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EphelDuath
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When it is said, “love the Lord with all your heart,” or “Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us;” what does ‘heart’ refer to in this instance? It seems to be synonymous with your person, but that seems wrong.
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Nita
Guest
I think “heart” refers above all to the “will” – to freely choose/will to love God above all else.
This willing should encompass loving Him with every part of our nature - body and soul. Emotions can be part of it, but they are certainly not necessary. It is when the emotions are dry, and yet we continue to will to pray and be obedient, and carry out that will, that we demonstrate to a greater degree that we are loving God with our whole heart.
In regards to the Sacred Heart of Jesus – I think the title expresses the reality that God loves us to the highest degree possible, “willing” to do all possible for our good/salvation. This love was carried out when He became man and died for our salvation – when he united Himself to human flesh with a human heart. The images of Jesus with His heart visible – sometimes even with a flame coming from it - are a reminder, a visible image expressing this burning love of God for us.
This willing should encompass loving Him with every part of our nature - body and soul. Emotions can be part of it, but they are certainly not necessary. It is when the emotions are dry, and yet we continue to will to pray and be obedient, and carry out that will, that we demonstrate to a greater degree that we are loving God with our whole heart.
In regards to the Sacred Heart of Jesus – I think the title expresses the reality that God loves us to the highest degree possible, “willing” to do all possible for our good/salvation. This love was carried out when He became man and died for our salvation – when he united Himself to human flesh with a human heart. The images of Jesus with His heart visible – sometimes even with a flame coming from it - are a reminder, a visible image expressing this burning love of God for us.
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EphelDuath
Guest
So “heart” means “will?” How do you know that?
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Nita
Guest
I didn’t say I “know”, I said I “think”.So “heart” means “will?” How do you know that?
As to why I think that, it’s because the heart is associated with love - and love is a free will choice to do what is for the good of another. (In regards to God, rather than saying for his “good”, I would say freely choosing to do what is for His honor and what pleases Him.)
Do you have a differing thought on what “heart” refers to?
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Nita
Guest
Here’s an informative quote from the “Dictionary of Biblical Theology” under “Heart”:
Quote:
…In our present used of the word hardly anything is suggested except the affective life; while in the Hebrew the heart is understood as the “inside” of man in a far wider sense. Apart from feelings (2 Sam 15:13; Ps 21:3; Is 65:14), the heart contains memories and ideas, plans and decisions. God has given men “a heart to think with” (Si 17:6), and the psalmist speaks of the “thoughts of the heart” of God Himself, meaning His plan of salvation, which lasts from age to age (Ps 33:11). A “big heart” (1 Ki 5:9) suggests extensive knowledge; “give me your heart” can mean “give me your attention” (Pr 23:26)… According to the context the meaning can be restricted to the intellectual aspect (Mk 8:17) or on the contrary extend beyond it (Ac 7:51). Often it is necessary to go back beyond the psychological distinctions to the core of man’s being, to the place where he enters into dialogue with himself (Gn 17:17; Dt 7:17), accepts his responsibilities and opens himself or closes himself to God. In the concrete and global anthropology that we find in the Bible, man’s heart is the very source of his conscious, intelligent and free personality, the place of his decisive choices, the place of the unwritten Law (Ro 2:15) and of the mysterious action of God. In the OT as in the NT the heart is the place where man meets God, an encounter which becomes fully effective in the human heart of the Son of God.
Quote:
…In our present used of the word hardly anything is suggested except the affective life; while in the Hebrew the heart is understood as the “inside” of man in a far wider sense. Apart from feelings (2 Sam 15:13; Ps 21:3; Is 65:14), the heart contains memories and ideas, plans and decisions. God has given men “a heart to think with” (Si 17:6), and the psalmist speaks of the “thoughts of the heart” of God Himself, meaning His plan of salvation, which lasts from age to age (Ps 33:11). A “big heart” (1 Ki 5:9) suggests extensive knowledge; “give me your heart” can mean “give me your attention” (Pr 23:26)… According to the context the meaning can be restricted to the intellectual aspect (Mk 8:17) or on the contrary extend beyond it (Ac 7:51). Often it is necessary to go back beyond the psychological distinctions to the core of man’s being, to the place where he enters into dialogue with himself (Gn 17:17; Dt 7:17), accepts his responsibilities and opens himself or closes himself to God. In the concrete and global anthropology that we find in the Bible, man’s heart is the very source of his conscious, intelligent and free personality, the place of his decisive choices, the place of the unwritten Law (Ro 2:15) and of the mysterious action of God. In the OT as in the NT the heart is the place where man meets God, an encounter which becomes fully effective in the human heart of the Son of God.
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EphelDuath
Guest
Thanks.
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