The Heart of the Matter*

The Word of God is like a spiritual heart monitor. It reveals to us what is in our hearts, even the hidden things. Our hearts are at the center of our relationship with God, and dictate the words that we speak: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." (Ps. 19:14), and "My heart is inditing (Hebrew meaning - keep moving, gush) a good matter (dabar - word, commandment, utterance): I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer." (Ps. 45:1). In the Book of Acts, a man named Simon of Samaria, a former sorcerer, believed the Gospel, and was baptized with water in the faith. He witnessed many miracles at the hands of the apostle Philip. Peter and John came to Samaria from Jerusalem when they heard about the new believers. Simon then saw those apostles laying hands upon the new believers, and those believers then received the Holy Spirit. "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part not lot in this matter: for thy heart (Greek - Kardia) is not right in the sight of God." (Acts 8:18-21). Peter told Simon to repent of this wickedness, and Simon asked them to pray for him, that none of the consequences of which Peter spoke would come upon him (v. 23-24). As God looks into the hearts of men, it also has an effect upon Him. In Genesis 6, when God examined the hearts of men before He brought the judgment of the flood, scripture says: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart (leb - heart soul, mind, thinking, conscience, appetites, emotions, inner man) was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved (asab - hurt, pain, torture) him at his heart." (Gen. 6:5-6). The LORD was tortured by what He saw in the hearts of men. Christ was tortured also because of the evil of men's hearts. The prophet Jeremiah wrote that blessed are those who trust in the LORD. They would prosper and be kept, and remain fruitful even through trying circumstances (Jer. 17:7-8). He went on to say though: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins (kilya - kidneys, interior self), even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." (v. 9-10). Proverbs tells us to receive the words of the LORD, and apply our hearts to understanding them (Prov. 2:1-2). Proverbs 3 says that if our hearts will keep the Word and commandments, if we will write the Word upon the tablet of our heart, it will impact our lives with long life, peace, mercy, truth, favor, good understanding. If we will trust in the LORD with all our hearts, rather than leaning on our own understanding, and acknowledge Him in all our ways, He shall direct our paths, and give health and marrow to the bones (v. 1-8). From this kind of heart, filled with His Word, we trust in Him, and we gain the wisdom and understanding to "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." (v. 9-10). Riches and honor, and paths of peace follow a heart filled with the wisdom and understanding of the LORD. Even more so, it is "a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her...". (v. 16-18). In contrast, Jesus told a parable and based a teaching upon those who give up the riches of the heart, which is the treasure found in the kingdom of God, for the riches of the world, and the cares that go with them. In Luke 12, the parable tells about a rich man who invests his time and attention into building newer and bigger barns to store his earthly wealth. Little does he know that he will not live through the night, and his soul will be required of him. The Lord called this rich man a fool. "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God." (Lk. 12:v.15-21). Jesus then taught that the example of God's love and provision for each of us can be found in obvious examples from nature around us. He famously asked, "Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?" (v. 27-28). Instead of a heart full of worrying and grasping for fear of lack, Jesus said, "...seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you...Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourself bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not...For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (v. 31-34). This is the test of the heart: where is your treasure placed? Is it in the kingdom of God? If God tells you to give it, then give it. You cannot outgive God. There were those whom Jesus called hypocrites. They were the religious people of His day who used the traditions of men to ignore the commandments of God. They withheld financial support from their parents with the excuse that their money was already pledged to God. This was known as Corban. Their hearts were not right. Jesus said that this confirmed the prophet Isaiah who wrote, "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." (Mark 7:6-12). Jesus said that with this heart attitude, they made the word of God of none effect by following traditions instead. Jesus continued to teach that a man is not defiled by what is outside of him and enters into him, but he is defiled by what comes from inside him, from out of his heart (v. 18-20): "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile a man." (v. 21-23). It is "the heart of the matter" that determines a man's life. Jesus included in His Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the pure (katharos - clean, purified by fire, free from every admixture of what is false) in heart: for they shall see God." (Mt. 5:8). As Jesus was questioned by a religious lawyer trying to test Him, He was asked which was the greatest commandment of the law. Jesus answered that it was the commandment dealing with the consecration of the heart: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Mt. 22:34-40). The Word of God identifies the heart of the matter, and measures the content of our hearts. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/14/21 message to the church. 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