A Matter of the Heart
By Nell Stevenson

About a year ago I read a line of Scripture about the heart that struck a chord in me. Ever since then, the thought keeps coming back to mind or is it to heart. On contemplating the subject more closely you may agree that the biblical view on this matter of the heart is quite intriguing.

First and foremost the heart is the organ that pumps blood through our circulatory system which makes it central to life. We also speak of the “heart of the city” or the “heart of the matter” as the central or crucial part.

This vital life sustaining organ also represents our emotional and spiritual being.

The heart is generally believed to be the seat of deepest feelings and emotions, primarily kindness, affection and compassion; so we have expressions like, “have a heart”, “kindhearted”, “brokenhearted”. One who is callous or shows no affection may be called “hard hearted” or “heartless”. One who” wears his heart on his sleeve” is one who openly shows his heartfelt emotions.

In this modern era of knowledge and scientific discovery the mind takes pre-eminence over the heart as the sciences take pre-eminence over the arts. We have been more or less conditioned to suppress our emotions, at least in public. While we are all expected to express kindness and understanding on an intellectual level, any display of emotion is usually frowned upon. Even in our Christian meetings tears of sorrow or sympathy may be seen as a sign that one is phony, weak, childish or irrational. Women, unfortunately, have carried the brunt of this criticism for centuries.

An absence of emotion is seen as an indication of higher intelligence. After all, the mind is the seat of intellect, reasoning, thought and sanity. Yet the Bible says “neither have entered into the heart (not the mind) of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

In this age of education and intellectualism it is the things of the mind that are considered to be superior. They can be expressed without fear of reproach, for it is with the mind that we make plans and learn and understand and analyze matters. It is the mind of man that figures out complex problems of math and science and the universe. These things require not a heart of emotion but a mind capable of intelligent thought and careful scrutiny. Whereas we have learned that thought is from the mind, Gen.6:5 speaks of the “thoughts of man’s heart”. In Luke 24:38 Christ asks “why do thoughts arise in your hearts?” If I quote Prov.15:14 (NEV) as “the discerning mind seeks knowledge” that seems quite logical. What it actually says is “the discerning heart seeks knowledge.” In Prov.2:1 we are told “apply thy heart to understanding” and in Prov.3:1 “let thy heart keep my commandments”.

With knowledge comes understanding and obedience; so what are we to make of these matters of the heart?

Let us consider the parable of the sower, Matt.13:4,19. “And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fouls came and devoured them up…When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he that received seed by the wayside.”

A few verses earlier we are told what “understanding” means: (v.15)…lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart”.

It may take some time, but there must be a reaction between the “word” and the heart for the potential life to come forth. Notice that the seed is sown in the heart. Not only is intellectual understanding not enough, it has nothing to do with it! The gospel absolutely requires a response of the heart. That is why it is futile to appeal to a person’s mind and try to convince him by logic about Christ or His coming Kingdom.

Perhaps the heart needs more credit than we modern intellectuals like to admit. The characteristics of the heart are much more numerous than we have been taught. Understanding, obedience, thought, wisdom, knowledge and believing are added to feelings and emotions. “What difference does it make?” you may say.

The difference is that we don’t have to be smart, or sound smart or even look smart because “the Lord looks on the heart” (1S.16:7) No one is left out because of lack of intelligence. Everyone has a heart, deep feelings and emotions, which allow us to connect with others on a deep personal level. It is these marvelous characteristics of the heart that make it possible for anyone to have a personal relationship with Christ, the very young, the uneducated, the mentally challenged. It is “With the heart man believes unto righteousness” Rom.10:10. Thanks be to God that understanding and believing do not require a clever mind but a response of the heart! “Apply thine heart to understanding” says Prov. 2:2. and the “wise in heart” (Prov.10:8) will receive commandments. According to these Scriptures then, thought, understanding and obedience, which we would likely ascribe to the mind, are considered to be matters of the heart.

Now we can add trust. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”. (Prov.3:4) If only we could put aside our educated doubts and preconceived notions. Then we could trust completely and come as little children with open hearts to receive what Christ has for us.

“I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God”. (Jer.24:7) This is God’s promise to bring us into fellowship with Him. The mind has no purpose here. A heart matter cannot be understood or explained; it just is. God wants us to know Him with our hearts, and with a receptive heart comes understanding, believing, trusting, wisdom and love.

Who would have expected it? The heart, which is vital for physical life, is also central to spiritual life as well. Our relationship with Christ is indeed a matter of the heart.