The Heart vs. Words: A Biblical Perspective

As human beings, we often tend to focus more on the words we say, rather than our intentions behind them. We live in a society where words hold great power and we are often judged based on what we say. However, when it comes to our relationship with God, it is our heart that truly matters. In this blog post, we’ll discuss why God looks at our hearts over our words and what that means for our daily lives.

1. The Importance of the Heart in Scripture: In the Bible, the heart is often mentioned in relation to our thoughts, emotions, and intentions. In Proverbs 4:23, it is written, “Above all things, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” This means that the condition of our heart affects our actions and words. We might say the right things, but if our heart is not in the right place, our words will not hold any weight. In Matthew 15:18-19, Jesus emphasizes that it is not what goes into our mouths that defiles us, but what comes out of our hearts.
2. The Example of the Pharisees: The Pharisees in the Bible were often criticized by Jesus for being hypocrites. They followed the law meticulously, but their hearts were filled with greed and pride. In Matthew 23:25-26, Jesus called them out, saying, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.” This shows that even if we say all the right things and perform our religious duties, if our hearts are not pure, it does not matter.
3. The Story of David: David was a man after God’s own heart, despite his many mistakes. In 1 Samuel 16:7, God told Samuel that, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” David’s genuine repentance and desire to follow God’s will is what made him a hero of the faith. Even when he stumbled, David’s heart remained focused on pleasing God.
4. Putting it into Practice: In our daily lives, it is easy to get caught up in what others think of us. We might say things we don’t mean, or do things to impress others, rather than following God’s will. However, if we focus on guarding our heart and making sure our intentions are pure, it will reflect in our words and actions. As Jesus says in Luke 6:45, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

In conclusion, it is clear that God values our hearts over our words. While it is important to speak positively and use our words wisely, if our hearts are not pure, our words will fall flat. We must take care to guard our hearts and strive for a genuine desire to follow God’s will in all that we do. It is only then that our words will hold true meaning and bring glory to God.