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Jeremiah 17:9
Verse
Context
The Sin and Punishment of Judah
8He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit. 9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
Sermons




Summary
Commentary
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
deceitful--from a root, "supplanting," "tripping up insidiously by the heel," from which Jacob (Hos 12:3) took his name. In speaking of the Jews' deceit of heart, he appropriately uses a term alluding to their forefather, whose deceit, but not whose faith, they followed. His "supplanting" was in order to obtain Jehovah's blessing. They plant Jehovah for "trust in man" (Jer 17:5), and then think to deceive God, as if it could escape His notice, that it is in man, not in Him, they trust. desperately wicked--"incurable" [HORSLEY], (Mic 1:9). Trust in one's own heart is as foolish as in our fellow man (Pro 28:26).
John Gill Bible Commentary
The heart is deceitful above all things,.... This is the source of the idolatry and creature confidence of the Jews, sins which were the cause of their ruin; and though what is here said is particularly applicable to their hearts, yet is in general true of the heart of every man; which is "deceitful", and deceiving; and puts a cheat upon the man himself whose it is: it deceives him with respect to sin; it proposes it to him under the notion of pleasure; it promises him a great deal in it, but does not yield a real pleasure to him; it is all fancy and imagination; a mere illusion and a dream; and what it gives is very short lived; it is but for a season, and ends in bitterness and death: or it proposes it under the notion of profit; it promises him riches, by such and such sinful ways it suggests; but, when he has got them, he is the loser by them; these deceitful riches choke the word, cause him to err from the faith, pierce him through with many sorrows, and endanger the loss of his soul: it promises honour and preferment in the world, but promotes him to shame; it promises him liberty, but brings him into bondage; it promises him impunity, peace, and security, when sudden destruction comes: it deceives him in point of knowledge; it persuades him that he is a very knowing person, when he is blind and ignorant, and knows nothing as he ought to know; and only deceives himself; for there is no true knowledge but of God in Christ, and of a crucified Christ, and salvation by him; see Co1 3:18 it deceives in the business of religion; it makes a man believe that he is a very holy and righteous man, and in a fair way for heaven, when he is far from that, and the character it gives him; in order to this, it suggests to him that concupiscence or lust, or the inward workings of the mind, are not sin; and it is only on this principle that it can be accounted for, that Saul, before conversion, or any other man, should be led into such a mistake, as to conclude that, touching the righteousness of the law, he was blameless: it represents other sins as mere peccadillos, as little sins, and not to be regarded; and even puts the name of virtue on vices; profuseness and prodigality it calls liberality, and doing public good; and covetousness has the name of frugality and good economy: it directs men to compare themselves and their outward conduct with others, that are very profane and dissolute; and from thence to form a good character of themselves, as better than others; and as it buoys up with the purity of human nature, so with the power of man's freewill to do that which is good, and particularly to repent at pleasure; and it puts the profane sinner upon trusting to the absolute mercy of God, and hides from him his justice and holiness; and it puts others upon depending upon the outward acts of religion, or upon speculative notions, to the neglect of real godliness; see Jam 1:22. The man of a deceitful heart, the hypocrite, tries to deceive God himself, but he cannot; he oftentimes deceives men, and always himself; so do the profane sinner, the self-righteous man, and the false teacher; who attempts to deceive the very elect, but cannot; yea, a good man may be deceived by his own heart, of which Peter is a sad instance, Mat 26:33. The heart is deceitful to a very great degree, it is superlatively so; "above all", above all creatures; the serpent and the fox are noted for their subtlety, and wicked men are compared to them for it; but these comparisons fall short of expressing the wicked subtlety and deceit in men's hearts; yea, it is more deceitful to a man than the devil, the great deceiver himself; because it is nearer to a man, and can come at him, and work upon him, when Satan cannot: or "about", or "concerning all things" (q); it is so in everything in which it is concerned, natural, civil, or religious, and especially the latter. The Septuagint version renders it "deep"; it is an abyss, a bottomless one; there is no fathoming of it; the depths of sin are in it; see Psa 64:6 and, seeing it is so deceitful, it should not be trusted in; a man should neither trust in his own heart, nor in another's, Pro 28:26, "and desperately wicked": everything in it is wicked; the thoughts of it are evil; the imaginations of the thoughts are so; even every imagination, and that only, and always, Gen 6:5 the affections are inordinate; the mind and conscience are defiled; the understanding darkened, so dark as to call evil good, and good evil; and the will obstinate and perverse: all manner of sin and wickedness is in it; it is the cage of every unclean bird, and the hold of every foul spirit; all sin is forged and framed in it; and all manner of evil comes out of it, Rev 18:1 yea, it is wickedness itself, Psa 5:9, it is so even to desperation; it is "incurably wicked" (r), as it may be rendered; it is so without the grace of God, and blood of Christ: who can know it? angels do not, Satan cannot; only the spirit of a man can know the things of a man within him; though the natural man does not know the plague of his own heart; the Pharisee and perfectionist do not, or they would not say they were without sin; such rant arises from the ignorance of their own hearts; only a spiritual man knows his own heart, the plague of it, the deceitfulness and wickedness in it; and he does not know it all; God only knows it fully, as is expressed in the next words, which are an answer to the question; see Co1 2:11. (q) "de omnibus", vid. Noldium, p. 548. (r) "et immedicabili malo affectum", Gussetius; "incurabiliter aegrum", Cocceius.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
17:9-10 By nature, the human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Only the Lord really knows how bad it is.
