Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 17:10
I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.
10. search reins ] See on Jer 11:20.
even to give, etc.] found also Jer 32:19.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Jer 17:10
I the Lord search the heart.
God, the inspector of the heart
I. The description given of the human heart.
1. The heart is deceitful above all things. There is scarcely a truth, for instance, revealed in the Bible, which it has not, at one time or other, led some men to call in question. But the deceitfulness of the heart appears nowhere, perhaps, so striking as in the case of many who sit under the faithful ministry of the Gospel, or are visited with some severe attack of sickness. How many are there who, in these circumstances, form the most serious resolutions of repentance and reformation! Their goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it passeth away.
2. The heart is desperately wicked. We must take the heart as it is to the Physician of souls, or remain forever without a cure.
3. Who can know it? Its deceitfulness is an ocean which we cannot fathom, its wickedness a worm which we cannot explore.
II. The Divine conduct in reference to the heart.
1. He searches the heart, and tries the reins. He is acquainted with our principles and motives, our dispositions and affections. However small the measure of good, or the measure of evil, which may be lurking within, He must instantly see it. Though it should be only as a grain of mustard seed sown in a garden, or as a grain of wheat sown in a field, His piercing eye cannot fall to discover it.
2. The object which He has in view in doing this, or the important reason which He assigns for thus searching the heart and trying the reins;–even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
(1) The ways of men, in some respects, are various as the leaves of the forest; but in the sight of God they are all either good or bad, righteous or wicked, godly or ungodly and according as their ways answer to this character will men be rewarded or punished by the Judge of quick and dead.
(2) There is scarcely anything we do or say but is attended with either a beneficial or an injurious effect upon others as well as ourselves; and in settling our everlasting destiny, God will not fail to take into account the good or the evil which may thus have resulted from our actions: for He will give every man, not only according to his ways, but also according to the fruit of his doings.
Conclusion–
1. If the heart is deceitful above all things, let us learn to distrust it for evermore.
2. If the heart is desperately wicked, let us see the necessity of having a new heart created within us.
3. Though we cannot fathom all the depths of deceit and wickedness contained in the human heart, we may yet obtain a much more extensive knowledge of these things than we generally possess.
4. Since God searches the heart, and tries the reins of the children of men, let us know the utter impossibility of imposing upon Him.
5. Since God will give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness! (D. Bees.)
God searching the human heart
Taken by the gardener into a gentlemans garden, I saw long rows of beautiful chrysanthemums, preparing for a flower show. Each one of those has to be examined every day, said he, lest earwigs get into the tender tops and eat out the young buds. And while I watched I saw the under-gardener going from one to another, gently opening the top shoots, and seeing that no hidden evil lurked within. Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom (Psa 51:6). What earwigs of thought, desire, imagination get into the heads of the Lords plants, their best parts! How jealous Paul was of young converts, lest earwigs of false doctrine, or evil practice, should destroy his labour. The head Gardener sees to this. I the Lord search the heart (Jer 17:10). (Footsteps of Truth.)
To give every man according to his ways.—
Gods rule of judgment
I. The preparation God is making for the future judgment.
1. He continually marks the ways of men.
(1) Actions.
(2) Words.
(3) Thoughts.
2. He records everything in the book of His remembrance.
II. The rule by which the judgment shall be determined.
1. The sentence will be according to every mans works (Gal 6:7-8; 2Co 9:6).
2. Rightly understood, this strongly declares the equity of Gods future judgments. Everything that can affect the quality of an action will be taken into account. (C. Simeon, M. A.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 10. I the Lord search the heart] The Lord is called by his apostles, Ac 1:24, , the Knower of the heart. To him alone can this epithet be applied; and it is from him alone that we can derive that instruction by which we can in any measure know ourselves.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Lest these hypocrites should pretend that their hearts were not departed from God, or should say, Who then can judge us if none knoweth the heart? saith God, Though no creature knoweth the heart of another fellow creature, yet I know the hearts of all creatures, I search the secret thoughts, and counsels, and designs of all my creatures; for I will judge them according to their thoughts and the secret motions and affections of their souls, according to all their ways, and the fruit of their doings. You cannot therefore mock me, and tell me your hearts are not departed from me.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. Lest any should infer fromJer 17:9, “who can knowit?” that even the Lord does not know, and thereforecannot punish, the hidden treachery of the heart, He says, “Ithe Lord search the heart,” c. (1Ch 28:9Psa 7:9; Pro 17:3;Rev 2:23).
