Steven Garofalo
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WHAT THE BIBLE MEANS BY “MIND” AND “HEART”
By Steven Garofalo, July 15, 2023 (Copyright 2023)
July 15, 2023

WHAT THE BIBLE MEANS BY “MIND” AND “HEART”.

Everyone seems to take a side as to whether Christians ought to use more of the mind or heart. While it’s true that the Holy Spirit changes hearts, it is impossible for Him to do so without changing the mind first. If we didn’t know what is coming into our heart, we could be inviting Satan into our heart. All things that enter our heart must first come through our mind. This is a simple truth within the complex debate between more logical people and those who appeal more to emotion. This is not the point of this episode. The point of this episode is to help us develop a better, more biblically correct understanding of the fact that all Christians are called to use both their mind and heart.

Some of us are naturally inclined to be more emotionally thinking while others more logically driven-more predisposed to think logically. In biblical terms (generally speaking) men in general are more logical thinkers while women are more emotional in their design. This is God’s idea, not mine. This is why God created man and woman, husband and wife, and father and mother. I child needs the emotional support of the mother and the logical approach of the father. That’s an issue of God’s design, so please take it up with Him through His Word should you disagree with me on this one.

It’s also important to understand that all of us living in the 21st Century have been effected to some degree by feminism thinking. Women are equal to men for sure, but in our modern age, we have been forced by the legal authority of human government to adhere to, submit to and embrace the philosophical underpinnings of postmodern age thinking in this area to a great degree.

Postern thinking has conditioned most of mankind to believe that our emotions, including (and often directing) our physical senses are what defines “truth” and what we may perceive as what is “true”. This is what has led to “Moral Relativism”. See my book “RIGHT FOR YOU, BUT NOT FOR ME-A RESPONSE TO MORAL RELATIVISM” at EQUIPPEDACADEMY.COM or on Amazon for more on that. As Christians, we must firmly understand and accept that God has both mind and heart. As human beings, by God’s design, nothing comes into our heart unless it first comes through our mind: we must understand what that is-whatever it is and from whom it is coming. That being said I want to briefly look at the Hebrew language’s understanding of the word “MIND”, because it will give us a better understanding of what God is saying to us in the Hebrew Scriptures regarding mind and heart. The next paragraph or two is a bit technical, but it’s important to at least read through it to get the basic understanding that the Bible doesn’t often differentiate in black in white terms our understanding of the words “MIND” and “HEART”.

The English word for “MIND”: The biblical languages possess no one singular word parallel to the English for the word “mind”. As a matter of fact, there can be up to six different meanings in the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures for the word “MIND”. The primary word is “leb”, which means “heart.” WOW, that makes things a bit more interesting! For example, Moses said, “And Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord (idea)”. Some understanding the word “idea” to mean “heart”. The word for for “accord” or “idea” is more accurately interpreted as “my doing”. Some bibles refer to the word “leb” as mind while other’s as heart. That being said, the idea is the same. This is very difficult for us as Western thinking people to grasp at first, but it’s important for us to wrestle a bit with this concept.

In addition, the Hebrew word “nephesh” [soul] is translated “mind” in Deuteronomy 18:6 when it refers to the desire of man’s mind [soul]. In Genesis 26:35 it speaks of of the “grief of mind” [spirit] that Isaac and Rebekah experienced because Esau married heathen wives. Also used are the words “lebbab” [heart] in Ezekiel 28:10, and the word “yetser” which is Hebrew for “imagination” in Isaiah 26:3. And in Leviticus 24:12 there is the Hebrew word “peh” which means “speech”.

What prompted me to look at the words MIND and HEART in Hebrew came from my morning devotion in Deuteronomy chapter five:

28 “And the Lord heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. 29 Oh that they had such a HEART as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever! (Deuteronomy 5:28-29)

The word “HEART” is used in verse 29, but what does that mean. The central point is that though the Lord approved of the people’s response in the previous verses, He hinted that they would not carry through with their good intentions in light of continually fearing the Lord. You see it was an issue of the heart, but developed in the mind first. They had to think about the option of seeking, pursuing and keeping faithful to the Lord. Their heart was to be fully in unison with their mind regarding starting off faithful for the Lord, but keeping faithful for the Lord. Discipline all too often starts off with a solid decision of the mind, driven by the heart to want to please God.

In the New Testament Scriptures, we find a similar situation regarding the word “MIND” in relation to “HEART” because of the larger number of terms that are used to describe mankind’s “faculty of cognition”. In the OT the term “heart” [kardia] is sometimes used to represent the concept “mind”. Matthew 13:15 speaks of understanding with the “heart.” While that seems to be a contradiction of terms, it’s not. It’s a culmination of both the heart and mind combined in a holistic way. Lastly, there is the word “Gnome” which refers to “mind” in the sense  of “purpose” [Revelation 17:13] or “opinion” [Philemon 14].

Lastly, let’s look at the biblical word for “HEART” as spoken about in the Scriptures in an effort to gain a bit more clarity. The word for “HEART” speaks to the physical, mental, and spiritual life of humans. The word “heart” refers to the physical organ and is considered to be the physical center of life. Eating and drinking are spoken of as strengthening the heart [Genesis 18:5; Judges 19:5; Acts 14:17]. As the center of physical life, the heart came to stand for the person as a whole it became the focus for all the vital functions of the body, including both INTELLECTUAL and SPIRITUAL life. In truth, the heart and intellect are very closely connected. It is we and our lack of understanding that separates the two. The heart being the seat of intelligence: “For this people’s heart has grown callous…otherwise they might…understand with their hearts and turn back” (Matt 13:15). The heart is connected to our thinking. “As a person’ thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV).To ponder something in our heart means to consider that thing carefully (Luke 1:66; 2:19). To {call} the "heart" [mind] something means to {remember} something/that thing (Isaiah 46:8). All of these functions of the mind are connected with our heart in the biblical languages (Hebew and Greek). It's very important that we understand what the Bible means when it speaks about the "mind" and the "heart". If we don't understand the meaning of the biblical words, we miss the an accurate understanding not only of the words, but more importantly, the relationship between heart and mind when reading the Bible.

