Topical Bible: Character of the Unrenewed Heart: Stony

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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of the "stony heart" is a vivid biblical metaphor used to describe the spiritual condition of an unrenewed heart. This term is primarily derived from the prophetic literature of the Old Testament, where it is used to illustrate a heart that is resistant to God's will and unresponsive to His Word.

Biblical References:

1. Ezekiel 11:19 : "And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh." This passage highlights the transformation that God promises to His people. The "heart of stone" signifies a hardened, unyielding nature that is impervious to divine influence. In contrast, a "heart of flesh" is receptive and responsive to God's guidance.

2. Ezekiel 36:26 : "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Here, the prophet Ezekiel reiterates God's promise of spiritual renewal. The stony heart is emblematic of Israel's rebellion and spiritual insensitivity, which God seeks to replace with a heart that is alive and attuned to His Spirit.

3. Zechariah 7:12 : "They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not hear the law or the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts." This verse underscores the deliberate choice of the people to harden their hearts, rejecting the divine message and prompting God's righteous anger.

Characteristics of the Stony Heart:

· Resistance to God's Word: The stony heart is characterized by an unwillingness to heed God's commandments and teachings. It is closed off to the transformative power of Scripture and the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.

· Spiritual Insensitivity: A stony heart is marked by a lack of spiritual perception and sensitivity. It is indifferent to the presence and promptings of God, often resulting in a life that is spiritually barren and devoid of genuine faith.

· Pride and Self-reliance: The hardness of the stony heart often stems from pride and a reliance on one's own understanding and strength, rather than submission to God's authority and wisdom.

· Moral and Ethical Stubbornness: Those with a stony heart may exhibit a stubborn adherence to sinful behaviors and attitudes, refusing to repent or change despite the clear call of God to holiness and righteousness.

Theological Implications:

The imagery of the stony heart serves as a powerful reminder of humanity's need for divine intervention and transformation. It underscores the biblical teaching that true spiritual renewal is a work of God, who alone can replace the heart of stone with a heart of flesh. This transformation is essential for entering into a right relationship with God and living a life that reflects His character and purposes.

The promise of a new heart is ultimately fulfilled in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, who offers redemption and renewal to all who believe. Through faith in Him, believers receive the Holy Spirit, who empowers them to live in obedience and love, reflecting the heart of flesh that God desires for His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 11:19
And 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 an heart of flesh:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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 an heart of flesh.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Four Soils for one Seed
... prosper, whether this or that.' The character of the ... broken up to softness, and the
stony heart changed, and ... desires and inclinations of the unrenewed man is ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/four soils for one seed.htm

The Parable of the Wedding Feast
... merge the subject in the more honorable character of the ... illustration of the folly
of the unrenewed heart, and a ... their backs on Moses with his stony tables, I ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the parable of the wedding.htm

Vile Ingratitude!
... Israel's host when he received that stony law in ... We will not say that our character
had become ... with the moral abominations that dwell in the unrenewed heart. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/vile ingratitude.htm

The Sower.
... the natural in its cause as well as in its character. ... for a time in the life of an
unrenewed man. ... That deep-seated stony hardness of heart which defies all the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/i the sower.htm

A Message from God for Thee
... Unrenewed persons find fault with God's justice. ... morning, for my text is addressed
to a special character. ... The daughter of Edom said in her heart, "Who shall ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/a message from god for.htm

The Warrant of Faith
... evangelical repentance never can exist in an unrenewed soul. ... for me, for I was not
the character intended; and ... he sees so much of his own hardness of heart. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/the warrant of faith.htm

Exposition of the Doctrines of Grace
... in the existence of God"in his righteous character and perfect ... The heart is averse
to all that is good, and ... this"when we were in an unrenewed depraved state ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/exposition of the doctrines of.htm