A New Heart

As I sought a fuller understanding of the promises found in the 36th chapter of the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, I came across these helpful explanations written by godly men who lived centuries ago, which I want to share with you. I pray that God's promise and the insights of these two men will encourage you today.

Charles Hadden Spurgeon, 1834-1892:

The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in the old heart; it is a filthy place, devoid of all good, and full of enmity to God. His very first operation upon our nature is to pull down the old house and build himself a new one, that he may be able to inhabit us consistently with his holy spiritual nature.

Matthew Henry, 1662-1714:

[God promises His people that He will] cleanse them from the pollutions of sin (v. 25) and give them a new heart, a disposition of mind excellent in itself and vastly different from what it was before...instead of a heart of stone, insensible  and inflexible, unable to receive any divine impressions and to return any devout affections, God would give a heart of flesh, a soft and tender heart, that has spiritual senses exercised, conscious to itself of spiritual pains and pleasures, and complying in every thing with the will of God. Note: Renewing grace works as great a change in the soul as the turning of a dead stone into living flesh....