ALL ONE'S HEART

"WATCH OVER YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE,

FOR FROM IT FLOW THE SPRINGS OF LIFE."
Proverbs 4:23

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF "HEART" IN SCRIPTURE?

The Bible uses the word "heart" primarily to refer to the ruling center of the whole person, the
spring of all desires. The heart is seen as the seat of the will, intellect and feelings.
"Character", "personality" and "mind" are approximate modern terms for the Bible's meaning
of heart.

According to the Bible, the heart is the center not only of spiritual activity, but of all the
operations of human life. "Heart" and "soul" are often used interchangeably (Deut. 6:5;
26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33), but this is not generally the case. The heart is
the "home of the personal life," and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise
(1 Kings 3:12, etc.), pure (Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8, etc.), upright and righteous (Gen. 20:5, 6; Ps.
11:2; 78:72), pious and good (Luke 8:15), etc. In these and such passages the word "soul"
could not be substituted for "heart." The heart is also the seat of the conscience (Rom.
2:15). It is naturally wicked (Gen. 8:21), and hence it contaminates the whole life and
character (Matt. 12:34; 15:18; comp. Eccl. 8:11; Ps. 73:7). Easton, Matthew George.
Easton’s Bible Dictionary. bible-history.com - Eastons; 1897.

HOW ARE “HEARTS” DESCRIBED?

Scripture describes the hearts of various individuals as varying both in overall attitude and in
intensity. Let us first consider some descriptions of the attitude, or character of the heart.

THERE ARE BAD HEARTS:

Proud heart - 2Chronicles 25:19; 26:16; 32:25, 26; Proverbs 21:4

Idolatrous heart - Ezekiel.14:4, 7

Turned away (from God) heart - 1Kings 11:3,4, 9; Isaiah 29:13

Hardened heart - 2Chronicles 36:13; Isaiah 63:17; Hebrews 3:8,15; 4:7

Embittered – Psalms 73:21

Stubborn heart - Psalms 81:12

Erroneous heart - Psalms 95:10; Acts 7:39

Deceitful heart – Jeremiah 17:9

Backslider in heart - Proverbs 14:14

THERE ARE GOOD HEARTS:

Clean heart - Psalms 51:10

Heart to fear the Lord. - Deuteronomy 5:29

Broken and contrite heart - Psalms 51:17

Tender heart - 2Kings 22:19; 2Chronicles 34:27

Steadfast heart - Psalms 57:10

Joyful or glad heart - Proverbs 15:13; 17:22

Tranquil heart - Proverbs 14:30

Upright heart - Psalms 32:11

A heart after God's own heart - 1Samuel 13:14; Philippians 2:20

Besides these descriptions of heart attitude and character, the Bible indicates that the heart
is capable of varying degrees of strength, commitment or intensity. We may have a...

divided / double / deceitful heart - 1 Chronicles 12:33; Hosea 10:2; Psalms 12:2
(depending on the translation used),

heart wholly (fully) devoted - 1Kings 15:14 (heart was perfect - KJV),

whole heart - 1Chronicles 28:9 (perfect heart - KJV),

pure heart - Psalms 24:4; 73:113; Matthew 5:8; James 4:8 (purity of heart means
there is one purpose, one devotion with no mixture or adulteration).

A heart wholly devoted, a whole heart, a pure heart are commonly understood terms for any
"first-love" relationship (Revelation 2:4) with the Lord. It is the "hot" rather than the
"lukewarm" of Revelation 3:16.

There is one more expression to consider. Jesus said that the greatest commandment was
to love the Lord God with all one's heart, mind, soul and strength. It may be unnecessary to
draw the distinction, but if a whole or pure heart is a perfect quality, then "with all one's
heart" is perfect quantity.

.”..you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.” Deuteronomy
4:2

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul...” Deuteronomy 6:5

“...what does the Lord...require from you, but to fear...walk... love...serve the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord's appointment...?” Deut.
10:12

“...if you listen...worship...serve Him with all your heart and all your soul...He will give the
rain...the grass.. “ Deuteronomy 11:13

“...God is testing you to find out if you love the Lord...with all your heart and with all your
soul. “ Deuteronomy 13:3

“(His statutes)...be careful to do them (God's statutes) with all your heart and with all your
soul.” Deuteronomy 26:16

“...return.and obey Him with all your heart and soul...” Deuteronomy 30:2

.”..the Lord...will circumcise your heart...to love the Lord... with all your heart and with all your
soul, in order that you may live.” Deuteronomy 30:6

“...if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.” Deuteronomy 30:10

“...be careful to observe...to love the Lord...walk in all His ways and keep His
commandments and hold fast...and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Joshua 22:5

“...if you return to the Lord with all your heart...He will deliver you... “ 1Samuel 7:3

“...you have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside...but serve the Lord with all your
heart.” 1Samuel 12:20

“...fear the Lord and serve Him...with all your heart; for consider what great things He has
done for you.” 1Samuel 12:24

“(God's promise) - "If your sons are careful...to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and
with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne..." 1Kings 2:4

"...O Lord,...there is no God like Thee... who art keeping covenant and showing
lovingkindness to Thy servants who walk before Thee with all their heart..." 1Kings 8:23
(also 2Chronicles 6:14)

"...if they return to Thee with all their heart and with all their soul...and pray..." 1Kings 8:48
(also 2Chronicles 6:38)

“Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk...and to keep His
commandments... “ 1Kings 8:61

(God speaking) - "...David, who kept My commandments and who followed Me with all his
heart, to do only that which was right..." 1Kings 14:8

“But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart...
“ 2Kings 10:31
"Remember now, O Lord,...how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a whole heart..."
2Kings 20:3 (also Isaiah 38:3)

“And the king...made a covenant...to walk after the Lord, and to keep His
commandments...with all his heart and all his soul... “ 2Kings 23:3 (also 2Chron. 34:31)

“And before Him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with
all his soul and with all his might... “ 2Kings 23:25

"...Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing
mind..." 1Chronicles 28:9

“And they entered into the covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart
and soul...” 2Chronicles 15:12

“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support
those whose heart is completely His.” 2Chronicles 16:9

"He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart." 2Chronicles 22:9

“And he did right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.” 2Chronicles 25:2

“And every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law...seeking his God,
he did with all his heart and prospered.” 2Chronicles 31:21

"I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart." Psalms 9:1 (also Psa. 86:12, 111:1, 138:1)

“How blessed are those...who seek Him with all their heart. “ Psalms 119:2

"With all my heart I have sought Thee..." Psalms 119:10

"Give me understanding, that I may observe They law, and keep it with all my heart." Psalms
119:34

"I entreated Thy favor with all my heart..." Psalms 119:58

"...With all my heart I will observe Thy precepts." Psalms 119:69

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart... “ Proverbs 3:5

(God speaking) - "Judah did not return to Me with all her heart..." Jeremiah 3:10

(God speaking) - "And I will give them a heart to know Me...and I will be their God, for they
will return to Me with their whole heart." Jeremiah 24:7

(God speaking) - "And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your
heart." Jeremiah 29:13

(God speaking) - "Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping, and mourning;
and rend your heart and not your garments." Joel 2:12
“Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter..” . Zephaniah 3:14

And (Jesus) said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all
your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment." Matthew
22:37 (also Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27)

“...but sanctify (set apart) Christ as Lord in your hearts..”. 1Peter 3:15

"Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight

in my ways." Proverbs 23:26

(God's heart) "...I will faithfully plant them in this

land with all My heart and with all My soul." Jeremiah 32:41