The Biblical Centrality of the Heart – Steve Orr

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With a career background in computer science, I decided to quantify this Biblical centrality of the heart business. By using computer search tools on the entire text of the King James Bible, I found 975 matches to the word heart and to words containing strings like “hearts,” “heart’s,” “brokenhearted,” and others. Of course, you don’t need a computer to research this, but if you like doing research, just dig out your concordance and read the nearly one thousand verses about the heart.

Suffice it to say that God has much to say about the human heart. The heart is the center of our bodies and our spiritual being as children of God, both physically and spiritually. Some say the references to the heart merely depict human emotion, but the Bible clearly shows there’s much more to the heart than that. Consider these verses:

Notice Solomon’s, David’s, and Paul’s prayers:

  • Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. (1 Kings 3:9)
  • May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalms 19:14)
  • I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:18)

In Biblical terms, the heart discerns, understands, meditates, worships, enlightens, inspires, consoles, energizes, brings life abundant, and, oh, so much more. From a New Covenant perspective, since God gave us good hearts, there’s no reason for us to suffer “heart attacks” inflicted by others. Sometimes, the ghosts of religion and our former selves haunt us and lie to us, saying our hearts are deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). Our old heart tells us we’re no good. But, our new, good heart is wise. With balance, when guided by faith and sound reason, we can trust how our hearts’ motives align with Jesus, the Word of God.

There’s plenty in the Old Covenant about how our old self is “like a city whose walls are broken through like a person who lacks self-control” (Proverbs:25:28). But the New Covenant tells us our new, good hearts are fortified by self-control, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Our new hearts may “nag” us in helpful ways by guiding us through the crossroads in life when we are faced with a big decision that cannot be ignored. When all rational factors seem to line up with sound logic that points to the safer fork in the road on the left, sometimes our new heart steps in and says, “No! Don’t go there. Go the way of the right.” These moments are not to be dismissed; they are God’s way of encouraging us to learn how to listen to him by following the new and good hearts he gave us. (Proverbs 2:2).

I have been at these decision junctures many times in my life, and looking back, I’m glad I was able to “hear” the superior reasons of the heart where our Triune God dwells in a personal relationship with us. Jesus says his sheep recognize his voice and believe what he says (cf John 8:47; 10:1-4; 10:24-30). With our good hearts, we can ask God to guide us through the forks in the road in our walk with him.

Consider these quotes from two famous poets:

  • “Two roads diverged in a wood and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” (Robert Frost)
  • “The heart has reasons which reason knows not.” (Blaise Pascal)

Sometimes, I like what I call a “Scripture Blitz.” It’s the practice of reading passages curated to highlight a major Bible theme so it sinks into our conscience.

Consider these passages on Matters of the Heart:

  • Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalms 37:4)
  • For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)
  • Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10)
  • Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)
  • God delights when truth reigns in our inmost being (Psalm 51:6).
  • I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:10-11)
  • The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. (Luke 6:44-45 NRSV)
  • The Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) (Jesus is the Word of God. John 1:1-5)
  • I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:18)
  • The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
  • Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)

In the Bible, the heart is where the action is:

  • If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)

“Sorry” for the Scripture dump, but there are so many good passages, I just didn’t “have the heart” to cut them out. Keep these passages handy, and feel free to share your favorites.

As we discover the centrality of the heart in Scripture, knowing and understanding Jesus, who IS the Word of God, this has everything to do with “Matters of the Heart.”

Steve Orr writes to us from Montana. After working in the mecca of technology, Steve traded the rat race of Silicon Valley for the adventures of High Tech in Big Sky Country. Steve has an MBA with experience in accounting, finance, technology, and management. He occasionally writes a little software code, but mostly he likes writing about Matters of the Heart.