When The Heart Is Waxed Gross


I. Introduction:

A. The hope for our brothers or sisters who have fallen away is that they will have a time when they wake up (Luke 15:11-19).

  1. Apostates have Jesus essentially standing at the door waiting for them (Revelation 3:19-20).
  2. We see, even of old, our pleading Father (Ezekiel 33:10-11).

B. At the same time, there is a point wherein those who have fallen become accustomed to do evil (Jeremiah 13:15-27).

  1. If one goes so far as to become the corrupt tree, hope is greatly diminished (Matthew 12:33-37 and Luke 6:43-46).
  2. Hopelessness, at that point, is very scary (Hebrews 10:26-31).
  3. That point of being too far gone to come back is the point wherein one’s heart has been rendered callous.

II. Body: Matthew 13:15

A. Here is what “waxed gross” [παχύνω] means: “to thicken, that is, (by implication) to fatten (figuratively stupefy or render callous): - wax gross” (Strong’s # 3975).

  1. Notice an instance wherein this was applied to people (Acts 28:17-29).
  2. The point at which a person or group can no longer hear (John 8:43).
  3. As this relates to fallen saints, consider what the Hebrew writer says (Hebrews 5:11-6:6).
  4. Those who are unable to hear were not born that way. They became dull of hearing!

B. There is grave danger with becoming hardened and stubborn (Isaiah 9:13, Jeremiah 5:3, and Acts 7:51).

  1. When one reaches the point of refusing correction (Proverbs 9:8, Proverbs 12:1, Proverbs 15:10, Proverbs 15:31-32, Proverbs 19:25, Jeremiah 7:28, and John 3:19-21).
  2. When one's own way becomes the only acceptable way (Psalms 36:1-4, Proverbs 21:2, Luke 18:10-14, and Romans 10:1-3).
  3. When one becomes stubborn and self-righteous (Jeremiah 2:22-26).

C. In light of this, never assume you can fall away and simply return whenever you choose (Hebrews 3:7-14).

  1. You can get to a point wherein you won’t be ashamed of sin (Jeremiah 6:15 and Jeremiah 8:12).
  2. Your conscience can become “seared” (I Timothy 4:1-2; cf. Ephesians 4:17-19).

D. Having said all of that, remember that we often do not know when someone has gone too far to return. Sometimes the person you’d least expect to repent ends up changing (II Chronicles 33:1-16).

  1. One of the purposes of discipline is to teach a lesson (I Corinthians 5:1-5 and I Timothy 1:19-20).
  2. With those who are not divisive, our goal is to bring them to shame (II Thessalonians 3:14-15).
  3. The hope is, if there is honesty in that person’s heart, shame will work to bring change (cf. Ezra 9:4-6).

III. Conclusion: Sadly, Scripture shows there comes a point at which some people become so hardened that they will no longer listen (Jeremiah 5:20-31).



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