What’s In a Man’s Heart and Soul?

What Defiles a Man?

What makes up the heart of a man? I have read the heart of a man is the primary ruling center of a person’s soul. A man is considered “good” or “bad” by what we see through his actions, by what we see in his heart, but what does Jesus see?

Less Religion, More Jesus

Jesus wanted to find hearts devoted to God, sinners seeking salvation and redemption. The Pharisees and Scribes wanted to look for obedience to their rules, for example: In Mark 7, the Pharisees asked Jesus why His disciples didn’t follow the traditions of their elders. The Pharisees followed Jesus from town to town, trying, hoping to find something in His teaching to discredit Him and His disciples. (Mark 7:2) “Now, when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, unwashed hands, they found fault.”  The only thing they could “pin” on Him, at that time, was a ritual not set by God but by men.

Jesus had to point out their error by stating the fact that they are teaching this and many other rituals as religious doctrine from God when, in reality, it is from man (Mark 7:9) “…All too well you reject the commandments of God, that you keep your tradition.”  This ritual only serves the Pharisees, to set them apart, above the masses, instead of serving the masses, or serving God.

Jesus also quotes Isaiah 29:13, “ These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”  (Mark 7:14) Then Jesus calls the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.”

Window to the Heart

What a man eats or drinks does not defile a man, but what comes out of him, such as ungodly words, ungodly actions, impure thoughts. Jesus wants us to see that the core issue always relates to what is in the heart. (Mark 7:21)  “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, (v.22) thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. (v.23) All these things come from within and defile a man.”

Jesus Sees Our Heart

A man’s heart is the window into the soul. A man’s actions display what’s in the heart. His thoughts, his feelings, his true self is an honest depiction of who he is. Jesus, our God, our Savior, is the only one who can see us for who we honestly are. He sees our hearts from the inside out. Jesus is the only one qualified to judge what’s in a man’s heart.

Since the beginning of history in the Garden of Eden, man has struggled with the decision of good and evil, right and wrong. Our creator has left the choice of your heart up to you. The question is: Do you choose good or evil, God, or Satan?

God gave us a choice.  However, we are human. We are imperfect, and sometimes we make the wrong choices. We allow ungodly influences into our hearts. Our hearts become impure, and if your wondering, Jesus sees that.

When God made man and woman, He gave all of us a heart for God, for strength, for love, compassion, family, unity, self-sacrifice, giving, and so much more. Satan, in the form of a serpent, fed Adam and Eve (and all of us) lies, deceit, envy, shame, and every sin man has committed against God. All of these actions come from what’s in our hearts, good or bad.

…and they could not see…

Jesus saw the flaw in the hearts of the Pharisees and Scribes. Instead of God’s repentance and forgiveness filling their hearts, they chose jealousy and insecurity. Men who were supposed to serve God by serving the people chose to serve themselves. A severe flaw, indeed.

The sad part of this whole scenario is; the real answer to their problem was staring them in the face. The so-called religious leaders were staring directly into the eyes of God Himself, God in the flesh, and they could not see it because of their hardened hearts.

How You Feel in Your Heart

The beautiful gift Jesus has offered us is staring us in the face also, forgiveness and redemption. God has given us the option to change our hearts. Do you want to have a better heart? Do you want your heart to be pleasing to God? Jesus wants what’s best for you. He sacrificed everything for you.

Please take a serious look at your heart, take a look at how you feel about yourself, what you think about other people. Take a serious look at how you feel about Jesus. He loves you, Ask Him into your heart, He feels the pain, anger, loneliness, emptiness, and any other emotion from an unfulfilled soul. Jesus is very qualified to help you, He bore the full punishment of these emotions on the cross. Ask Him to guide you in your walk with Christ. He will answer you with His word written for you. The Bible is the inspired word of God.

Proverbs 23:7  states: “ For as he thinks in his heart  so is he.”  You know your thoughts, Jesus knows your thoughts too. Your thoughts and actions reflect the quality of your heart. Jesus gave you your heart, trust Him and give your heart back to God. Let Him transform you into His likeness.

God bless.