How does Proverbs 6:14 connect with Jesus' teachings on the heart?

Setting the Verse in Context

• Proverbs 6:14 sits in a warning passage (vv. 12-15) describing “a worthless person, a wicked man” whose inner corruption spills out in destructive behavior.

• Verse 14: “With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.”

• The heart is presented as the control center; what is harbored there inevitably shapes words, plans, and relationships.

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Key Words to Notice

• “Deceit” – a heart bent on misleading others; falsehood is internal before it is verbal.

• “Devises evil” – calculated, intentional plotting rather than momentary lapses.

• “Continually” – the pattern is habitual; the heart’s condition drives ongoing action.

• “Sows discord” – harm spreads like scattered seed, growing into division within families, friendships, churches, or communities.

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Jesus on the Heart

• Matthew 12:34 – “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

• Luke 6:45 – “The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart.”

• Mark 7:21-23 – Jesus lists sins that “come from within, out of men’s hearts,” matching Solomon’s picture of internal deceit producing outward discord.

• Matthew 15:18-19 – Words and actions defile because they originate “from the heart.”

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Connecting the Dots

• Same starting point: Both Solomon and Jesus trace sinful behavior to the heart’s condition, not merely to external circumstances.

• Same progression:

– Internal deception → evil plans (Proverbs 6:14)

– Evil heart → evil thoughts, words, deeds (Mark 7:21-23)

• Same outcome: division, defilement, and ultimately judgment (Proverbs 6:15; Matthew 12:36-37).

• Wisdom and the gospel agree: real change begins with a transformed heart (Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

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Practical Takeaways

• Guard the heart diligently (Proverbs 4:23); what we entertain inwardly will soon surface.

• Evaluate patterns of speech and relationship conflict; recurring discord often signals deeper heart issues needing repentance.

• Seek Jesus, who alone cleanses the heart (Acts 15:9) and fills it with truth, not deceit (John 14:6).

• Cultivate a “good treasure” within—Scripture memorization, prayerful meditation, Spirit-led obedience—so that what overflows builds up rather than tears down (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 4:29).