Identification

• In the Bible, the heart often represents the will of a person or of an entire nation. For example, the Israelites believed that they were doing God's will by being circumcised, but God pointed out that Israel was still "uncircumcised in heart" (Jeremiah 9:25-26). The Bible says that a "spirit of prostitution is in [God's people's] heart" when they do not acknowledge God or return to Him. God judges motivation by a person's heart.
  
  

Function

• According to the Bible, a person's heart reveals his true nature and motivation. In Jeremiah 17:10, the Bible says that God "search[es] the heart and examine[s] the mind" and then rewards people for what their conduct deserves. As Jesus pointed out when observing the widow's offering, the significance of the action is driven by the heart (Luke 21:1-4). Jesus said that the widow gave more to the temple by giving two coins than those who put much more in the temple treasury because of what was in her heart (she gave all that she had).
  
  

Significance

• The Bible says that repentance is measured by whether the person returns to God with "all your heart" (Deuteronomy 30:1-3). The Bible includes some variance of "return to me with your whole heart" six times. In Joel 2:13, the Bible tells God's people to "Rend your heart and not your garments." Returning to church is not enough. According to the Bible, God cares more about the repentance in your heart than in your external actions.
  
  

Considerations

• According to the Bible, the heart is deceitful, which means that you should be wary of trusting what your heart tells you. The Bible says in Jeremiah 17:9 that the "heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure." The Bible references a specific example of this in Hosea 10:2, where the Bible talks about Israel's heart being deceitful and how the people "must bear their guilt." God holds people accountable for listening to the deceitful messages that their hearts tell them.
  
  

Effects

• According to the Bible, the motivation of your heart can have eternal ramifications. In Luke 12:34, Jesus pointed out that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 21:34 warns us to "be careful" in the end times "or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life." God wants your heart focused upon Him: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).