In this Proverb, Solomon continues to give advice to his son on how to live. Solomon says, “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to all their whole body. Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”
The Bible speaks of one’s heart frequently. In a Biblical sense one’s heart refers to one’s soul. It reveals a person’s true character. A person’s heart characterizes that person. A person’s heart can be good. It can also be bad.
In Jesus’ day, Jewish law or Jewish religion focused on various foods that the Jews were allowed to eat. The religious leaders taught the people that they would be defiled if they ate forbidden food. However, Jesus said, “There is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; because it doesn’t go into his heart, but into his stomach and is eliminated. That which proceeds out of the man, is that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts, fornications, theft, murder, adultery, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”
We should therefore guard our ‘heart’ or soul by ingesting the Word of God. The Word of God is spiritual food that will nourish one’s soul. It will give a person good spiritual health. Therefore, that which proceeds out of such a person will be good rather than evil.
