What kind of heart do I have: Do I have “good treasure” or “evil treasure”?
The first mention of “HEART” in Scripture appears in Berĕshith (Genesis) 6:5. It is a very familiar story about the Days of Noaḥ, who found favour in the eyes of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) at a time when the entire world was going astray. Messiah 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤅𐤏 (YAHUSHUA) talked about the Days of Noaḥ re-emerging before His return. One of the things that tell us how close we are to Messiah’s return is the condition of people’s hearts today.
What does the Scripture say about the heart condition of people in the Days of Noaḥ?
Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. (Gen 6:5)
We can see the problems that existed because of the evil heart of humanity at that time:
- sexual promiscuity
- interbreeding that resulted in the Nephilim (tyrannical giants)
- rampant corruption
- violence everywhere
What is the heart?
When we speak of “the heart” in this context, we are not merely speaking of the physical organ that beats in our chest, pumping blood to keep the body vibrant and alive; we’re speaking of something much more profound.
The Strong’s Concordance indicates that the related Hebrew word for heart is לֵב or LEB. The lexicon defines LEB (לֵב) as the “inner man, mind, will, heart.” This reflects multiple dimensions of the word “heart:”
1. the heart itself, in the physical sense. Example: “He had a heart attack but miraculously survived.”
2. figuratively denoting the feelings, the will and even the intellect. Example: “Love 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 will all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.”
3. referring to the centre of anything. Example: “Let’s get to the heart of the matter.”
HEBREW WORD STUDY
The Hebrew word for “heart” is made up of two letters: (1) LAMED and (2) BET.
Lamed symbolically refers to authority, and it depicts a staff used to goad an animal in the right direction. In this context, we can see how someone who looks to the authority of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 is guided by His staff in the right direction – away from sin and towards righteousness.
Bet symbolically refers to the house or “into.” Messiah, the True Shepherd, says He stands the door and knocks, and anyone who hears His voice and lets Him in will dine with Him.
(Credit for Hebrew aleph-bet graphics: Hebrew4Christians.)
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES ON THE HEART
Do I have “good treasure” or “evil treasure”?
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 17:9-10 – “The heart is crooked above all, and desperately sick – who shall know it? I, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, search the heart, I try the kidneys, and give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.
Luqas (Luke) 6:45 – A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Tehillim (Psalms) 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be pleasing before You, O יהוה, my rock and my redeemer.
Marqos (Mark) 11:23 – “For truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says, shall be done, he shall have whatever he says.
Deḇarim (Deuteronomy) 30:14 – But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
Mattithyahu (Matthew) 15:18 – But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man.
Romiyim (Romans) 10:9 – Because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤅𐤏 (YAHUSHUA) as Master, and shalt believe in thy heart that Alahym raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…
Iyoḇ (Job) 22:22 – Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart.
Who can save us from an evil heart?
Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 14:30 – A healthy [healing] heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.
Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 4:4 – He taught me also, and said unto me, “Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.”
Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 4:20-22 – My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 4:23 – Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Tehillim (Psalms) 37:30-31 – The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of right-ruling. The Torah of his Alahym is in his heart; his steps do not slide.
Tehillim (Psalms) 119:11 – I have treasured up Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Tehillim (Psalms) 7:10 – My shield is upon Alahym, Who saves the upright in heart.
A Healthy Heart Exults in YHUH
Tehillim (Psalms) 61:2 – From the end of the earth I call unto You, when my heart is faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Tehillim (Psalms) 147:3 – He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.
Tehillim (Psalms) 28:7 – 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 is my strength, and my shield; my heart has trusted in Him, and I have been helped; therefore my heart exults, And with my song I thank Him.
Shemu’al Aleph (1 Samuel) 2:1 – And Hannah prayed, and said: “My heart exulteth in YHUH; My horn is exalted in YHUH; My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; Because I rejoice in thy salvation.”
Pilipiyim (Philippians) 4:7 – And the peace of Alahym, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through YAHUSHUA Messiah.
A New Heart
Yehezqĕl (Ezekiel) 36:26 – A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.