Jeremiah 17:9
The Sin and Punishment of Judah
8He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit. 9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
The Plague of the Heart
By A.W. Tozer5.6K42:14Sinful Nature1KI 8:37PSA 51:10PRO 28:13JER 17:9MAT 6:33ROM 3:231JN 1:9In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power of sin and its stealthy nature. He highlights the fact that many people refuse to acknowledge the presence of sin in their hearts. The preacher shares a story of a fifteen-year-old boy who committed a cold-blooded murder, illustrating that sin can reside in anyone, regardless of their appearance or status. He concludes by stating that Christianity has focused too much on the joy and blessings of Jesus, neglecting the fact that Jesus came to save people from the plague of sin in their hearts.
Practical Aspects of the Holy Spirit - Promise of a Father
By A.W. Tozer3.5K40:39Holy SpiritJER 8:22JER 17:9MAT 28:19LUK 24:49JHN 14:15ACT 1:4ACT 1:8In this sermon, the speaker discusses three periods in the disciples' journey after Jesus' departure. The first period is characterized by Jesus intensifying His teaching and preparing the disciples for a new and superior kind of life. The second period is the disciples' preparation, where they stop their activities and focus on getting ready. The third period is the realization, where the Holy Spirit comes upon them suddenly, filling the house they were in. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being together in one place and not being afraid of sudden moves of God.
Plague of His Own Heart
By A.W. Tozer3.3K36:28Sinful Nature2SA 12:71KI 8:23JER 17:9MAT 6:33JHN 14:30In this sermon, the preacher discusses the consequences of sin and the need for repentance. He shares a story of a 15-year-old boy who committed a cold-blooded murder and reflects on the mother's plea for her son's innocence. The preacher emphasizes that sin is a result of Satan's influence and highlights the importance of turning to Jesus for deliverance. He also references the biblical story of Ananias and Akan to illustrate the severity of sin and its impact on not only the individual but also their family and community. The sermon concludes with a reminder that Jesus died to save us from the plague of sin and calls for repentance and reliance on God's grace.
Laying by the Pool
By David Wilkerson3.3K1:05:49PSA 139:23ISA 53:5JER 17:9MAT 6:33JHN 5:1JHN 9:1ROM 10:17In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of a man who had been lying by a pool for 38 years, hoping for healing. The pool was surrounded by a crowd of people, with the strongest and wealthiest individuals having the closest seats. The preacher emphasizes the insensitivity of the crowd, who were only concerned with their own needs. The man by the pool had reached a point of hopelessness, feeling that no one understood or cared about his suffering. The preacher encourages the audience to not become hardened like the people in New York, but to have compassion and reach out to those in need.
Attitudes of a Christian Leader
By K.P. Yohannan2.6K24:58Christian LeadershipJER 17:9MAT 6:332TI 2:1In this sermon, Brother K.P. Johannon focuses on the attitudes of Christian leaders, specifically drawing a distinction between outer habits and inner attitudes. He emphasizes the importance of dependence on the Lord as the source of strength, evaluation, and guidance. The sermon is based on the book of 2 Timothy, where Paul writes to Timothy about being a godly Christian leader. Brother K.P. highlights the need for Christian leaders to have the right perception and outlook on the work of the Lord, and to be strong in the grace of God.
