Does “only God know the heart”? Or are there cases when we do too? - by Elizabeth Prata

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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We are saddened once again to be pressed into service regarding Ms. Prata's errant teaching. Today she sets out to refute the idea that no one can know someone's heart. She claims that it's possible to know a false teacher's heart, and lists a bunch of Scriptures that are supposed to document her case.

Thus there are three prongs to this issue that come to bear:

1. The cited Scriptures talk about the heart
2. The cited Scriptures tell us we can specifically know someone else's heart, and 
3. The cited Scriptures are all about false teachers.

Unfortunately for Ms. Prata, each of the prongs is incorrect. None of these verses contain the English word "heart," none of them contain the Greek word kardia, none of them tell us we can know someone's heart, and only some of them are even about false teachers. 

From these Scriptures Ms. Prata concludes that she is able to discern the contents of a specific false teacher's heart. That is, because the Bible describes what comes from an evil heart, for her that is the same thing as being able to know an individual heart. Or more likely, she had an idea in mind and went searching for Scriptures that confirm it.

So what about knowing hearts? We are pretty certain that Ms. Prata does not believe that apostolic power is in operation today, nor does she believe in the "supernatural' gifts. Peter, an apostle, discerned both Ananias' and Simon's heart:

Ac. 5:3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?  

Ac. 8:21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 

The prophetic gift reveals hearts: 

1Co. 14:25 ...and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

These are about supernatural empowerments. So unless the discernment Ms. Prata claims to possess is the supernatural ability [1Co. 12:10] to distinguish between spirits [1Jn. 4:1], she does not have the ability to know a particular someone's heart. Knowing what comes from evil hearts does not necessarily give the ability to know a specific evil heart.

We do find evidence that we can get a hint as to the nature of our own hearts:

Mt. 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We might have some evidence of the contents of someone's heart, but that does not mean we actually know someone's heart: 

Mt. 12:34b For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Mt. 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Further, a deceptive heart definitionally means that evil is being hidden by deception. Deception means someone is being deceived:

Mt. 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect — if that were possible.

What does the Bible actually say about who knows the heart? 

He. 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Je. 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”

The thing about this is, Ms. Prata presents herself as a teacher of women. She has a website that purports to tell the truth. But invariably she has an underlying agenda in mind when she writes about something. So rather than teach the topic, she simply tries to refute something under the guise of a teaching, in this case those who would defend who she thinks are false teachers.

Thus she enters the equation with a bias, which means she will completely miss the things we just discussed, leading to faulty teaching.

Lastly, once again we find a supposed Bible teacher who is unable to quote Scripture. We shall remedy that problem below.

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Peoples’ responses to calling out a false teacher often (depressingly often) involves a statement such as this:

“You don’t know their heart!”

God is sovereign. God knows the heart. But there are specific times that we do too.

If a teacher’s doctrine has been proven false by comparing it with the Bible, then we DO know their heart! The Bible tells us this. Only God knows the hearts of the people, but if their teaching is not of the Lord, then the God who sees hearts has exposed those hearts to us by the verses of His word!

Their hearts are full of deceit. Colossians 2:8 (See to it that no-one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.)

Their hearts are filled with their own appetites. Romans 16:17-18 (I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.)

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34 (You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.)

Their hearts are disguised with light. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.)

Their hearts are full of greed. 2 Peter 2:3 (In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.)

Their hearts are ravenous. Matthew 7:15. (Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s

clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.)

Their hearts are inwardly full of sensuality. Jude 1:4 (For certain men whose condemnation was written about  long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.)

Their hearts are full of secrets, such as destructive heresies. 2 Peter 2:1 (But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them — bringing swift destruction on themselves.)

Their hearts are full of intent to exploit. 2 Peter 2:3 (In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.)

Their hearts are full of fleshly passions. 2 Timothy 4:3 (For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.)

Their hearts are puffed up with conceit. 1 Timothy 6:4 (he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions)

Their heart understands nothing. 1 Timothy 6:4 (he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions)

Their hearts are cunning and crafty. Ephesians 4:14 (Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.)

Their hearts serve the creature. Romans 1:25 (They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is for ever praised. Amen.)

Their hearts are slaves of corruption. 2 Peter 2:19. (They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity — for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.)

Their hearts deny the Master who bought them. 2 Peter 2:1 (But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them — bringing swift destruction on themselves.)

Their hearts prophesy lies. Jeremiah 23:26 (How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying

prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?)

People undiscerningly reject discernment and accept false teachings, even after confirmation by Bible verse, by thinking that a person can utter blasphemies but still have “a good heart”. No. Do we think that a person can utter falsities or even blasphemies from a pure heart? No, of course not. Out of the heart the mouth speaks.

God does know the heart, that’s true, but He has shown us the heart of the false teacher in His word. He taught us this in His word for the purpose of being mature, discerning, and so we can learn for ourselves in truth and also teach the younger to be edified and strong.