Don't draw from evil treasure

 

The Hidden Treasury of the Heart: Why Growing Weary in Prayer Reveals an "Evil Treasure" We Secretly Value

In the hustle of modern life, where unanswered prayers and mounting pressures can drain our spiritual vitality, Jesus offers a timeless exhortation: "Men always ought to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1, NKJV). This verse, introducing the Parable of the Persistent Widow, seems straightforward—a call to perseverance in faith. But beneath its surface lies a profound psychological and theological connection to another teaching of Jesus: the "evil treasure" of the heart in Matthew 12:35. Here, Jesus declares, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil things" (NKJV).

What if growing weary—losing heart in prayer—is not merely fatigue or disappointment, but the act of drawing from an "evil treasure" stored deep within us? This treasure isn't worthless rubbish; it's something we consider valuable, a curated collection of attitudes, beliefs, or memories we've hoarded because they feel justified, protective, or even empowering. In this article, we'll explore this connection, unpacking the biblical language, the heart as a spiritual storehouse, and why persistence in prayer is the key to transforming our inner treasury from evil to good.

The Parable of Persistence: A Warning Against Weariness

Luke 18:1 sets the stage for understanding spiritual endurance. Jesus tells of a widow who persistently pleads with an unjust judge for justice until he relents, not out of compassion, but to avoid being worn down by her requests. The parable's point? If even an uncaring judge responds to persistence, how much more will a loving God answer the prayers of His people? Yet, the introductory verse warns against ekkakeō—the Greek term translated as "lose heart" or "grow weary."

Ekkakeō (ἐκκακέω) is a compound word derived from ek- (meaning "out of" or "from") and kakos (κακός, "evil," "bad," or "harmful"). Literally, it suggests "to draw out the evil" or "to bring forth badness from within." Biblical scholars note that this isn't just emotional exhaustion; it's a surrender to an inner corruption that manifests as discouragement, doubt, or abandonment of faith. In the context of prayer, growing weary means allowing life's delays or injustices to pull forth a response rooted in negativity rather than trust.Imagine the widow giving up after a few rejections. Her weariness wouldn't stem from mere tiredness but from dipping into a reservoir of bitterness toward the judge—or worse, toward God for allowing such injustice. This is where the "evil treasure" enters the picture: weariness is the fruit of what we've stored in our hearts.

The Heart's Treasury: Good vs. Evil Deposits

Jesus' metaphor in Matthew 12:35 (paralleled in Luke 6:45) portrays the heart as a thesauros—a treasure chest or storehouse. In ancient times, a thesauros held valuables like gold or grain, items deemed worthy of protection and accumulation. Jesus contrasts the "good treasure" (thesauros agathos), which produces positive words and actions, with the "evil treasure" (thesauros kakos), which yields harm.

The fascination—and danger—of the "evil treasure" lies in its implied value. Kakos doesn't always mean cartoonish villainy; it encompasses moral defect, worthlessness, or harm, but paired with thesauros, it becomes something treasured. Why would anyone value evil? Because the heart assigns worth to what it perceives as useful. Consider these examples of "evil treasures" we might hoard:

• Bitterness from Past Hurts: A betrayal or unanswered prayer feels like a "valuable lesson" in self-protection, so we store resentment. When new trials arise, we draw from this treasure, producing cynicism that leads to weariness in prayer.
• Doubt as a Shield: Skepticism about God's goodness might be treasured as "realism" in a broken world. It seems valuable for avoiding disappointment, but when prayers go unanswered, it surfaces as ekkakeō, convincing us to stop praying altogether.
• Prideful Independence: Valuing self-reliance over dependence on God can be an "evil treasure" disguised as strength. In weariness, it manifests as, "Why pray if I can handle it myself?"—a harmful withdrawal that starves our faith.

These aren't accidental; they're treasures because we've invested time, emotion, and justification into them. As Jesus teaches in Matthew 12:35 (NKJV), "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things." The heart's output—our responses to life, including prayer—is determined by its contents. Growing weary, then, is the ek- (drawing out) of this kakos thesaurus, where what we consider "valuable" (even if destructive) dictates our spiritual defeat.

The Connection: Weariness as Drawing from the Evil TreasureThe link between Luke 18:1 and Matthew 12:35 is no coincidence; both teachings emphasize the heart's role in spiritual output. In the Parable of the Persistent Widow, the widow's success comes from refusing to draw from an evil treasure. She doesn't hoard frustration or despair; instead, she persistently accesses a "good treasure" of hope and justice. Her ekballō (the verb in Matthew 12:35, meaning "to bring forth" or "cast out") is one of faith, shaming the judge into action.
Conversely, a person who grows weary in prayer is actively extracting from the evil treasure. The Greek structure reinforces this: Ekkakeō mirrors the ek- prefix in ekballō, both denoting extraction from an inner source. When trials press us—like delayed answers or suffering—we reach into our heart's storehouse. If it's stocked with kakos (evil we've valued as treasure), out comes weariness: "This isn't working; God must not care." This isn't random fatigue; it's the valued "wisdom" of doubt or the "protection" of bitterness being drawn forth.
Theological commentators, such as those in the New International Commentary on the New Testament, highlight how Jesus uses these images to show the heart's sovereignty over behavior. In Ephesians 4:29, Paul echoes this by urging believers not to let corrupt words come ek (out of) their mouths, but edifying ones—guarding against evil extractions. Similarly, Galatians 6:9 commands, "Let us not grow weary (ekkakeō) in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Here, weariness is tied to reaping spiritual harvest, implying that dipping into the evil treasure forfeits the good.
Psychologically, this resonates with modern concepts like cognitive behavioral therapy, where "core beliefs" (our inner treasures) shape responses to stress. If we treasure negative narratives, weariness becomes inevitable. Biblically, it's a call to repentance: Examine what you value in your heart, for it will be drawn out in crisis.

Transforming the Treasury: Prayer as the Path to Perseverance

The good news? The heart's treasury isn't fixed. Jesus' command to "pray and not lose heart" is an invitation to reorient our ek- process. Persistent prayer doesn't just seek answers; it purges the evil treasure and builds the good one:

• Audit your heart daily: Journal what "treasures" surface when you feel weary, pinpointing doubts or negative patterns that emerge from your inner storehouse.
• Meditate on promises: Reflect on New Testament assurances like Romans 15:13 ("Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit") to cultivate faith and resilience.
• In community, share burdens: Following Philippians 4:6-7 ("Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"), connect with trusted believers to pray together, reinforcing the good treasure through shared support.

Ultimately, the person who grows weary does so because they've treasured something evil—valuable in their eyes, but harmful to faith. Jesus challenges us to value Him above all, making prayer our lifeline to a heart overflowing with good.

Conclusion: Choose Your Treasure Wisely

The connection between Luke 18:1 and Matthew 12:35 reveals a profound truth: Spiritual weariness is the outflow of an evil treasure we've deemed valuable. But in Christ, we can choose differently. By praying without losing heart, we starve the kakos and enrich our lives with the eternal riches of faith. As Jesus promises in the parable's conclusion (Luke 18:7-8), God will vindicate His elect who cry out day and night. Don't let a misplaced treasure rob you of that victory—persist, pray, and watch your heart's storehouse transform.