The Difficulty of Escaping the Damnation of Hell (Reading)
By Edward Payson2.3K37:01Audio BooksJER 17:9MAL 3:8MAT 23:33LUK 15:7LUK 19:41ROM 8:7ROM 9:3In this sermon, the preacher addresses those who are focused on accumulating wealth and worldly possessions. He questions whether this is the right place to store their treasures and urges them to consider the importance of their eternal souls. The preacher emphasizes that if they still have any regard for God's word, they cannot be indifferent to the fact that they are likely to face final condemnation. He urges them to cherish their serious thoughts, avoid anything that may distract them, and diligently seek ways to strengthen their faith. The preacher also highlights the urgency of the situation, reminding the audience that many people around them are heading towards perdition without even realizing it, and that unless they turn to God for help, they too may face eternal torment.
Eternal Values - Demonstrating Heaven's Values
By Zac Poonen2.2K52:30EternityJER 17:9MAT 22:39JHN 10:27ACT 20:272CO 11:31JN 2:27REV 2:4In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of aligning our values with those of heaven, particularly in relation to money. He highlights the need to fight the good fight of faith and take hold of eternal life, as mentioned in 1 Timothy 6. The speaker also emphasizes that the life of God cannot be organized or predicted, comparing it to the work of the Holy Spirit, which is like the wind. The sermon encourages listeners to seek a deep understanding of eternal life and to be mouthpieces of God, focusing on the message of the heart rather than impressing others with worldly greatness. The speaker urges listeners to follow the example of Jesus in preaching and to study His teachings as a guide.
Renewing of Life
By Leonard Ravenhill2.1K1:27:51LifePSA 8:3PSA 23:4PSA 51:2PSA 51:10PSA 51:12PSA 139:23JER 17:9In this sermon, the preacher reflects on his experience as a pastor during the Great Depression in England. He recalls a time when his church experienced a revival and how even a small number of salvations would lead to doubts and criticisms from the congregation. The preacher then shares a personal anecdote about being invited into a woman's home for tea and how it reminded him of the biblical story of David and Goliath. As he takes a sip from the cup, he is reminded of Jesus' sacrifice and the weight of sin that he bore on the cross. The sermon concludes with a reflection on God's holiness and omnipresence as described in the Bible.
The Attitude of Christian Leaders
By K.P. Yohannan2.0K25:58LeadershipJER 17:9MAT 6:33PHP 4:132TI 2:1In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having the right attitude and outlook in life. He uses the analogy of wearing colored glasses to illustrate how our perception and evaluation of situations can be influenced by our values and principles. The speaker also highlights the need for believers to be different from the world and to have a strong foundation in Christ. He encourages dependence on God as the ultimate source of strength and guidance in our lives.
How God Transforms Your Life
By Danny Bond1.8K46:14TransformationJER 13:23JER 17:9JER 33:3JHN 3:4ACT 9:11In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the transformation of Saul into Paul and how God can transform anyone's life. The process of transformation begins with faith in Jesus Christ, followed by the sending of faithful disciples to help and guide the individual. Fervent prayer is emphasized as a crucial component in this transformation. The speaker also highlights the importance of God's plan for each person's life and how He will bring faithful disciples to assist in their growth. The sermon emphasizes the power of forgiveness and the confirmation of God's work in one's life through the testimony of others.
A Man Approved of God
By Carl Armerding1.7K39:00ApprovalJER 17:9MAT 6:33ACT 2:22HEB 2:14In this sermon, the preacher discusses the power of the people, as represented by the word "democrat" which comes from "demos" meaning people and "kratos" meaning power. He contrasts this with the power of the devil, who has the power of death but lacks authority. The preacher shares a story about a student named Joe Hunky who was held at gunpoint but responded with a powerful statement of faith, disarming his would-be assassin and leading him to Christ. The sermon emphasizes the importance of miracles, wonders, and signs as evidence of Jesus' accreditation and highlights the philosophy of life found in the statement "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Be Clean Inside
By Joshua Daniel1.7K28:19PSA 51:10PRO 16:5JER 17:9MAT 5:13MAT 23:24LUK 19:41LUK 19:452TI 2:21JAS 4:8This sermon by Joshua Daniel emphasizes the importance of inner purity and genuine transformation rather than external appearances or religious rituals. He highlights the need for a sincere heart, free from pride and selfishness, that prioritizes true prayer and righteousness. Drawing from biblical teachings, he warns against hypocrisy and the danger of turning sacred places into dens of thieves, urging believers to seek inner cleansing and a deeper relationship with God.
