Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In this passage (as elsewhere in Scripture), the heart (because of its central role in maintaining life) is used as a metaphor for the human mind or brain, in the sense of being the center of thought and emotions. (Jesus later used the same imagery in speaking of how it was the things that came out of the heart that spiritually defiled a person, rather than any item of food that the person consumed from without (Matthew 15:16-20; Mark 7:14-23).)

In the passage from Proverbs, Solomon is saying that wise people need to guard or control their hearts (referring to their thoughts, and to the words and actions that flow, or result, from those thoughts) in order to keep themselves pure and pleasing to God.

April 25 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

See what Jesus said in Matthew 15:19:

"For out of the heart come evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander."

"The heart, in biblical terms, is not merely an organ that pumps blood; it is the seat of our emotions, thoughts, and desires. It is the wellspring from which all our actions flow. Jesus, in this passage, teaches us that the external actions we often focus on are merely symptoms of a deeper, internal issue. The true battle is fought within our hearts." --Adrianne Gonzalez

Also, see what the Master said in Mark 7:21: "For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 7:22 adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly. 7:23 All these evils come from within and defile a person.”

FYI: "A number of the sins that Jesus lists are direct violations of the Ten Commandments (adultery, sexual sins, murders, thefts, covetings, blasphemy). The others are rooted in the teachings of the Old Testament." --https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary-old/mark-71-23/

August 29 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

Proverbs 4:23: Keep the heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Today, we see the creation of God the Father, mankind, who are led by what they store in their heart. It is from the abundance stored in their heart that they are led for their mouth to speak. Those who then fail to guard their heart with diligence are then led to store evil treasures, having in abundance in the heart, leading their mouth to speak. For the one who is led to keep their heart with diligence, out of good treasures stored, their heart bringeth forth that which is good. For then it’s not what enters into your body (your blood to strive) that defies you, for it entered not into your heart, but into your belly and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats in you. For then the one who guards their heart with all diligence is led to rend their heart, which leads them in humbleness to turn unto the Lord God. For our Lord God is merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, to one who rends their hearts and stands in humbleness that repenteth of any evil. (Mat 12:34/Luk 6:45/Mark 7:15,19/Joel 2:13)

Lord Jesus knew whom He had chosen, the twelve disciples, including one in particular, who would eat bread with Him, and would lift his heel against Him. This disciple was Judas Is-car’-i-ot, who was one of the twelve disciples of Lord Jesus, who had laid and stored evil treasures in his heart. Lord Jesus was troubled in His spirit, knowing who would betray Him. Judas went out to the chief priests, looking for treasures by delivering our Lord Jesus to them. When Judas came back and sat down to eat with Him, Lord Jesus revealed to His disciples that one of them would betray Him. Later, when Lord Jesus came to Gethsem’-a-ne with His disciples, He went up to the mount to pray. During this time, Judas went out to the chief priest to betray Him. When Lord Jesus came down while he was talking to the disciples, Judas came with the chief priest and the elders with swords and staves. For they all took counsel and sought false witness against Jesus to put him to death. Judas then repented, knowing that he had sinned by betraying the innocent blood, and then went and hanged himself. (Mat 26:14,59/27:3-5/John 13:18,21) 

One who keeps their heart with all diligence, will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, which bringeth forth fruit in its season. Being a tree of life filled with God’s given wisdom, nothing that enters a person from outside can defile them. This is because it does not enter the heart, but goes into thy belly and then goeth out into the draughts, purging all meats. (Psa 1:3/Mark 7:18-19) One who purges all meats that goeth in the draughts, considers diligently what is before them. If you sit with a ruler, then diligently evaluate the situation and “put a knife to your throat,” being a man who has been given God’s given wisdom. Labour, not to be rich in wisdom, which leads one to have wings to fly away like an eagle towards heaven. Judas labored to have wings to fly through his heart, knowing that Lord Jesus said when He sat with them and ate that one would betray Him. Judas was ashamed to go back to Lord Jesus and ask for forgiveness of his sinful nature, so he then went and hanged himself. (Pro 23:1-5/John 15/Mat 12:34/27:3,5)

Jeremiah 17:10: I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. 

Joel 2:13: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

1 day ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Shirley H Supporter Wife, mother, veteran in the spiritual war we all face!

My King James Bible says, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

1Corinthians 1:22,23 - "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness."

Exodus 17:6, "Behold, I stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come living water out of it, and the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel."

Throughout scripture Jesus is the Rock. He alone is wisdom and the source of all life. He is salvation.

1 Corinthians 3:11, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Christ Jesus."

What we believe in our heart will show in our thoughts and actions. 

1 Samuel 12: 20, 24; "...yet turn not aside from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; only fear the LORD, serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you."

1Samuel 16:7,..."for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

Christ is above any wisdom in this world.

April 25 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report