even to giveandthat in order that I may give (Jer32:19).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I the Lord search the heart,…. The inward parts of it, every room and corner in it; and know the thoughts of it; all its intents, purposes, designs, contrivances, and imaginations; all the secret motions of it, and the wickedness that is in it; so that this is an answer to the question in the preceding verse; and therefore, though the heart is deceitful, it cannot deceive him, because he judges not according to outward appearance; he sees and knows the heart; and none but the Lord, or he who is Jehovah, can so search the heart as thus to know it; wherefore, since Christ is said to search the reins and the heart, and to know the thoughts of men, and to be a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, he must be Jehovah, and the true God, Re 2:23:
I try the reins; the most inward and remote parts, covered with fat, and out of sight: these are the seat of the affections; and the Lord tries these, whether they are towards him or not; and whether sincere or hypocritical; Christ the omniscient God knew Peter’s love to him, and the sincerity of it; for which he appeals to him as such,
Joh 21:17:
even to give every man accordions to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings; to do which it is necessary to search the heart, and try the reins, the fountain of all actions; and in which the principles of them are, and according to which they are denominated and judged of: in the future judgment every secret thing will be brought into account; the counsels of the heart will be made manifest; the book of conscience will be opened; and out of it, as well as other books, men will be judged according to their ways and works; and therefore it is requisite that the Judge should be the Lord God omniscient, the searcher and trier of the hearts and reins, as Christ is.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
By these words he means that they, after having for a long time made many evasions, would yet be brought to judgment, willing or unwilling; for they could not possibly deprive God of his right, that he should not be the judge of the world, and thus render to each the reward of his own works: for the Prophet does not speak of merits or of virtues, but only shews that how much soever the ungodly might hide themselves, they could not yet escape the tribunal of God, but that they must at last render an account to him.
We may further gather from this passage a general truth, — that the recesses of the heart are so hidden, that no judgment can be formed of man by any human being. We indeed know that there are appearances of virtue in many; but it belongs to God alone to search the hearts of men and to try the reins. Rashly then do many form an estimate of man’s character according to their own apprehensions or the measure of their own knowledge; for the heart of man is ever false and deceitful. If any one objects and says, that Jeremiah speaks of the Jews then living, there is an answer given by Paul,
“
Whatsoever things are written in the Law pertain to all.” (Rom 15:4.)
Described then is here the character of all mankind, until God regenerates his elect. As then there is no purity except from the Spirit of God, as long as mencontinue in their own nature, their hearts are full of deceits and frauds. So the fairest splendor is nothing but hypocrisy, which is abominable in the sight of God. Let us proceed —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) According to his ways.The Hebrew word is in the singular, his way, and the interpolated conjunction and is better omitted, so as to leave the last words as an explanation of what is meant by it. Jehovah, who searches the heart, answers the question who can know it? He does know, and will, in the end, judge with a perfectly righteous judgment. Men should live as in the presence of One to whom all hearts are open.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. The ninth verse closes with the question:
Who can know it? This verse answers it Only God. He can probe it to the core, and understand all its crookedness and perverseness.
Ways Literally, way. Omit the “and” inserted by the translators.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
DISCOURSE: 1057
GODS RULE OF JUDGMENT
Jer 17:10. I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
THE evil of the human heart is far greater than can be fully conceived either by men or angels. None but God himself can explore the depths of iniquity that are within it [Note: ver. 9.]. But He will judge the world in righteousness at the last day; and consequently must have access to the inmost recesses of the soul, and must be able to bring forth to judgment all its hidden abominations. Accordingly, God himself informs us, that he is actually so occupied, noticing every thing, and recording every thing, in order that he may reward every man according to his deeds: I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give to every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
We may here see,
I.
The preparation which God is making for the future judgment
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good [Note: Pro 15:3.]. Nor is he an unconcerned spectator of what is done upon earth: on the contrary, he inspects every thing with the greatest accuracy; and therefore inspects it, that he may bring it forth to judgment, and pass sentence upon it.
1.
He continually marks the ways of men
[All their actions he observes, not merely according to their outward aspect, but according to the principles from whence they proceed, and the ends for which they are done. However good a thing may be in itself, it is not really good in Gods sight, unless it proceed from love to him, and be done with a view to his glory. Our most common actions ought to be so done: whether we eat, or drink, or whatever we do, we should do all to the glory of God [Note: 1Co 10:31.]. Our words also, and our very thoughts, are scrutinized by him, to ascertain how much there is of good or evil in them; and to record the same, as grounds of our condemnation or acquittal at the bar of judgment Hence it is said by David, His eyes behold, and his eyelids try, the children of men [Note: Psa 11:4.]; that is, as a man desiring to inspect a thing with more than usual accuracy, almost closes his eyes, in order to exclude every other object, and to fix his attention more intensely on the object before him; so does God examine with the utmost possible care the ways of every human being. This is declared yet more strongly by Solomon, who says, that God weigheth the spirits [Note: Pro 16:2.]. Now, in the spirits of men there is a great mixture of motives and principles, which need to be analyzed and distinguished. There is, even in good men, a mixture of faith and of unbelief, of love to God and self-love, of sincerity and hypocrisy. Hezekiah evinced this, in his treatment of the Babylonish Ambassadors [Note: 2Ch 32:31.]; as did James and John also, when, from zeal for their Masters honour, they would have called fire from heaven to consume a Samaritan village [Note: Luk 9:54.]. In fact, there is imperfection in every thing that proceeds from man. Our very humiliations have a mixture of pride, and our exultations, of self-complacency. But God tries the reins, as a philosopher assays gold; and will assuredly declare, at the last day, how much there was of alloy in the very best action of our lives, and how much of the purer metal. Moreover,]
2.
