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What
is the Difference Between a Heart of Stone and a Heart of Flesh?
The Torah given at mount Sinai was written upon a heart (tablets)
of stone. A heart of stone does not have the power to overcome
the flesh (evil inclination). The newer (renewed) covenant (Brit
Hadashah) is the Torah written upon a heart of flesh. A heart
of flesh has the power to overcome the desires of the flesh and
our sin nature (evil inclination). The difference between a heart
of stone (which cannot overcome our sin nature [evil inclination])
and a heart of flesh (which can overcome the desires of our sin
nature (evil inclination) by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ruach
HaKodesh) dwelling in our hearts) is the message that the Apostle
Paul (Rav Sha’ul) is trying to communicate to us in Romans 8:2-10
as it is written:
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus [a heart
of flesh] hath made me free from the law of sin and death [a
heart of stone]. For what the law could not do, in that it was
weak through the flesh [a heart of stone], God sending his own
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned
sin in the flesh [a heart of stone]: That the righteousness
of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit [a heart of flesh]. For they that
are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh [a heart
of stone]: but they that are after the Spirit the things of
the Spirit [a heart of flesh]. For to be carnally minded is
death [a heart of stone]; but to be spiritually minded is life
and peace [a heart of flesh]. Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God [a heart of stone]: for it is not subject to the
law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in
the flesh [a heart of stone] cannot please God. But ye are not
[have not been given a stony heart] in the flesh, but in the
Spirit, [a heart of flesh], if so be that the Spirit of God
dwell in you [a heart of flesh]. Now if any man have not the
Spirit of Christ [a heart of flesh], he is none of his. And
if Christ be in you [a heart of flesh], the body is dead because
of sin [a heart of stone]: but the Spirit is life because of
righteousness [a heart of flesh]."
The difference between the older covenant (which is the Torah
written upon a heart of stone) and the newer (renewed) covenant
(which is the Torah written upon a heart of flesh) is the difference
between two natures within us (our good inclination and our evil
inclination). The Torah written upon a heart of stone is the nature
of the flesh (evil inclination). The Torah written upon a heart
of flesh follows after the nature of the Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh)
of the G-d of Israel (good inclination). This is the message being
communicated by the Apostle Paul (Rav Sha’ul) in Galatians 4:22-26,
29 as it is written:
"For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a
bondmaid, the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman
was born after the flesh [a heart of stone]; but he of the free
woman was by promise [a heart of flesh]. Which things are an
allegory: for these are two covenants [or two natures]; the
one from the mount Sinai, which engendereth to bondage which
is Agar [a heart of stone]. For this Agar is mount Sinai in
Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage
with her children [a heart of stone]. But Jerusalem which is
above is free, which is the mother of us all [a heart of flesh]
... But as then he that was born after the flesh [a heart of
stone] persecuted him that was born after the Spirit [a heart
of flesh], even so it is now."
In Romans 7, the Apostle Paul (Rav Sha’ul) tells us that the
Torah is holy and the commandments are holy, just, good, and spiritual.
He also tells us that the Torah bears fruit after the INWARD man.
In Romans 7:12,14, 22 it is written:
"Wherefore the LAW [TORAH] IS HOLY, and the commandment holy,
and just, and good ... For we know that the LAW [TORAH] IS SPIRITUAL:
but I am carnal, sold under sin ... For I delight in the LAW
[TORAH] of God after the INWARD MAN."
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