'Hearts' in the Bible

It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous [which is to seek and submit to the will of God]—in order to make ready a people [perfectly] prepared [spiritually and morally] for the Lord.”

“He has done mighty deeds with His [powerful] arm;He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

All who heard these things kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this little boy turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him [to bring about his birth].

and a sword [of deep sorrow] will pierce through your own soul—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Now the people were in a state of expectation, and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

But Jesus, knowing their [hostile] thoughts, answered them, “Why are you questioning [these things] in your hearts?

Those beside the road are the people who have heard; then the devil comes and takes the message [of God] away from their hearts, so that they will not believe [in Me as the Messiah] and be saved.

But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and had him stand beside Him,

So He said to them, “You are the ones who declare yourselves just and upright in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts [your thoughts, your desires, your secrets]; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.

nor will people say, ‘Look! Here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For the kingdom of God is among you [because of My presence].”

“But be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down and depressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life, and then that day [when the Messiah returns] will not come on you suddenly like a trap;

They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking with us on the road and opening the Scriptures to us?”

And He said, “Why are you troubled, and why are doubts rising in your hearts?