Studying Matt 12:34-35 for an article

Hello,

I'm currently doing some research for a new story for my blog. The tentative title is "Heart Attitude". It would be easy to just say "What fills a man's heart will influence how he responds to life." During my reading of Matthew, I came across Matt 12:34-35 and it seems like a good way to start an article.

My real goal is to encourage a healthy and right heart attitude. This is something that has helped me; except I had done a lot of relying on self and not on Jesus.

I did do a resource search and found a ton of materials; but not necessarily on what I'm seeking. My first question is "What are the Scriptures that would point to our heart's attitude influecing our behaviors? I can easily surmise from the aforementioned verses that the Pharisees had a stubbornness that refused to believe; hence their hostile attitude. I've seen people who are racked by bitterness and can't seem see pass it.

I'm also thinking of Proverbs 27 about the stingy man. Yes, he gives a front of being one thing; however he isn't. "As a man thinketh in himself; so he is." By the way, is James Allen's story on this topic amongst the resources in Logos 4?

Thanks in advance!

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Comments

Donnie Hale

One thing I'd recommend is a study of how the word "heart" is used, especially in the N.T. The book "Saving Faith" by Gordon Clark (http://www.amazon.com/What-Saving-Faith-Trinity-Paper/dp/0940931656/ ) has a short but fairly thorough study on this, and he concludes that "heart" at that time means what "mind" means to us now.

Donnie

Nicholas B Brindisi

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/203950#Comment_203950

Thank Donnie.

I just did a quick Word Study via the NASB Interlinear and can see what you mean. Though I can easily guess that Jesus was speaking about their minds. Though, the word "mind" is used later when Jesus asks his disciples "Are your minds so dull?"

Dan Sheppard

My first question is "What are the Scriptures that would point to our heart's attitude influecing our behaviors?

"Create in me, a clean heart oh God. And renew a right spirit within me...." Psalm 51

Lynden O. Williams

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/204140#Comment_204140

If you have not done so, you may want to run a passage guide on the text.

Kevin Becker

Don't forget to check the cross references in your various Bibles and the Treasury of Scriptural knowledge.

Ron Corbett

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/204158#Comment_204158

Thank you for posting this. It brings me back again to what I consider essential for me - keeping the heart.Years ago, when I was new to just about everything, I had a copy of John Flavel's book "Keeping the Heart". It really impacted me and I felt challenged to make this a priority throughout my life. BTW - Logos is publishing his works and I hope this is a part of it.

One of my key verses (which he emphasizes) is:

"My son, keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life" - incl. in Prov 4:20-27

Also, in line with this: Prov 2:1-5

Blessings