He records every thing in the book of his remembrance
[The thoughts as well as the words of men are recorded in this book [Note: Mal 3:16.]; and out of these books shall they be judged [Note: Rev 20:12-13.]. Indeed, they are all sealed up, as it were, in a bag, in order to be then brought forth as grounds of Gods decision, and as evidences of his equity [Note: Job 14:17.]. Nothing will escape his observation. If there be only some good thing in any person, he will discern it, and bring it forth to light, with such tokens of his approbation as the occasion may require [Note: 1Ki 14:13.]. The sigh, the groan, the tear, are put to the account of those who love him; whilst every advantage that has been abused, and every opportunity that has been lost, will be adduced as swelling the aggregate of his enemies guilt.]
But this brings me more particularly to notice,
II.
The rule by which that judgment shall be determined
The sentence which will be passed on every man will be in accordance with his works.
This, however, needs to be explained
[We are not to suppose that our good works are put in one scale, and our evil works in another; and that, according to the scale which preponderates, our fate shall be. Nor are we to imagine that, when we have done a certain number of good works, the merits of Christ shall be cast, as it were, into the scale, in order to procure acceptance for them. The way of salvation is widely different from either of these. We all, without exception, are sinners, deserving of Gods wrath and indignation. But he has given his only-begotten Son to die for us; and will accept to mercy all who come to him in his Sons name. Those who have believed in Christ will in that day be approved as having embraced the proffered salvation: and those who have rejected the Saviour, will be rejected of their God. But still there will be a great difference as to the measure of misery or of happiness which these different parties will inherit. Amongst the righteous, one star will differ from another star in glory; and amongst the wicked, some will be beaten with many stripes, and others with few, according as circumstances have occurred to extenuate or aggravate their guilt.]
Rightly understood, this strongly declares the equity of Gods future judgments
[If salvation had been, not by faith, but by works; not a gift of grace, but a debt discharged; it would have been accorded to men precisely on terms corresponding with the rule which is here established. We are told, that whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap: he that sows to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; and he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting [Note: Gal 6:7-8.]. We are further assured, that, if we have sowed sparingly, we shall reap sparingly; and if we have sowed bountifully, we shall reap also bountifully [Note: 2Co 9:6.]. Due respect, indeed, will be paid to mens abilities and opportunities; the widows mite being as acceptable as the largest gifts of the opulent; and a cup of cold water, given from a right principle, as valuable as the richest hospitality. In a word, every thing that can affect the quality of an action will be taken into the account, either for the increase of our punishment or the augmentation of our bliss.]
Behold, then,
1.
What an awful prospect is here opened to the ungodly!
[There is not a day or an hour in which an ungodly man is not providing misery for himself, and treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath. Now, if we congratulate a person that is amassing wealth, how should we pity a man that is amassing misery for himself, even though that misery were but for a few years! But when we see men drawing out iniquity to an indefinite extent, by adding fresh materials to it, as they do to a cord or cable [Note: This is the proper meaning of Isa 5:18.], methinks we should weep over them. To such an one, even the word preached to him for his salvation becomes to him a savour of death unto death [Note: 2Co 2:16.]. Do but reflect on this, my beloved brethren; and beg of God that you may henceforth improve every hour of your lives for the furtherance of that great work which God has given you to accomplish; that so, whenever you are called hence, you may give up to him your account with joy, and not with grief.]
2.
What encouragement is here afforded to the righteous!
[Not a day or an hour passes without adding to your happiness in the eternal world. The least thing which you do for God shall be rewarded; and every trial that you sustain for him, be recompensed. Moses looked to the recompence of the reward; and the same may you do also. How would this thought lighten all your crosses, if it were duly contemplated and firmly believed! Does St. Paul say, Our light affliction, which endureth but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory [Note: 2Co 4:17.]? Whom will you fear? or rather, What sufferings will you not welcome for Christs sake? Go on then, my brethren, labouring to keep a conscience void of offence towards both God and man: and let it be your care so to approve yourselves to the heart-searching God, that, when he shall judge the world, he may say to you, Thou hast been faithful over a few things, be thou ruler over many things. Enter now into the joy of thy Lord, thou good and faithful servant; and inherit the kingdom prepared for thee from the foundation of the world.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.
