For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
(Matthew 15:19) NKJV
Jesus was asked why he didn’t stop his disciples from eating before they had washed their hands. He was very direct in pointing out that we’re not defiled by what we put into our mouths, even if our hands are dirty. We’re defiled by what comes out of our mouths, and that starts in the corruption of our heart.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
(Hebrews 4:12) NKJV
Thoughts and intents proceed out of the heart, and we use these as two categories into which we separate the various characteristics of the heart that we find in scripture.
Heart, Characteristics
| Aspect | Attribute | Trait | Characteristic | Scripture |
| Soul | Heart | Thoughts | Bitterness Covetousness Evil eye Evil thoughts Imagination Wisdom Pride Trembling (fear) | Genesis 8:21 Deuteronomy 28:65 Proverbs 2:10 Ezekiel 27:31 Matthew 15:19 Mark 7:21-22 |
| Soul | Heart | Intents | Adulteries Blasphemies Deceit False witness Foolishness Fornications Lasciviousness Murders Thefts Wickedness | Isaiah 44:21 Jeremiah 17:9 Matthew 15:19 Mark 7:21-22 |
Salvation
- Call upon the name of Jesus Christ,
- believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
- confess your sin.
