to us what is behind our inner thoughts, motives and attitudes that can harden the heart.

If we do not listen to God's Spirit through his Word, His Word remains on the page, And His Spirit can get lost in the many voices of our subjective mind. If we shut out God's voice, our heart can grow hard, even in His presence, as it did to the Israelites in the wilderness.

The main point warns us to fear God (Heb 4:1) in how we deal with issues of the heart which can determine if we are to receive his Promise to enter into God's rest.

Remember the overall context is the Supremacy of Christ, and the importance of subjecting our will to His. While the heart wages war with the sinful nature of the soul, true peace can be found when we make Jesus Supreme through faith obedience to His Word

Well this is the gist of it. While one does not need to have all these "methods of Bible Study" to glean from God's Word, they can, when applied correctly, give us tools to dig deeper and confirm what His Spirit is saying to us.