THE WORD HEART
In the New Testament the word "heart" is used many times. In Hebrew it is leybe (LAYB), in Greek the word is kardia (kahr-DEE-ah). It is used as the seat of spiritual, physical and mental life. (Psalm 101:5, 102:4, Acts 14:5, James 5:5), as the center amd source of the whole inner life, with its thinking, feeling, and will, in the case of th natural man as well as the Redeemed man. (I Chronicles 28:9, Luke 16:15, I Thessalonians 2:4, Romans 8:27, Revelation 2:23).
Spiritual matters, emotions, and the physical are experienced or sensed within the physical heart.
In this study we will not be using a medical definition; for example, testing the circulation or the heart rate; for which one may have a kardiogram (from kardia for heart) or a pulsetest. We are not speaking of the heart as merely "a physical pump" that circulates blood through the arteries into the capillaries and returns it by means of the venous system to the heart, or what one might hear through a stethescope. Or that for which one might change to a more "heart healthy diet" for the purpose of longevity. We are not using medical or nutritional definitions here, but something far beyond all that; experiences from the Spiritual, emotional or physical which are connected to the soul.
THE SOUL IS CONNECTED TO THE HEART
By some invisible means which no one quite understands, G-d has connected the human soul to the heart, and we can "feel" what the soul feels through the heart.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF HEARTS
Not all people however, "feel" the same way in their hearts about certain things. Some persons' hearts are more sensitive than others'. This is also confirmed by Scripture, for it says that some do have "a stony heart" or a "hardened heart" while others are said to have a "heart of flesh" or a "tender heart".
A HARD-HEARTED PERSON CAN APPEAR TO HAVE A TENDER HEART
The hard-hearted person can closely associate with tender-hearted persons of whom they can have advantage. By the time all is said and done, the secretly hard-hearted person reveals their cruelty of heart.[1] We see the example of Pharoah. He appeared to have a willing heart to release the children of Israel, but then hardened his heart against G-ds' Minister. As long as Moishe (Moses) was present, Pharoah was willing, when Moishe went away, his cruelty returned. This shows a kind of "tender or willing-heartedness by association only".
Persons with a hard heart can appear very amicable and agreeable, even "loving[2], caring and compassionate" in your presence to "keep up appearences", but cruel, vicious and rapacious apart from your presence, then at the most opportune time, they show forth their true colors.
THE WORLD REJECTS WHAT G-D ACCEPTS
The world does routinely reject what G-d Accepts. "Nice guys (or girls, now), finish last" is the motto of "the world". In an extremely competitive and "strictly profesional" world system, many times the hard-hearted "meanness" of an individual can help them "climb the ladder of success" much more rapidly. They "fit right in" and are highly admired. These persons are far more than merely "somewhat selfish" (although selfishness does point to a hard heart). These types are jokingly referred to and envied in "the world" as "barracudas" or "top dog" because of their vengefully successful strategy and tactics.
In Japan for instance, "Business is War", and the martial work The Art of War by Sun-Tze and The Book of the Five Rings by Mushashi Miyamoto are studied with warlike zeal as students and businessmen are encouraged to "go for the throat" of business rivals. These works are now also being touted in Western culture as "the only way to go". Hard-hearted vuciousness pays big rewards and no one is saying anything about the
THE ROOT OF HARD-HEARTEDESS: THE SIN OF PRIDE
Behind every hard-hearted, mean or cruel person one can find Pride as their motivation. Is it serious? The devil fell from Heaven because of Pride and Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of Pride.[3]
REJECTING THE BROKEN-HEARTED
We have seen how the world rejects the Believer: the Truly Meek. The True Believer also becomes "broken-hearted" and "circumcised in heart". What about when the world came face-to-face with the Messiah?
Scripture speaks of just what happened. Yeshua was rejected by the hard-hearted world system of the day. Yeshua had a broken heart in His Humanity when He wept over Jerusalem after being rejected:
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the Prophets, and stonest them which are sent to thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens underneath her wings, but thou wouldest not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I Say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth until ye shall say, 'Blessed is He that Cometh in The Name of the L-RD. Matthew 23:37-39
Widespread hard-heartedness as a lifestyle will eventually lead to the downfall of any nation.
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FOOTNOTES
[1
Hard-heartedness also does manifest itself in Sadistic behaviour. These types should be identified early to guard against ever marrying a Sadist.
This is self and group deception and hypocrisy. "If the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch", and provide some other substitute than Regeneration and entering His Kingdom. Yeshua is the Issue, The Way to His Kingdom is the Issue.
[2
[3
Mushashi Miyamoto. The Book of the Five Rings.
Sun-Tze. The Art of War.
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