c
 



 


Read more: What Does the Bible Say About the Heart? | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/about_4587879_what -does-bible-say-heart.html#ixzz1Ctdi7OjB

Many people wonder what the Bible has to say about the heart. The word "heart" is mentioned
743 times in the Bible, and it is used in various contexts. The references that have the most
significance for Christians involve the heart representing a person's will or desires. God wants
people to love Him with all of their hearts. When they stray, God wants them to return to Him with
all of their hearts.




1. In the Bible, the heart often represents the will of a person or of an entire nation.
For example, the Israelites believed that they were doing God's will by being
circumcised, but God pointed out that Israel was still "uncircumcised in heart"
(Jeremiah 9:25-26). The Bible says that a "spirit of prostitution is in [God's
people's] heart" when they do not acknowledge God or return to Him. God judges
motivation by a person's heart.



2. According to the Bible, a person's heart reveals his true nature and motivation. In
Jeremiah 17:10, the Bible says that God "search[es] the heart and examine[s] the
mind" and then rewards people for what their conduct deserves. As Jesus
pointed out when observing the widow's offering, the significance of the action is
driven by the heart (Luke 21:1 -4). Jesus said that the widow gave more to the
temple by giving two coins than those who put much more in the temple treasury
because of what was in her heart (she gave all that she had).

 

3. The Bible says that repenta nce is measured by whether the person returns to
God with "all your heart" (Deuteronomy 30:1 -3). The Bible includes some
variance of "return to me with your whole heart" six times. In Joel 2:13, the Bible
tells God's people to "Rend your heart and not your garments." Returning to
church is not enough. According to the Bible, God cares more about the
repentance in your heart than in your external actions.



4. According to the Bible, the heart is deceitful, which means that you should be
wary of trusting what your heart tells you. The Bible says in Jeremiah 17:9 that
the "heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure." The Bible references a
specific example of this in Hosea 10:2, where the Bible talks about Israel's heart
being deceitful and how the people "must bear their guilt." God holds people
accountable for listening to the deceitful messages that their hearts tell them.

*


5. According to the Bible, the motivation of your heart can have eternal
ramifications. In Luke 12:34, Jesus pointed out that "where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also." Luke 21:34 warns us to "be careful" in the end times "or
your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties
of life." God wants your heart focused upon Hi m: "Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).

Read more: What Does the Bible Say About the Heart? | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/about_4587879_what -does-bible-say-
heart.html#ixzz1CtdOy2tX