What Is Your Life - Part 3
By Leonard Ravenhill1.6K09:44PSA 146:3ECC 1:9JER 17:9JHN 14:61JN 2:15This sermon delves into the themes of materialism, the inevitability of progress, and the sufficiency of man, reflecting on historical events like World War I and II, the devastation caused by atomic warfare, and the failure of human ideologies to bring lasting peace and prosperity. It emphasizes the futility of relying solely on human efforts and intellect, pointing to the emptiness within man that can only be filled by a relationship with Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.
God Helps Those Who Cannot Help Themselves by Jeff Nobit
By Jeff Noblit1.6K46:33ISA 64:6JER 17:9JHN 3:18ROM 5:6ROM 5:10ROM 8:31EPH 1:6This sermon delves into the profound truths of God's holiness, man's sinful nature, and the helpless state of humanity apart from Christ. It emphasizes the ungodliness, sinfulness, enmity, and helplessness of individuals before a holy God, highlighting the desperate need for God's intervention and salvation. Through the lens of Romans 5:6-10, the message reveals the depth of God's love in reaching out to the ungodly, sinners, enemies, and helpless ones through the sacrificial death of Christ, showcasing the incomprehensible grace and mercy of God in saving unworthy souls.
Isaiah (Part 5) - Sin-Offering
By Ron Bailey1.5K1:21:47IsaiahPSA 22:21PSA 22:24ISA 42:1JER 17:9MAT 6:331PE 2:21In this sermon, the speaker discusses two stories written by C.S. Lewis, "Out of the Silent Planet" and "Perelandra," which depict the creation of new worlds and the threat of evil. The speaker highlights the role of a man named Ransom who is sent from Earth to Venus to help deliver the new creation from the consequences of evil. The sermon then transitions to a discussion of Isaiah 53, focusing on the suffering servant who bears the griefs and sorrows of humanity. The speaker emphasizes the switch of pronouns in the passage, indicating that each individual must make the suffering servant their trespass offering to receive God's provision.
How Long Will You Waiver?
By Shane Idleman1.4K32:34PRO 4:23JER 17:9MAT 7:21This sermon emphasizes the importance of a man's spiritual life, focusing on the heart as the core of who we are. It challenges men to prioritize their spiritual side, highlighting the need for full surrender to God, repentance, and a life of holiness. The message calls for a return to seeking God's face, prayer, and deep engagement with the Word of God, warning against lukewarmness and compromise in the church.
Are You Walking the Walk or Talking the Walk - Part 3
By Will Graham1.2K09:58PRO 2:2JER 17:9MAT 7:21MAT 19:16MRK 8:34HEB 10:26REV 3:15This sermon emphasizes the importance of true humility and repentance before God, contrasting it with a self-centered mentality and the danger of a mere 'mouth religion' without genuine transformation of the heart. It highlights the need for seeking God, growing in knowledge, and embracing the full gospel, including the aspects of holiness, wrath, and repentance. The message stresses the necessity of wholehearted commitment to Christ, not holding back anything in surrender.
The Ability of God's Word - Study 1
By Bob Hoekstra1.1K53:47ISA 40:31JER 17:9EZK 36:26HEB 4:12This sermon delves into the profound ability of God's Word, emphasizing its living, powerful, and sharp nature. It explores how the Word increases our vision, builds our faith, stirs our hearts for God's Word, and enlarges our capacity to minister to others. The sermon highlights Hebrews 4:12, which reveals the Word's ability to penetrate deep into the soul and spirit, discerning thoughts and intents of the heart, and dividing joints and marrow, illustrating the transformative work the Word can accomplish in our lives.
Signs of Second Coming of Jesus
By Zac Poonen1.0K1:10:14JER 17:9MAT 1:21MAT 24:4LUK 8:3ACT 17:11EPH 4:222TH 2:9JAS 1:26REV 12:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of being vigilant against deception in the last days, warning against false prophets, counterfeit gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the need to compare everything with the truth found in Scripture. It stresses the significance of genuine transformation, control over one's tongue, and the manifestation of true holiness as evidence of a genuine relationship with God.
The Solemn Thought
By Rolfe Barnard9351:03:20ISA 11:9JER 4:3JER 17:9MAT 6:33MAT 7:6PHP 2:10In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of recognizing the severity of sin and the need for salvation through Jesus Christ. He challenges the audience to believe in the punishment of sin and the necessity of God's wrath. The preacher highlights the urgency for revival and for the church to prioritize preaching the gospel in its true form, focusing on the sinfulness of humanity and the exaltation of Christ. He calls for a genuine response to the gospel, rather than just going through the motions, and emphasizes the need for a deep conviction of sin in order to truly accept Jesus.
