Reflections on Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength

Below is an excerpt from a blog. I am putting it here so I don't lose it over time. It is from: 

https://faithalone.org/blog/is-there-a-difference-between-heart-soul-and-mind/

Is There a Difference Between Heart, Soul, and Mind? — Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27

October 11, 2018 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Matthew 22:37; Loving God; Heart Versus Mind

Another great and difficult question rolled in the other day:

I have a question I’m hoping you can answer for me. In Matthew 22:37 (also, Mark 12:30 and Luke 10:27) it seems that there is an implied distinction between “heart,” “mind,” and “soul”. Is it possible, though, that the writer was using these terms just to emphasize that we must love God with our entire being and that there really is no distinction between these terms? Or, if there is a distinction, what is it?

Tough question. How would you answer it?

I think the Lord is speaking of our entire being. However, that doesn’t mean that there are not distinctions between the heart, soul, and mind.

Heart, soul, and mind can be unique. But they can also be used interchangeably as often happens in the NT.

Heart = inward self where feelings, emotions, and thinking occur.

Soul = the entire inner person.

Mind = the inward part of us where thinking occurs.

As you can see, all three terms overlap in meaning like a Venn diagram. But they are not identical. So when speaking of the place where belief occurs, the NT authors can speak of the heart (Mark 11:23; 16:14; Luke 8:12; Rom 10:9) or the mind (Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 4:4) or even the soul (Acts 14:22 seems to fit in this regard).

I found this very helpful article on what the Biblical word heart means.

Here is an excerpt from that very helpful article: (https://faithbibleministriesblog.com/2012/07/06/the-heart-and-the-mind-what-the-biblical-word-heart-means/ 

Biblically

When both the Old and New Testaments speak about the heart, it never means merely human feelings (emotions).

The Biblical word “heart,” is the inner aspect of a man, made of three parts all together, with the primary part: the brain.

   1) Mental Process, which is the major part (where action & reaction take place), which is to lead a person in their life.

   2) Emotions (which only process as a reaction), as icing to enrich our lives.

   3) Will, the seat of the will (discretionary, volitional, decision-making) where decisions are made between the rational and the emotive.