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‘For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts.’
Mat_15:19
I. Evil thoughts.
(a) Vain thoughts. Not of a directly noxious quality; yet, light, empty, trifling, and insignificant, they form a most fearful waste of the noble faculty of thought.
(b) Thoughts of a directly irreligious tendency. Impious and unworthy conceptions of God; sceptical thoughts; rebellious thoughts, etc.
(c) Intensely selfish and worldly thoughts. When the rules of righteousness are postponed to the vain pursuits of distinction, wealth, or pleasure. When our worldly pursuits involve the sacrifice of principle, etc.
(d) Thoughts of deliberate wickedness. Indulging malevolent dispositions, rancour, and revenge. Planning to give effect to these dispositions, purposes, etc.
II. The sinfulness of evil thoughts.
(a) They have the stamp of guilt affixed to them by the Divine law. ‘They defile the man.’ Natural conscience condemns all such thinking. The laws of men are framed to deal with actions; the laws of God take cognizance of thoughts, which are the ‘seeds of actions.’
(b) They lead to the expression of evil actions. Thoughts tend to outward expression. Sin seldom dwells in the mind when there is fair opportunity for its external perpetration.
(c) They defraud us of the supreme end of thought. Our minds formed to adore, love, and contemplate God, virtue, and truth, etc. To mar that purpose is a sin of no common order.
III. The necessity of resisting evil thoughts.—The right government of the thoughts is a very difficult task. Thoughtlessness upon spiritual questions is prevalent. How necessary is such resistance when we consider the advantages accruing: e.g. the influence—
(a) Upon our personal character.
(b) Upon society.
(c) Upon a review of life in leaving it and during eternity.
Cherish good thoughts. Use every appliance that will suggest such: e.g. good books, wise and good people, etc. Above all, ‘set your affections upon things above,’ etc. Try to live in the realised presence of God.