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Hardness of heart, does it apply to us today?

• Mark 6:49-52

  But, when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a phantom, and cried out. For they all saw Him and were troubled. And immediately He talked with them, and said, Be of good cheer. I AM! Do not be afraid. And He went up into the boat to them. And the wind was cut off. And they were very much amazed within themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they did not understand the miracle of the loaves, for their hearts were hardened.
  This event was recorded after thirteen recorded healings, Jesus giving several parables, calming of the sea 4:35, sending out of the twelve 6:7 and their return 6:30. Then immediately after the feeding of the five thousand 6:32. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a phantom, and cried out, for they were all troubled. The scriptures explains their fear by saying: "They did not understand the miracle of the loaves, for their hearts were hardened".
  Jesus speaks this rebuke to His twelve and it is centered around, not believing the supernatural.

• Mark 8:15-17

  And He charged them, saying, Take heed! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the leaven of Herod. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no loaves. And knowing it, Jesus said to them [the disciples], Why do you reason that it is because you have no loaves? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Have you still hardened your heart?
  This takes place right after the feeding of the four thousand, 8:1.
  Jesus speaks this rebuke to His twelve and it is centered around, not understanding spiritual truths.

• Mark 10:2-5

  And tempting Him, the Pharisees came to Him and asked Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? And He answered and said to them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses allowed a bill of divorce to be written, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said to them, He wrote you this precept because of the hardness of your hearts.
  Jesus speaks this rebuke to the Pharisees and it is centered around, how we should relate to others.

• Mark 16:14-15

  Afterward [His resurrection], He appeared to the Eleven as they reclined. And He reproached their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
  This verse again speaks to the disciples unbelief in the supernatural.

• Acts 19:8-9

  And going into the synagogue, he [Paul], spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But, when some were hardened and did not believe,...
  Again Being hardened, is again coupled with not believing.

• Hebrews 3:12-13

  Take heed, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But, exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
  This letter was written to Hebrew believers to reassure them of their choice in Christ. And it speaks of how not to become hardened, "through the deceitfulness of sin".

Hardness of heart can be due to many reasons, not believing in the supernatural, not able to understand spiritual truths or the way in which we treat others. As Hebrews 3:13 points out hardness of heart comes through the deceitfulness of sin.

If we fail to believe in the power of the Word of God and only believe in what we can hear, taste, touch, smell or see. We are living carnally and have hardened our hearts.

One cannot believe by sight, one must believe by faith. Consider the disciples in Mark 6:52, right after they had witnessed and had partaken in the feeding of the five thousand. Hours after that Jesus rebuked them for their hearts were hardened. Our carnal mind does not understand or believe in what it cannot hear, taste, smell, feel or see. Therefore, we must learn to believe by faith.

For in order for Jesus to move in our lives we must by faith believe in things that we cannot see. For faith in what you can see is no faith at all, for without faith it is impossible to please him, Hebrews 11:6.