What does "deceitful" mean in Jeremiah 17:9, and in Jer.

17:10 what do
"heart" and "reins" mean?
What does "deceitful" mean in Jeremiah 17:9, and in Jer 7:10 what do "heart" and "reins" mean?

"Deceitful" refers to the capacity of the mind (figuratively represented by the heart) to delude an individual
into believing that he is good or moral when his thoughts and actions are in fact thoroughly corrupted by
sin.

"Heart" (in verse 9) and "reins" (in verse 10) are references to the parts of the body that were considered
the innermost, and thus the seat of secrets and emotions that would not have been known to any other
person, but which God could try (that is, examine), and of which He (being omniscient) would have full
knowledge. ("Reins" is an outdated term for the kidneys, derived from the same Latin root from which
related English words such as "renal" would have come.)

January 07 2021 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

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Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit
In Jeremiah 17:10 God says, "“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person
according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

Our desires reside in our heart. Our desires will produce words and deeds. When our desire is to please
God, our lives will produce good deeds and God will reward us.

Our thoughts reside in our minds. Our thoughts will produce words and deeds. When our thoughts are
focused on God's will, our lives will produce good deeds and God will reward us.

The problem is our sinful human nature. We deceive ourselves into believing we are basically "good"
people. That there is nothing wrong with our thoughts and desires. But God declares the truth that our
hearts [emotions, thoughts, & will] are deceiving us ALL the time, and we can do nothing to change it
ourselves.

But the good news is that God is offering to give us a new heart. Through faith in Jesus Christ we are born
again and receive a new heart [abounding desires to please God] and a new mind, the mind of Christ to
know and do the will of God.

Now when God searches our hearts and minds, he will see that our new heart and mind have produced
good words and deeds which he will reward. However, if we claim to believe in Jesus but our heart and
mind are not producing the good deeds that God expects, then God will know, when he examines our
hearts and minds, that we are still deceiving ourselves.