Hard Hearts And New Hearts

Those who read the gospels will be familiar with Jesus’ rebuke of “hard-hearted” people. Jesus said hardness of heart is why Moses had allowed divorce, even though it wasn’t God’s intention from the beginning it causes great heartache for those involved (Matt. 19:9, Mark 10:5). And He was “angered and grieved” (Mark 3:5) that the members of one synagogue didn’t want one of their members healed because it was the Sabbath day.

The apostle Paul said that this attitude of mind marked the unbelieving pagans, as they “walked…in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness” (Eph. 4:17-19).

But this mindset wasn’t for Gentiles alone. Jesus “reproached” His own apostles for “unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen” (Mark 16:14). 

The only hope for a cure for humanity’s regular outbreaks of, or even permanent disposition to, hard-heartedness can be found in the gospel. This was prophesied long ago by the prophet Ezekiel. 

Ezekiel told a people in exile, deported from the promised land given them as an inheritance by God due to generations of disobedience, that God would effect a change. So prophesied this hopeful message: “And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God” (Ezek 11:19,20).

This needed change of heart is described as both a gracious work of God and the responsibility of men. Of God’s work, Ezekiel prophesied, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes” (Ezek.36:26,27). And the prophets said man’s responsibility is a matter of life and death: “Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Eze 18:31).

What can we discern from the passages, that the new heart consists of? Consideration of the effects of your actions of others, seeking the best for them, forsaking your sins, believing in the Lord and walking in His way.