The heart is a powerful symbol in Christianity, and the New Testament is full of references to it. From Jesus’ teachings to the writings of the apostles, the heart is seen as the center of a person’s spiritual life. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most important New Testament references to the heart and how they can help us understand our faith.
The Heart in Jesus’ Teachings
One of the most important New Testament references to the heart is found in Jesus’ teachings. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). This verse emphasizes the importance of having a pure heart, which is essential for having a relationship with God. Jesus also said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). This verse teaches us that our hearts are where our true desires and motivations lie.
The Heart in the Writings of the Apostles
The New Testament also contains many references to the heart in the writings of the apostles. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul wrote, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). This passage emphasizes the importance of having a humble and gentle heart, which is essential for living a life of love and unity.
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). This verse teaches us to focus our thoughts on things that are good and pure, which will help us to have a heart that is focused on God.
The Heart in the Book of Revelation
The book of Revelation also contains several references to the heart. In Revelation 2:23, Jesus says, “I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.” This verse emphasizes the importance of having a heart that is focused on God, as God will judge us according to our deeds.
In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” This verse teaches us that God is always knocking on the door of our hearts, and if we open the door to Him, He will come in and have a relationship with us.
Quiz
1. What did Jesus say in the Sermon on the Mount?
A. “Blessed are the poor in spirit”
B. “Blessed are the meek”
C. “Blessed are the pure in heart”
D. “Blessed are the peacemakers”
2. What did Paul write in his letter to the Ephesians?
A. “Be completely humble and gentle”
B. “Be patient, bearing with one another in love”
C. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit”
D. All of the above
3. What did Jesus say in Revelation 2:23?
A. “I will strike her children dead”
B. “I will repay each of you according to your deeds”
C. “I am he who searches hearts and minds”
D. All of the above
4. What did Jesus say in Revelation 3:20?
A. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock”
B. “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in”
C. “I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me”
D. All of the above
5. What did Paul write in his letter to the Philippians?
A. “Be completely humble and gentle”
B. “Be patient, bearing with one another in love”
C. “Think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy”
D. All of the above
Rededication
The New Testament references to the heart can help us to understand our faith and to live a life that is pleasing to God. We can use these references to help us to focus our hearts on God and to live a life of love and unity. We can also use these references to help us to rededicate our hearts to God and to make sure that our hearts are pure and focused on Him.
Discussion Questions
1. What does it mean to have a pure heart?
2. How can we use the New Testament references to the heart to help us live a life that is pleasing to God?
3. What does it mean to rededicate our hearts to God?
4. How can we make sure that our hearts are focused on God?
5. What are some practical ways to keep our hearts pure?
FAQs
Q: What is the importance of the heart in Christianity?
A: The heart is a powerful symbol in Christianity, and the New Testament is full of references to it. From Jesus’ teachings to the writings of the apostles, the heart is seen as the center of a person’s spiritual life.
Q: What did Jesus say in the Sermon on the Mount?
A: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
Q: What did Paul write in his letter to the Ephesians?
A: In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul wrote, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3).
Q: What did Jesus say in Revelation 2:23?
A: In Revelation 2:23, Jesus says, “I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.”
Q: What did Jesus say in Revelation 3:20?
A: In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
Quiz Answers:
1. C
2. D
3. D
4. D
5. C
#Heart_Xgospel #Biblical_References_to_the_Heart #heart
