Which is why we see "evil heart of unbelief". This is the heart of those who don't have a harvest.
This evil heart of unbelief refers to those who once were "in Christ", but departed from Him.
The unbelieving Jews persecuted the believers in Messiah, pressuring them to turn back to Judaism by trying to convince the believing Jews, Jesus was a false prophet.
In order to do this, they were to renounce Jesus as Messiah and Lord, and turn away or depart from Him.
This is exactly what Jesus warned His diciples of in His teaching of the Sower.
13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Luke 8:13
- who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
Fall away is the same Greek word, that is rendered "depart from" in Hebrews 3:12, which is why the word
"unbelief" belief is used.
These are those who under persecution, depart from Him, and can not be brought back to repentance, in which they have no other sacrifice for sins, and only have a fearful expectation of the Judgement to come.
Luke 8: 13 refers to departing from the faith during persecution.
Matthew says it this way -
20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For
when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
Matthew 13:20-21
- but endures only for a while.
- Luke says - who believe for a while
Jesus says those who endure to the end will be saved. The context is during persecution, which is the same context.
9 “Then
they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:9-13
- But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
JPT