Segment Four

Segment Four: Part One

The Heart of Man

A study of Man would not be complete if we did not cover Man’s heart. An in-depth study would require much reading of scripture, both O.T. and N.T., as well as the theological thoughts that have been written. We will not attempt to do that here, but just cover some of the more basic biblical statements.

First, one must understand that in the Bible, the heart is a term for the center of man’s thinking, emotions, and will. Several commentators think that the “heart” is the well-spring of man’s life. We see scripture support this thought in Prov. 4: 23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” In this verse, Solomon’s wisdom tells how important the heart is to man. Secondly, we see Jesus’ own words about the heart in Matthew “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” (Mt 15:18, 19)  It is then not far off to say that biblical writers claim that from the heart spring all the actions and motivations of man.

Study the subjects that follow for a better idea of what scripture says about man’s Heart. Man thinks in his heart. (Gen. 6:5; Proverbs 23:7) He understands with his heart. (Proverbs 2:2) He devises his way with his heart. (Proverbs 16:9)  His heart meditates. (Psalm 19:14) He purposes and takes counsel. (Dan. 1:8; Pr. 20:5) He reasons and desires in his heart. (Luke 5:22; Romans 10:1) In his heart, he imagines and his heart reveals what he intends. (1 Chr. 28:9; Heb. 4:12) From these subjects we see how much comes from the heart of man.

Segment Four: Part Two

Bible Truths about the Heart

Scripture tells us some of the characteristics of the human heart. The following is a list of some of these characteristics: The heart can be proud (Pr. 18:12), pure (Pr. 22:11), heavy (Pr. 11:25; 25:20), sick (Pr. 13:12), bitter (Pr. 14:10), sorrowful (Pr. 14:13), merry (Pr. 15:13,15; 17:22), fretful (Pr. 19:3), envious (Pr. 23:17), trust (Pr. 31:11), lust (Pr. 6:25), faint (Ge. 45:26), willing (Ex. 35:5), discouraged (Nu. 32:7), trembling (De. 28:65), desire (Ps. 37:4), disquieted (Ps. 38:8), hot (Ps. 39:3), contrite (Ps. 51:17), overwhelmed (Ps. 61:2), smitten (Ps. 102:4), wounded (Ps. 109:22), broken (Ps. 147:3), melt (Eze. 21:7), hardened (Ex. 8:15), obstinate (De. 2:30), grieved (De. 15:10), forgive (Mt. 18:35), love the Lord (Mt. 22:37), doubt (Mk. 11:23), troubled (Jn. 14:1), pricked (Ac. 2:37), anguished (2 Co. 2:4), condemn (1 Jn. 3:20).

The negative side of these characteristics is that the heart of fallen man is desperately wicked. (Genesis 6:5, 8:21; Jeremiah 17:9; Proverbs 22:15; Matthew 15: 18-20) However, God can create a clean heart in man. (Psalm 51:10) God also knows the secrets of man’s heart. (Psalm 44:21) When man’s heart is clean, the Holy Spirit can then take up residence in the heart of the child of God. (2 Corinthians 1:22; Galatians 4:6)  However, the heart must be guided in the right way. (Proverbs 23:19) Man’s heart must be fixed to give praise to God, (Psalm 57:7) and man’s heart must be fixed to trust in the Lord. (Psalm 112:7)

Consider also these things that the Lord knows: He tries the heart (Je. 11:20); looks on the heart (1 Sa. 16:7); ponders the hearts of man (Pr. 21:2; 24:12); gives understanding to the heart (Job 38:36); opens the heart (Ac. 16:14); hardens the heart (Ex. 4:21); searches the heart (Ro. 8:27). Pharaoh hardened his own heart two times out of five: Ex. 8:15, 32 compared with Ex. 7:22; 8:19; 9:7. God knows everything about your heart!

man

Preface