Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  6000 Sin and salvation  »  6100 Aspects of sin  »  6184 imagination  »  6185 imagination, inward desires

The usually sinful inclinations of a heart which is by nature corrupt and stubborn, but which may be renewed by God, resulting in purified desires.

The heart is the source of human desires

Proverbs 4:23 See also Psalm 10:3; Matthew 12:34-35 pp Luke 6:45

God knows the human heart

1 Kings 8:39; 1 Chronicles 28:9 See also 1 Samuel 16:7 God's choice of David; Psalm 7:9; Psalm 19:14; Psalm 26:2; Psalm 38:9; Psalm 44:21; Psalm 139:2,23; Proverbs 15:26; Proverbs 21:2; Jeremiah 11:20 The plot of Jeremiah's enemies is revealed to him by the LORD; Jeremiah 20:12; Ezekiel 11:5; Revelation 2:23; Matthew 9:4 pp Mark 2:8 pp Luke 5:22 Jesus Christ knows the thoughts of others.

The corruption of the heart

Its inclination towards evil

Genesis 6:5 See also Genesis 8:21; Psalm 14:1-3 pp Psalm 53:1-3; Psalm 94:11; Ecclesiastes 9:3; Jeremiah 17:9-10; Matthew 15:18-19 pp Mark 7:20-23

Corruption finds particular expression in sexual sin

Romans 1:24 See also Matthew 5:28; Romans 1:26-27; Galatians 5:19

The stubbornness of the heart

It leads to disregard for God

Isaiah 65:2

It produces false confidence

Deuteronomy 29:18-19 See also Jeremiah 23:17

It leads to idolatry

Jeremiah 9:14 See also Jeremiah 13:10

It leads to disobedience

Jeremiah 7:24 See also Jeremiah 16:12

It brings God's judgment

Jeremiah 11:8 See also Proverbs 28:14; Proverbs 29:1; Jeremiah 18:12-13; Romans 2:5; Hebrews 3:7-11; Psalm 95:7-11

God allows people to continue in their stubbornness

God hardens Pharaoh's heart:

Exodus 4:21; Exodus 7:3; Exodus 14:4,17 Psalm 81:11-12; Romans 1:28

God's renewal of the heart

It results in purified desires

Jeremiah 24:7; Ezekiel 36:26 See also Deuteronomy 6:6; Ezekiel 11:19; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 4:23; Philippians 4:8-9; Hebrews 8:10; Jeremiah 31:33

Examples of renewed hearts

2 Chronicles 11:16; Nehemiah 9:8; Psalm 51:10; Psalm 57:7; Psalm 86:11; Jeremiah 3:17

God delights in a pure heart

Psalm 24:3-5 See also Deuteronomy 5:29; Psalm 73:1; Psalm 125:4; Matthew 5:8

God fulfils the desires of hearts devoted to him

Psalm 37:4 See also Psalm 21:2; Psalm 145:19; Matthew 6:21 pp Luke 12:34; Matthew 6:33 pp Luke 12:31

God gives the desire to follow him

1 Chronicles 29:18

The human ability to visualise in parables

See also

Matthew 13:11-17 pp Matthew 4:10-12 pp Luke 8:9-10; Luke 10:23-24

See also

1020  God, all-knowing
1352  covenant, the new
2045  Christ, knowledge of
5017  heart, renewal
5191  thought
5273  creativity
5909  motives, importance
6178  hardness of heart
6245  stubbornness
8602  prayer
8718  disobedience