Impenitence
☩The Hardened Heart
Impenitence is the stubborn refusal to turn from sin despite divine warnings and opportunities. Pharaoh's hardened heart exemplifies this condition—even after repeated plagues, he would not humble himself before God. Such hardness results from repeatedly rejecting God's overtures of mercy.
☩Divine Patience Exhausted
God bears long with sinners, giving opportunity for repentance, but His patience has limits. The cities of Galilee that saw Christ's miracles but did not repent faced harsher judgment than Sodom. Jerusalem was destroyed because she did not know 'the time of her visitation.'
☩Warning to Believers
Even believers are warned against a hardening process that begins with neglecting God's word. The writer of Hebrews urges mutual encouragement 'lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.' Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.
Related Verses131 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Impenitence," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).