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NASB | Luke 8:15 "But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 8:15 "But as for that seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and noble heart, and hold on to it tightly, and bear fruit with patience. |
Bible Question: How would one reconcile this verse that speaks of an honest and good heart, (similar to Acts 17:11),with the general Bible teaching that the heart is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9)? |
Bible Answer: Hi Huron, I think that no matter how long we have been Christians, there come times when we wonder if the Holy Spirit would not rebuke us. Just as Jesus rebuked the disciples in Luke 9:55, [and said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."] I think that the passage in Luke 8 would tell us that we have to hold fast to these words of God [Spirit] and the parable, so that we don't allow the devil to take away the word from our hearts. Verse 18, "Therefore take care how you listen, for whoever has, to him shall more be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks [or, seems to have] he has shall be taken away from him." Thank you for your question. You might consider this Scripture comparison. Luke 8:12, "And those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and TAKES AWAY THE WORD from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved." Luke 20:20, "And they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might [Lit. TAKE HOLD OF HIS WORD], so as to deliver Him up to the rule and the authority of the governor." Jeremiah 17:13, NKJ, "O Lord, the hope [Hope?, see 14:8] of Israel, All who forsake You shall be ashamed. "Those who depart from Me Shall be written in the earth, Because they have forsaken the Lord, The fountain of living waters." Let's praise Him for giving us the fountain of living waters, the holy spirit and His word for He alone is good. Jeremiah 14:7, "Although our iniquities testify against us, O Lord, act for Thy name's sake! Truly our apostasies have been many, We have sinned against Thee. 8 Thou Hope of Israel, its Savior in time of distress, Why art Thou like a stranger in the land Or like a traveler who has pitched his tent for the night? 9 Why art Thou like a man dismayed, Like a mighty man who cannot save? Yet Thou art in our midst, O Lord, And we are called by Thy name; Do not forsake us!" From the heart, Ray |