A Comprehensive Look at the Human Heart Through Scripture
The Bible speaks extensively about the human heart, portraying it as the core of a person’s being—where thoughts, desires, emotions, and motivations converge. However, it does not romanticize the heart as a source of unblemished goodness. Instead, it presents a sobering picture of the human heart as deceitful, wicked, and inclined toward sin. Let us dive into the depth of Scripture to understand this depiction.
Root of Sin
The Bible identifies the heart as the fountainhead of sin. Jesus Himself underscores this in the Gospel of Matthew: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15:19). This passage reveals that sin is not merely an external act; it originates from the inner workings of the heart. The human heart, in its natural state, is corrupted and serves as the breeding ground for both internal thoughts and external actions that rebel against God’s holiness.
This understanding dismantles the common notion that people are inherently good at heart. Instead, the Bible asserts that sin is intrinsic to our nature and deeply rooted in the human heart.
Deceitful and Unreliable
One of the most well-known verses about the heart is Jeremiah 17:9, which says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” This verse portrays the heart as treacherous and unreliable. Its deceitfulness lies in its ability to delude individuals about their own righteousness, motives, and desires.
The deceitful heart often presents sin as desirable, disguising it as something beneficial or harmless. This self-deception can lead people astray, away from God’s truth and toward spiritual ruin. Because the human heart cannot be trusted to discern right from wrong on its own, Scripture warns against relying solely on it for guidance.
Desperately Wicked
The phrase “desperately wicked” in Jeremiah 17:9 conveys a sense of profound moral corruption. It suggests that the human heart is not only inclined toward evil but is also incurably so in its natural state. This wickedness is not a surface-level problem that can be fixed with self-improvement or moral effort; it is a deep-seated condition that affects every part of a person’s being.
The Bible repeatedly emphasizes the severity of this condition. In Genesis 6:5, God’s assessment of humanity before the flood is stark: “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” This verse highlights the pervasive and unrelenting nature of sin within the human heart.
God’s Search
While the human heart is deceitful and wicked, it is not hidden from God. The Bible declares that God searches and knows the heart completely. Jeremiah 17:10 continues from the previous verse: “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
This divine scrutiny reveals the true nature of every heart, stripping away any pretense or self-deception. God’s ability to search the heart underscores His sovereignty and justice. It also highlights humanity’s need for humility before Him, recognizing that no thought or motive can be concealed from His gaze.
Inclination Toward Evil
The Bible acknowledges the human heart’s natural tendency toward rebellion and sin. In Ecclesiastes 9:3, we read, “The hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live.” This inclination is not an occasional lapse but a continuous state, as seen in the earlier reference to Genesis 6:5.
This inclination toward evil manifests in various ways—pride, greed, envy, hatred, and selfishness, to name a few. These are not external forces imposed upon the heart but inherent traits that reveal humanity’s fallen nature.
Rebellion Against God
Another prominent theme in the Bible’s depiction of the human heart is its rebelliousness against God. Romans 8:7 explains, “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” This hostility stems from the heart’s desire to elevate itself above God, seeking independence and self-rule rather than submission to His authority.
This rebellion often manifests as idolatry—placing created things, including oneself, above the Creator. Whether in the form of materialism, ambition, or personal gratification, the human heart continually seeks to dethrone God and assert its own sovereignty.
Need for Transformation
Despite the grim portrayal of the human heart, the Bible offers hope. It acknowledges that the heart’s deceitfulness and wickedness are beyond human remedy but not beyond God’s power to transform. Ezekiel 36:26-27 contains a beautiful promise: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
This transformation is not a superficial change but a profound regeneration. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God replaces the hardened, sinful heart with one that is soft and responsive to Him. This new heart is capable of loving God, seeking His will, and living in obedience to His Word.
The process of transformation begins with repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9-10 states, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Conclusion
The Bible’s depiction of the human heart is both sobering and hopeful. It reveals the heart’s deceitfulness, wickedness, and rebellion, emphasizing humanity’s inability to fix its condition on its own. Yet it also points to the transformative power of God, who can cleanse and renew the heart through His Spirit.
This dual message calls for humility, self-examination, and reliance on God’s grace. By acknowledging the heart’s natural state and seeking God’s transformative work, individuals can experience the joy of a restored relationship with Him, walking in truth, righteousness, and love. The wicked heart, though deeply flawed, is not beyond the reach of God’s redemptive power.
Minister A Francine Green
October 2025
afrancinegreen.com 