We Need the Breakings of God
By R. Edward Miller90939:48BreakingPSA 51:17PRO 23:7ISA 1:6ISA 57:15JER 17:9REV 3:15In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of breaking the emotions and will in order to have a true and genuine relationship with God. He emphasizes the need to release emotions and not be bound by stoicism or fear of showing emotion. However, he also acknowledges that breaking the emotions alone is not enough, as there needs to be a deeper breaking of the will. The preacher highlights the importance of having a broken and contrite heart, which allows for repentance, penitence, and a true understanding of the awfulness of sin. He references Psalm 38 and Jeremiah to support his points about the deceitfulness and wickedness of the human heart.
Something Is Missing
By Shane Idleman51943:20JER 17:9EZK 36:26MAT 7:1JHN 3:17ACT 2:38ROM 5:8EPH 4:181JN 4:20REV 2:4This sermon delves into the importance of recognizing when something is missing in our lives, particularly in relation to the power of the Holy Spirit. The speaker emphasizes the impact of a lack of the Holy Spirit in churches and individuals, leading to lifeless sermons, stagnant faith, and a deficiency in love and compassion. The sermon highlights the need for spiritual power, love for God's Word, worship, prayer, and others, as well as the danger of a hard heart marked by unbelief, lack of compassion, sin mastery, and thriving pride. The message concludes with a call to transform a heart of stone into a heart of flesh, embracing God's unconditional love and rejecting pride and anger as tools of the enemy.
On Eagles' Wings Pt 169
By Don Courville32926:59Radio ShowPRO 16:18ISA 40:28JER 17:9MAT 6:33GAL 2:20JAS 4:6In this sermon, the preacher addresses the issue of pride and how it can sneak into our lives. He emphasizes the need to continually deal with our old sinful nature and bring it to the cross. The preacher also highlights the importance of heeding the messengers of God who point out our transgressions and dishonor. He reminds the audience of the teachings of Jesus, particularly about hell and the love of God for the world. The sermon concludes with a song about the friendship and fellowship we can have with Jesus.
The Devil's Delicious Delicacy - Part 1
By Phil Beach Jr.3543:41DevilPrideHumilityJER 17:9LUK 22:141PE 5:5REV 3:17Phil Beach Jr. addresses the pervasive issue of pride in his sermon 'The Devil's Delicious Delicacy - Part 1', emphasizing that pride distorts our perception and leads us away from the truth of our hearts. He confesses his own struggles with pride and encourages the congregation to seek humility and a broken heart before God. The sermon highlights that the devil seeks to devour those who are proud, and true clarity comes only through repentance and recognizing our nakedness before God. Beach urges listeners to confront their pride and to seek God's grace to overcome it, illustrating this with biblical examples of humility and faith. Ultimately, he calls for a heart that is open to confession and transformation through Christ.
Supernatural Provision in Finances
By Mike Bickle1951:24Supernatural ProvisionFinancial StewardshipPSA 37:25PRO 3:9JER 17:9HAG 2:7MAL 3:10MAT 6:21LUK 6:382CO 9:10PHP 4:191TI 6:10Mike Bickle emphasizes the concept of supernatural provision in finances, urging believers to understand that God's financial blessings are tied to their obedience and faithfulness. He discusses the importance of tithing as a foundational step, but encourages moving beyond it to experience greater financial blessings and spiritual depth. Bickle warns of the emotional, social, and spiritual challenges that come with financial increase, stressing the need for a strong relationship with God to navigate these challenges. He highlights that true prosperity is not just about wealth but also about the transformation of the heart and the ability to help others. Ultimately, he calls for a collective commitment to obedience in financial matters to unlock God's supernatural provision for the end-time harvest.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
deceitful--from a root, "supplanting," "tripping up insidiously by the heel," from which Jacob (Hos 12:3) took his name. In speaking of the Jews' deceit of heart, he appropriately uses a term alluding to their forefather, whose deceit, but not whose faith, they followed. His "supplanting" was in order to obtain Jehovah's blessing. They plant Jehovah for "trust in man" (Jer 17:5), and then think to deceive God, as if it could escape His notice, that it is in man, not in Him, they trust. desperately wicked--"incurable" [HORSLEY], (Mic 1:9). Trust in one's own heart is as foolish as in our fellow man (Pro 28:26).
