“And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostle’s hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money. Saying, give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.” Now, Peter immediately saw that the thoughts in Simon’s heart were wrong. Bitterness is the opposite of sweetness and its an attitude of anger, hurt or resentment. All wrong actions are rooted in the attitudes of the heart. So Simon’s request was not an innocent misunderstanding. Inside he was feeling bitterness because he would no longer be the big important sorcerer. There are times it is hard to let go of past habits, ways and doings. Before, Simon had (Acts 8:9) bewitched the people of Samaria, professing out of himself  that he was true. Even though Simon made an outward profession of faith in verse 13, did he really believe? We must watch what Peter says to him in verse 21.

As we continue our study on the heart having an attitude and how it performs, we must ask ourselves can we control what comes from the heart? Out of the heart comes the issues of life. “Keeping the heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” Proverbs 4:23 (KJV). If we are told to keep our hearts then we can control it. Look at this, “for out of the abundance of the heart (attitude) the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). Abundance is speaking of what dwells there. What is in you will come out, good or bad, soon or later. “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” Matthew 12:35 (KJV). So now comes the position of process having to do it’s perfect work. We are to allow the word of God to wash us. We are washed by reading it, accepting it, obeying it, praying it and most of all after all this, walk in it with all diligence. So now the heart could often be translated “mind” in the bible. The word “heart” often served to represent the seat of the intellect. Intellect which is the faculty of the mind by which one knows or understands, as distinguished from that by which one fills or wills.