Ver. 10. I the Lord search the heart. ] Be it never so full of shifts and fetches, I cannot be deceived in it. The watchmaker must needs know every turning and winding in the watch. God is the heart maker and the heart mender; neither is there any creature, no, not any creature of the heart, that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and opened before his eyes. Heb 4:13 “Naked” for the outside, and opened for the inside – dissected, quartered, and, as it were, “cleft through the back-bone,” as the apostle’s word a there signifieth; so opened as the entrails of a man that is anatomised, or of a beast that is cut up and quartered. The heart and reins are taken to be the seat of the thoughts and affections, yea, of the strongest affection, namely, that which is for generation. These are a man’s inwardest and most remote parts, so that it is hard for food or physic to come at them. Covered they are also with fat and flesh, &c., and yet they are not hid from God’s eye, which is indeed a fiery eye, Rev 1:14 and therefore needeth no outward light. Man’s eye is like a candle, which is first lighted, and then extinct; the angels’ eyes are like the stars, which shine indeed, and in the dark, too, but with a borrowed light, neither know they the thoughts of men’s hearts further than they are discovered. But God’s eye is like the sun, yea, far brighter and more piercing than that eye of the world; neither needeth he a window in man’s breast, as Momus wished, to look in at, for every man, before God, is all window, totus totus transparens et pellucidus. This Thales and other philosophers saw and confessed.
a .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
I the LORD. Quoted in Rom 8:27. Rev 2:23.
heart. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the mind, or intellect.
reins. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the thoughts, or affections.
even to give = giving. But some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint reads, “to give”, or “that He may give”, and Vulgate, “who gives”.
man. Hebrew. ‘ish. App-14.
ways. Hebrew text reads “way” (singular); but some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Hebrew text margin, read “ways” (plural)
and. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read this “and” in the text.
fruit of his doings. Compare Jer 6:19; Jer 32:19.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Lord: Jer 11:20, Jer 20:12, 1Sa 16:7, 1Ch 28:9, 1Ch 29:17, 2Ch 6:30, Psa 7:9, Psa 139:1, Psa 139:2, Psa 139:23, Psa 139:24, Pro 17:3, Joh 2:25, Rom 8:27, Heb 4:12, Heb 4:13, Rev 2:23
even: Jer 32:19, Psa 62:12, Mat 16:27, Rom 2:6-8, Rev 20:12, Rev 22:12
fruit: Jer 21:14, Jer 32:19, Isa 3:10, Isa 3:11, Mic 7:13, Rom 6:21, Gal 6:7, Gal 6:8
Reciprocal: Gen 18:21 – see Num 5:16 – set her Deu 8:2 – to know Deu 15:9 – Beware Jos 22:22 – he knoweth Jdg 3:1 – prove 1Sa 2:3 – a God 1Ki 8:39 – give to every man Job 1:5 – in their hearts Job 9:21 – yet would Job 11:11 – he knoweth Job 13:9 – search Job 34:21 – General Job 42:2 – no Psa 11:4 – his eyes Psa 16:7 – my reins Psa 44:21 – Shall Psa 64:6 – they accomplish Pro 5:21 – General Pro 15:11 – the hearts Pro 16:2 – but Pro 21:2 – the Lord Pro 24:12 – doth not he that Isa 59:18 – According Jer 6:19 – even Jer 42:20 – For ye Eze 11:5 – for Zec 7:6 – did not ye eat for Mat 6:4 – seeth Mat 12:25 – Jesus Mat 23:28 – ye also Luk 9:47 – perceiving Luk 16:15 – God Joh 5:19 – and Joh 21:17 – Lord Act 1:24 – Lord Act 15:8 – which Gal 6:5 – General 1Th 2:4 – but God 1Jo 3:20 – and
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 17:10. The Lord only can read the mind of man and he will expose that of an unrighteous one in due season. The leaders in Judah had misled the people for many years, but the reckoning was about to come through the exile under the Babylonians.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Even though we cannot understand our hearts, the Lord searches them and knows our inner thoughts and motives. "Heart" and "mind" (lit. kidneys, from the Heb. kelayoth, meaning "hidden depths") are not that distinct in Old Testament psychology; they are virtually synonymous here and in many other places. Together these terms cover the range of hidden elements in human character and personality.
God gives to each person what he or she actually deserves. He judges on the basis of works because what we do reflects what we truly value, the condition of our hearts.