Another of the unusual questions that Jesus raised during His earthly ministry is the one we find recorded in Matthew 9:4. Jesus asked, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?”

The rather baffling nature of this question seems obvious enough.  Our Lord would appear to be suggesting that we think with our hearts rather than with our minds or our brains.  And besides this, there is the very solid implication that Jesus knows such evil thoughts that bounce around within each of us.  So in order to make sense of this, we will have to consider how the Scripture as a whole describes the relationship between our hearts and minds.

But the focus of the whole episode (see vv. 1-8) is squarely upon “Why” this is so.

Why do we all think such awful things at times? Why do even the strongest and most dedicated of the Lord’s servants have flashes of the vilest scenes in their minds, not to mention the presence of words, contemplated actions, and attitudes that would be most embarrassing if exposed to others?

This coming Lord’s Day, we will allow this probing question raised long ago by our Savior to rest upon our souls.  And, surely enough, we will be blessed in ways we cannot even imagine as we come under the life-giving influence of our Great Shepherd’s voice!