Bible Interpretation: The Heart of the Matter.

The Word of God often identifies a “hard heart” as the reason for people failing to perceive spiritual truth. Isaiah 6:9-10 He said, “Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Mark 8:17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?

Ephesians 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts (Emphasis mine).

Why the heart is critical in the perception and understanding of spiritual truth becomes obvious when we grasp the meaning of the term. In biblical thought, the “heart” includes that part of us that processes information and reaches conclusions:

1 Kings 3:9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. . . .

Proverbs 2:2 . . . applying your heart to understanding

Proverbs 14:33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning . . .

Proverbs 15:14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge . . .

Matthew 9:4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? . . .”

Ephesians 1:17-18 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened . . .

Given the importance of the heart in understanding anything, here is a truth that haunts me:

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

How disturbing it is to consider that the “heart” is the human factor most critical in determining one’s ability to understand, and yet it is treacherously unreliable! We have parts of us deep within that – ably assisted by our spiritual enemy, the Deceiver – are in constant danger of deceiving not just other people, but ourselves.

Psalms 36:2 For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.

Proverbs 30:12 . . . are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth

Proverbs 16:2 All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

We keep tending to think that it is only non-Christians whose heart deceives them. This is most certainly not so:

Revelation 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

1 Corinthians 4:4-5 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. . . .

1 John 3:20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

How difficult it is to get in touch with what is deep within us is perhaps hinted at in this Scripture:

Deuteronomy 8:2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. (Emphasis mine)

Moreover, Bible readers are particularly open to self-deception.

James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. . . . (Emphasis mine)

There is nothing like a head knowledge of Scripture for so blinding us with pride that we suppose we have arrived when we haven’t left the starting blocks.

1 Corinthians 8:1 . . . Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

Both knowledge and love make a person seem bigger but one is nothing but hot air.

Love is manifested by putting Bible knowledge into practice:

John 14:15 If you love me, you will obey what I command.

Romans 13:9 The commandments . . are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

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