THE HEART CAN BE DECEPTIVE

2. (a) How is it that “the heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate”? (b) What realization did the apostle Paul acknowledge, even after making his mind over?

² Working with the heart is tricky. If we are not careful, we become the victims of self-deception. The Bible warns: “The heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate. Who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9) A person who is treacherous is marked by a ready disposition to betray confidence or faith pledged; he is disloyal, untrustworthy, really traitorous. Think of it! We all have, in our imperfect state, a potential traitor enclosed in our bosom! Is it not true that at times we are appalled, yes, ashamed, over things that start to take root in the heart? And when the heart wants something desperately, this can lead to serious trouble. It is vital that we make adjustments quickly, to quiet down those new affections, to eliminate those sudden desires.

9. If the heart has a strong desire to do wrong, what can happen in bringing its influence to bear on the mind?

⁹ More than this, however, the heart may then move the mind to begin seeking some pretext or excuse for going in the wrong course, employing false reasoning. The person may enter into sinful action, and, at the very time that he is sinning, his heart may prompt his mind to invent justifications. He may presume on God’s loving-kindness, saying, ‘God is very merciful; he will forgive me on account of my fleshly weakness,’ and at the same time continuing his wrong course. He becomes like the wicked person who “has said in his heart: ‘God has forgotten. He has concealed his face. He will certainly never see it.’” (Ps. 10:11; compare Romans 1:21, 24.) It is no wonder, then, that the Scriptures warn us that sinful man’s heart is “more treacherous than anything else and is desperate.”​—Jer. 17:9.