The King Is After Our Heart

This blog is on the following bible reading plan passages: Matthew 15-19, Psalms 84-85, & Proverbs 17 

If you've spent any time around church, you've probably heard the phrase, "God looks at the heart." It's one of those truths that's easy to nod along with, but these passages remind us just how deeply Jesus means it. 

For this weeks reading a theme kept showing up that the King is after our heart. 

Throughout these chapters in Matthew, Jesus has a remarkable way of looking beyond what everyone else sees. While people focus on appearances, traditions, achievements, or status, Jesus consistently looks beneath the surface. 

In Matthew 15, the Pharisees are concerned about ceremonial handwashing. They believe outward cleanliness is what makes someone acceptable before God. Jesus completely turns the conversation around. He taught that what truly defiles a person isn't what goes into them, but what comes out of them. With our words and actions revealing what's happening in our hearts. 

As we continue reading, we see the same pattern over and over again. Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Messiah wasn't simply a clever answer; it was a heart that had received revelation from the Father. The disciples' struggle to cast out a demon wasn't about technique, it exposed their need for deeper faith and dependence on God. In Matthew 18, Jesus teaches that greatness in His Kingdom looks like humility, forgiveness, and caring for those the world often overlooks. Then in Matthew 19, the rich young ruler appears to have everything together. He's moral, sincere, and eager to know what he still lacks. Yet Jesus lovingly exposes the one thing that held his heart back from wholehearted devotion. 

Different people. Different circumstances. The same lesson. 

Jesus isn't merely interested in modifying our behaviour, He's interested in transforming our hearts. 

The Psalms beautifully complement this picture. Psalm 84 doesn't simply celebrate going to the temple; it celebrates the joy of God's presence. The psalmist longs for the Lord Himself. His greatest desire isn't a better life, but a closer walk with God. 

Then Psalm 85 becomes a prayer many of us can relate to: "Lord, restore us." It's a reminder that revival doesn't begin with programs or circumstances. It begins when God's people turn their hearts back to Him and ask Him to do what only He can do. 

Finally, Proverbs 17 shows us what a transformed heart looks like in everyday life. Our speech becomes kinder. Our relationships become healthier. We pursue peace instead of conflict. We choose integrity over compromise. Proverbs reminds us that wisdom isn't just something we know, it's something we live. 

I love how these readings fit together. They almost tell the story of discipleship. 

First, our hearts begin to long for God's presence (Psalm 84). Then we invite Him to restore what has grown weary or broken within us (Psalm 85). As we follow Jesus, He gently exposes the places where our hearts still need to trust Him more fully (Matthew 15–19). Finally, that inward work begins to overflow into the way we speak, love, forgive, and live each day (Proverbs 17). 

It's easy to spend our energy trying to look like “good Christians”. We can become focused on doing the right things, saying the right words, or maintaining the right image. Those things have their place, but Jesus reminds us that outward obedience without inward surrender will always fall short. 

The encouraging news is that Jesus doesn't expose our hearts to condemn us, He does it to transform us. Every time He reveals pride, fear, selfishness, unforgiveness, or misplaced priorities, it's an invitation to become more like Him. 

As followers of Jesus, our prayer isn't simply, "Lord, help me behave better." It's, "Lord, change my heart." 

Because when our hearts belong fully to the King, our lives will naturally begin to reflect His Kingdom.