Jeremiah 17
The Quest for Happiness (vv. 5-6)
- Deserted
- Distracted
- Dry
The Quest for Truth (vv. 7-8)
- Refreshed
- Ready
- Restful
The Core of Our Quest (vv. 9-10)
- The heart of the problem
- The problem of the heart
More to Consider
The heart of every problem is the problem in the heart, and the human heart is deceitful (Jacob in the Hebrew) and incurable. We often say, “Well, if I know my own heart,” but we don’t know our own hearts. God does. He searches the heart and mind and knows exactly how to reward each person. If we want to know what our hearts are like, we must read the Word and let the Spirit teach us. The hearts of the Jewish leaders were turned away from the Lord and His truth. Consequently, they made unwise decisions and plunged the nation into ruin. Warren W. Wiersbe
If the ways of blessing and cursing are so clear (vv. 5–8), why would anyone choose the path of sin? The cause for such action is in the heart. It is so deceitful that Jeremiah wondered who could even understand it. God answered by informing Jeremiah that He can search the heart and examine the mind. God knows those innermost thoughts and motives that an individual might hide from all others. Therefore God could justly render to each person what his deeds deserve. Charles H. Dyer
Many passages of Scripture teach that God judges people by their deeds, while others indicate that He judges people by their motives. There is no inconsistency, as this verse points out, because one’s “heart” and “actions” are closely connected. Other passages clearly teach that God evaluates people based on their hearts (1 Sm 16:7; 1 Kg 8:39; Lk 16:15), but actions reveal what is in people’s hearts (1 Sm 2:3; Mt 7:15–16; 12:33–35; 15:18–19; Jms 2:18). Whether one is judged by inward motivation or outward acts makes no difference. What a person actually does reveals where his or her heart lies (Mt 21:28–31). Douglas R. Groothuis