John Gill Bible Commentary
The heart is deceitful above all things,.... This is the source of the idolatry and creature confidence of the Jews, sins which were the cause of their ruin; and though what is here said is particularly applicable to their hearts, yet is in general true of the heart of every man; which is "deceitful", and deceiving; and puts a cheat upon the man himself whose it is: it deceives him with respect to sin; it proposes it to him under the notion of pleasure; it promises him a great deal in it, but does not yield a real pleasure to him; it is all fancy and imagination; a mere illusion and a dream; and what it gives is very short lived; it is but for a season, and ends in bitterness and death: or it proposes it under the notion of profit; it promises him riches, by such and such sinful ways it suggests; but, when he has got them, he is the loser by them; these deceitful riches choke the word, cause him to err from the faith, pierce him through with many sorrows, and endanger the loss of his soul: it promises honour and preferment in the world, but promotes him to shame; it promises him liberty, but brings him into bondage; it promises him impunity, peace, and security, when sudden destruction comes: it deceives him in point of knowledge; it persuades him that he is a very knowing person, when he is blind and ignorant, and knows nothing as he ought to know; and only deceives himself; for there is no true knowledge but of God in Christ, and of a crucified Christ, and salvation by him; see Co1 3:18 it deceives in the business of religion; it makes a man believe that he is a very holy and righteous man, and in a fair way for heaven, when he is far from that, and the character it gives him; in order to this, it suggests to him that concupiscence or lust, or the inward workings of the mind, are not sin; and it is only on this principle that it can be accounted for, that Saul, before conversion, or any other man, should be led into such a mistake, as to conclude that, touching the righteousness of the law, he was blameless: it represents other sins as mere peccadillos, as little sins, and not to be regarded; and even puts the name of virtue on vices; profuseness and prodigality it calls liberality, and doing public good; and covetousness has the name of frugality and good economy: it directs men to compare themselves and their outward conduct with others, that are very profane and dissolute; and from thence to form a good character of themselves, as better than others; and as it buoys up with the purity of human nature, so with the power of man's freewill to do that which is good, and particularly to repent at pleasure; and it puts the profane sinner upon trusting to the absolute mercy of God, and hides from him his justice and holiness; and it puts others upon depending upon the outward acts of religion, or upon speculative notions, to the neglect of real godliness; see Jam 1:22. The man of a deceitful heart, the hypocrite, tries to deceive God himself, but he cannot; he oftentimes deceives men, and always himself; so do the profane sinner, the self-righteous man, and the false teacher; who attempts to deceive the very elect, but cannot; yea, a good man may be deceived by his own heart, of which Peter is a sad instance, Mat 26:33. The heart is deceitful to a very great degree, it is superlatively so; "above all", above all creatures; the serpent and the fox are noted for their subtlety, and wicked men are compared to them for it; but these comparisons fall short of expressing the wicked subtlety and deceit in men's hearts; yea, it is more deceitful to a man than the devil, the great deceiver himself; because it is nearer to a man, and can come at him, and work upon him, when Satan cannot: or "about", or "concerning all things" (q); it is so in everything in which it is concerned, natural, civil, or religious, and especially the latter. The Septuagint version renders it "deep"; it is an abyss, a bottomless one; there is no fathoming of it; the depths of sin are in it; see Psa 64:6 and, seeing it is so deceitful, it should not be trusted in; a man should neither trust in his own heart, nor in another's, Pro 28:26, "and desperately wicked": everything in it is wicked; the thoughts of it are evil; the imaginations of the thoughts are so; even every imagination, and that only, and always, Gen 6:5 the affections are inordinate; the mind and conscience are defiled; the understanding darkened, so dark as to call evil good, and good evil; and the will obstinate and perverse: all manner of sin and wickedness is in it; it is the cage of every unclean bird, and the hold of every foul spirit; all sin is forged and framed in it; and all manner of evil comes out of it, Rev 18:1 yea, it is wickedness itself, Psa 5:9, it is so even to desperation; it is "incurably wicked" (r), as it may be rendered; it is so without the grace of God, and blood of Christ: who can know it? angels do not, Satan cannot; only the spirit of a man can know the things of a man within him; though the natural man does not know the plague of his own heart; the Pharisee and perfectionist do not, or they would not say they were without sin; such rant arises from the ignorance of their own hearts; only a spiritual man knows his own heart, the plague of it, the deceitfulness and wickedness in it; and he does not know it all; God only knows it fully, as is expressed in the next words, which are an answer to the question; see Co1 2:11. (q) "de omnibus", vid. Noldium, p. 548. (r) "et immedicabili malo affectum", Gussetius; "incurabiliter aegrum", Cocceius.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
17:9-10 By nature, the human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Only the Lord really knows how bad it is.