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happydolphin on 09 August 2012
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Jay520 said:
happydolphin said:

For those that believe in God, this goes in line with "God judges the heart" and the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30).


What does the "heart" mean? I've seen people used this word, but I don't think I fully understand it. From my understanding, you can say you are good, act like you are good, etc but deep down, your heart can still be evil. If this is true, then Tthis begs the question...what is your heart?

In the context I used it, it mostly means inclination I think. Which direction one weighs in, good or evil. The alignment of your will.

In your sentence, it's what you are deep down. That is your heart.

-------------WALL OF TEXT--------------

As an example, the bible says that Abel was good and Cain was evil. At the same time, we see God talk more to Cain than to Abel, yet both offer sacrifices to God. So why is one good and the other evil?

New testament:

"Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous."

Old testament:

Cain and Abel

1Adama lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.b She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forthc a man.” 2Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”

8Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”d And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

That follows with convo between Cain and God.

I think in this case Cain's heart was bad. Even though he had much, he made the wrong choice. According to the convo with God he could control it, but he chose not to claim that truth and as such will be called a wicked an lazy servant (parable of the tenants). I think it's the same for everyone.