What does the Bible say about softening the heart?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that a softened heart is God’s gracious work, turning stubborn sinners from unbelief to repentance, faith, and willing obedience. He promises to remove the heart of stone and give a heart of flesh, with His Spirit within His people (Ezekiel 36:26; Ezekiel 11:19). Though the human heart is deceitful and produces sinful desires (Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 15:19), God’s Word exposes and judges it (Hebrews 4:12). We should therefore seek Him in prayer, asking, “Create in me a clean heart” (Psalms 51:10), and not harden ourselves as Pharaoh did (1 Samuel 6:6). Heaven rejoices when God grants repentance to the lost (Luke 15:7).
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Ezekiel 36:26
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
- Ezekiel 11:19
I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh;
- Jeremiah 24:7
I will give them a heart to know me, that I am Yahweh: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God; for they shall return to me with their whole heart.
- Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?
- John 12:39-40
[39] For this cause they couldn't believe, for Isaiah said again, [40] "He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, Lest they should see with their eyes, And perceive with their heart, And would turn, And I would heal them."
- Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Psalms 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
- Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
- 1 Samuel 6:6
Why then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had worked wonderfully among them, didn't they let the people go, and they departed?
- Luke 15:7
I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
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