In the end, as Christians ought to use both the mind or heart, and do so in the proper biblical order. While it’s true that the Holy Spirit changes hearts, it's impossible for Him to do so without speaking to the mind first. If we don't know from who or what is coming into our heart, we risk inviting evil, sinful thoughts and the enemies leading into our hearts. In the end, as Christians we are called to use both our mind and heart-not one or the other.

While this may seem bit academic, in truth, it’s biblical. I pray you will take the time to read, pray and study what God’s Word is saying about the heart and mind. By doing so your understanding, faith and walk with God will be richly impacted and your effectiveness to others all the more impactful. - Steven Garofalo

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His answer was short but the animals not having souls maybe up for debate.

We can use general biblical principles to develop some clarity on the subject though Housman wrote. The Bible states that both man (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 1:30; 6:17; 7:15 and 22) have the “BREATH OF LIFE” that is, both man and animals are living beings. Furthermore, the primary difference between human beings and animals is that humanity is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), while animals are not.

Being made in the image and likeness of God means that human beings are like God in some ways; they are capable of spirituality; they have a mind, emotion, and “will”; and part of their “being” continues after death.

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Until next time, I’m your host Steven Garofalo, and this is your reason for truth for today.

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AN ETHICAL ECONOMY IS GOOD FOR ALL
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Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Today, I am going to show you through Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 that vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, will devour one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Let’s get started.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor is an interesting subject in light of wealth, corruption, and the human heart. This subject effects many things, including what makes a good economy. 

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, verses eight to nine, Solomon says the following:

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9
“8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

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BREAK DOWN
Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY & WEALTH
 “8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them." 

COMMENTARY: Verse 8 clearly illustrates that there is a corruption at every level of government, with higher level oppressors plundering the equally oppressive lower-level magistrates. This perhaps explains the st state of America and the world. With blackmail running. Rampant and the public sector unchecked, they have been robbing the everyday citizen of their hard earned money. As a result, the system became insulated and division between the haves and have nots became more defined. When the high level government officials rob and abuse those below them, someone above that person robs and abuses the higher level person himself.

In America, where we print money out of thin air for the world, in this short period of history, there is little need to plunder those under one authority because there is so much to steal that those in authority can simply pay them off or blackmail them; whichever is most convenient. Either way, Solomon makes abundantly clear that when there is nobody minding the ship, evil perpetuates to the point of overtaking the government in whole. As a result, we end up with a 2024 government, riddles with corruption, immorality, blackmail, lawlessness, and all other things evil due to the lack of God-ness which equates to “goodness”. 

Economically speaking, when this happens to a country, its own economy begins to decline into debt due to their insatiable desire and emotional need for more money and resources. When resources are stripped and money is squandered, the elite few are smart enough to collect those resources and money and we end up with a U.S. Stock Market where only 5% holds up to 80%  of the entire market wealth. 

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The answer and solution is to keep to return to the system we created in the first place which is free market capitalism that allows those who desire to work hard, to have a fair chance at success, making money and turning a fair profit. This is called “honor for everyone”.

HONOR FOR EVERYONE
"9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

CONCLUSION:

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, devours one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Solomon (Qohelet) considered goverment to be frustrating becuase it was a necessary evil, something deply flawed but indespsnsible. On the one hand people sould "not be shocked" when they see OPPRESSION and injustice in a governmental province (v.8). After all, bloated government bureaucracy tends to frustrate justice (v.8b). On the other hand, government has it advantages (v.9). Many hold to the belief that this verse continues the negeative assessment of government. Others see this passage better understood more positively since it fits with Qohelet's normal pattern of "on the one hand, on the other.." way of teaching. 

Even a corrupt government is better than anarchy, which devastates a country, it's culture and in Solomon's time, an agrarian economy that would lead to starvation. Keeping to God's ways is the only solution to man's sinful nature; especially in governmental rule. In the end, a king who devotes himself to developing the resources of the land ushers in a systems that brings the opportunity for profit to all, not just the corrupt few.

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A Protestant & Catholic View Comparison

I grew up Catholic and now go to a Protestant or non-Catholic church in Charlotte, NC. Michael Houdmann, Founder and CEO of GotQuestions.Org writes that a major difference between the two boils down to believing in the Bible alone as God's word verses believing that God's word plus man's input as the divine inspired word of God.

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A major difference is the issue of sufficiency and authority of Scripture. While Protestants believe that the Bible alone is the source of God's special revelation to mankind, it also speaks to everything we need to understand as necessary for our salvation from sin.

Protestants view the Bible as the STANDARD for Christian morality and ethics which governs our behavior. This is called sola scripture and is one of the five Solas in Christianity. (Solas meaning "alone" in Latin. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes clear that "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV).

WHAT DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE?

Catholics do not believe in sola scriptura hence do not believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. They see both the Bible and sacred Roman Catholic tradition as equally authoritative and binding on the Christian. While not all Catholics hold to doctrines such as purgatory, praying to the saints, worship or veneration of Mary, etc., the Catholic doctrine hold to them even though they have little or no mention or basis in the Bible. In truth, these doctrines are based on Roman Catholic traditions based on the Catholic Church's insistence that the Bible and tradition are equal in authority. The problem with this is that it undermines the sufficiency, authority, and completeness of the Bible. The view of Scripture is at the root of many, if not all, of the differences between Catholics and Protestants.

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