Articles
Matters of the Heart
The word heart is used numerous times in the Bible. Often the term refers to an individual’s entire mental and moral activity, one’s intellect or reasoning, or one’s true character. When Jesus was asked which commandment was great in the law, He replied “You shall love the Lord your God with all you heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Jesus is emphasizing the love that we must have for God with all of our being.
The heart can be cut leading to different reactions. When Peter was preaching on the Day of Pentecost, he informed the audience that Jesus, the Son of God, had been crucified by them. Their reaction was “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). When Peter answered them, many responded positively and repented of their sins and were baptized.
Later, Stephen addressed an audience and called them “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51). The people reacted very differently than those on the Day of Pentecost “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth” (Acts 7:54). The people responded negatively that resulted in anger and violence causing the death of Stephen.
The heart can be focused. Jesus taught the people to concentrate on laying up treasures in heaven instead of on earth. Jesus said “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
The heart can be corrupted and hardened. God sent the flood to destroy the earth because of the wickedness of the people “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). When Jesus healed the man’s withered hand on the Sabbath, He asked “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” (Mark 3:4). When the Pharisees remained silent, Jesus was upset with them “And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts” (Mark 3:5).
The heart can be joyful. When Jesus was preparing His disciples for His death, He reminded them that He would be seen again “Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you” (John 16:22).
The heart can be repaired. When the children of Israel were in Babylonian captivity, the Lord, through the prophet Ezekiel, promised them “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).
Who knows our hearts? God does. When Peter addressed the apostles and elders regarding the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles, he said “So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us” (Acts 15:8). Therefore, let us put our hearts in the right direction!
