Out of the Heart of Men Proceed Evil Thoughts

From: Echoes of Grace: 1972

"Out of the Heart of Men Proceed Evil Thoughts."

Mark 7:21 • 2 min. read • grade level: 6

Mark 7:21²¹For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, (Mark 7:21)

We often hear it said these days that man is being elevated by lofty and scientific thoughts. But the question for us is: Does man give God the right place in his heart, and is there anything there to suit Him? The Bible shows us clearly that, from the beginning, the tendency of man's thoughts has been to make much of himself and little of God. Perhaps not always openly so, but God looks at what lies hidden in the heart. "Hell and destruction are before the Lord; how much more then the hearts of the children of men?" Prov. 15:11¹¹Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? (Proverbs 15:11).

Let us contrast what the man of the world thinks in his heart with what God has revealed in His word: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Psa. 14:1¹<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1).

"The wicked... hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity." Psa. 10:6⁶He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. (Psalm 10:6).

"He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten:... He will never see it." Psa. 10:11¹¹He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it. (Psalm 10:11).

"He hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it." Psa. 10:13¹³Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. (Psalm 10:13).

"That evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming." Matt. 24:48⁴⁸But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; (Matthew 24:48).

"Thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me." Isa. 47:10¹⁰For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. (Isaiah 47:10).

"She saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow." Rev. 18:7⁷How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. (Revelation 18:7).

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Tim. 2:5⁵For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:5).

"When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them... and they shall not escape." 1 Thess. 5:3³For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

"Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance." Psa. 90:8⁸Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. (Psalm 90:8).

"God requireth that which is past." Eccles. 3:15¹⁵That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. (Ecclesiastes 3:15).

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Pet. 3:9⁹The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9).

"Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity." Psa. 39:5⁵Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. (Psalm 39:5).

"In one hour is thy judgment come." Rev. 18:10¹⁰Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. (Revelation 18:10).

"As he thinketh in his heart, so is he." Prov. 23:7⁷For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. (Proverbs 23:7).

It is a blessed thing that the gospel not only unfolds to us the deceitfulness of our thoughts, but it reveals to us the thoughts of God—thoughts of love and mercy for the poor sinner who is weary of the evil of his own heart. When we can own before God that every imagination of the thoughts of our hearts is only evil continually, so that nothing less than the death of Christ can deliver us from them, then God can say: "I know the thoughts that I think toward you; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jer. 29:11¹¹For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11).

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