Knowing the Heart

For some time I have heard a sentence tossed around, many times at me that I find rather interesting and would like to explore it. "You don't know my heart!" In some way, and some form, this sentence is tossed out with some indignant manner towards someone with the expressed intent to reveal what was said was in error and that the person who said it was perhaps a fool at best and at worst a false prophet. I truly enjoy the ignorance and justification that is mixed together so that someone can stand in their pride and proclaim what they have said is correct because no one can know their heart, well almost no one, God does of course, but the person is implying that to doubt them is ludicrous because it can't be proven. Well let's see what the Word has to say!

Let's start by looking at the Lord Jesus. Now if we have an Example in Scripture, isn't it the Lord?? Fine, let's read. Matthew 12:24-37 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

1492 eidw eido i'-do or oida oida oy'-da

a root word; TDNT-5:116, 673; v

AV-know 281, cannot tell + 3756 8, know how 7, wist 6, misc 19, see 314, behold 17, look 6, perceive 5, vr see 3, vr know 1; 667

1) to see

1d3a) i.e. to ascertain what must be done about it

2) to know

2a) to know of anything
2b) to know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive

2c) to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to (#1Th 5:12)

In this passage of Scripture, the verb eidw is used in the Perfect tense and active voice, but Matthew uses it in a participle form. Literally it must be seen as a completed action, a finished action and could be translated And Jesus having fully perceived their thoughts...! Jesus had a full understanding of what the Pharisees were thinking. For those who are unaware and ignorant of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, this knowledge is what is called the Word of knowledge, but it can also be revealed by another Spirit gift, Discerning of spirits. For those who have studied the gifts of the Spirit so they have understanding, these are part of what we call the revelational gifts. There are three groupings of the Spirit gifts: revelational, power, and inspirational. It should be rather elementary to look at the nine gifts and see what goes into what group. The Holy Spirit reveals to Jesus the thoughts and intents of the Pharisees.

Jesus makes another point about the Pharisees and knowing their hearts, but He does it in a different manner, one that is godly common sense rather than being used in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Look at the other point! O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. If a murder is committed by someone, godly common sense tells us there was an evil heart that had murder in it. The abundance of the thoughts of murder produced the evil manifestation into the physical of murder. When lies come forth from a person, that person has a heart filled with lies. This thing doesn't always take a rocket scientist's brain to understand. Howbeit, there are far too many people who cry, "Ohhhhh meeee, you don't know MY heart!!" Then the band wagon comes to the support of the poor soul who can't have their heart known because that isn't done. Hmmmm, now what did Jesus say?? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. I think I will believe Jesus on this one!

Let's take a look at another passage of Scripture. Here Jesus has just rebuked the Pharisees for allowing tradition to do away with God's Word! Jesus explains to Peter and the other disciples who had a difficult time understanding what He meant. Matthew 15:16-20 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. When someone lies, you know there is a heart problem. When someone commits adultery or has an addiction to pornography or blasphemes, there is indeed a heart problem and for that person who is faced to declare, "You don't know my heart!!" has merely established the consistency of God's Word and the fact that we can indeed know the heart of man!

The reason for God's Word is two fold, to give us a measuring stick and convict us by it through the Holy Spirit, and to tell us that God's love is manifested towards us that Jesis died paying heaven's price for sin. When a preacher is preaching fire and brimstone, the devil who leads so many people squirms a bit and induces some to squeel and reject the truth of their sin filled lives. Many times they cry, "You don't know my heart!" The truth is the Lord does know the heart, His Spirit knows the heart, and the Word of God knows the heart! Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. When the preacher or the teacher is using the truth, God's Word in a correct manner, the Holy Spirit who breathed on holy men of old to record it will also anoint the Word to accomplish God's desire for it.

The Word of God will discern the thoughts of people in the congregation, and they will be faced with a choice. It is for sure that we can know the heart whether by one's deeds or by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so the next time you are tempted to tell someone that they can't know your heart, stop and think for a minute, the only reason you are saying this is to cover up the sin in your life. Don't let the devil rob you of the moment that the Holy Spirit is dealing with your heart. Repent, get washed in the blood for that sin, and allow our Lord Jesus to cleanse you. Don't compound your sin problem with cover up and manipulation making it easier to pusgh aside the Holy Spirit's conviction the next time because there will be a next time!