--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The law, instead of cleansing the heart…" description: "\"The law, instead of cleansing the heart from sin, doth revive it, put strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discover and forbid i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/john-bunyan-1055_cleansing_the-law-instead-of-cleansing-the-heart-f_133020.jpg" --- # The law, instead of cleansing the heart from sin, doth… ![“The law, instead of cleansing the heart from sin, doth revive it, put strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discover and forbid it, for it doth not give power to subdue.” quote by John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/john-bunyan-1055_cleansing_the-law-instead-of-cleansing-the-heart-f_133020.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/john-bunyan-1055_cleansing_the-law-instead-of-cleansing-the-heart-f_133020.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/john-bunyan-1055_cleansing_the-law-instead-of-cleansing-the-heart-f_133020.jpg) > “The law, instead of cleansing the heart from sin, doth revive it, put strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discover and forbid it, for it doth not give power to subdue.” [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Law is portrayed as a force that revitalizes the soul, strengthening rather than subduing, while also exposing and prohibiting sin. **In simple terms:** Law strengthens the soul and reveals sin. Key Takeaway Recognize law as a catalyst for inner strength and moral awareness. Themes morality law spiritual growth sin inner strength Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - Legal studies - spiritual counseling - ethical debates - personal reflection Key Concepts Ethics theology philosophy of law Questions to Reflect On - How does law influence your inner moral compass? - Can law both heal and harm? A Different Perspective May overlook potential for law to oppress or misuse power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) ## Related quotes > [“Tears are God's way of cleansing the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-barlow-jordan/tears-are-god-s-way-of-cleansing-the-heart/) Rebecca Barlow Jordan > [There prevails still a subtle form of legalism which would rob the Saviour of his crown of glory, earned by the cross, and would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geerhardus-vos/there-prevails-still-a-subtle-form-of-legalism-which-would-rob-the/) [Geerhardus Vos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geerhardus-vos/) > [“Then the Interpreter took Christian by the hand and led him into a very large parlor that was full of dust because it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/then-the-interpreter-took-christian-by-the-hand-and-led-him-into-a/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Yes, would to God that I could persuade the rich and the mighty that they would permit the whole Bible to be painted on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/yes-would-to-god-that-i-could-persuade-the-rich-and-the-mighty-that/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The person who loves his life will lose it: it could not be otherwise, for to love one's life is a fundamental denial of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/the-person-who-loves-his-life-will-lose-it-it-could-not-be-otherwise/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [If a woman sleeps alone it puts a shame on all men. God has a very big heart, but there is one sin He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/if-a-woman-sleeps-alone-it-puts-a-shame-on-all-men-god-has-a-very-big/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“I have Jesus in my heart and I sin.  I do not want to sin, but I do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-kreider/i-have-jesus-in-my-heart-and-i-sin-i-do-not-want-to-sin-but-i-do/) [Heidi Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-kreider/) > [There is more grace in God's heart than there is sin in your past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/there-is-more-grace-in-god-s-heart-than-there-is-sin-in-your-past/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [True to say things from the heart of sin are burden is less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/true-to-say-things-from-the-heart-of-sin-are-burden-is-less/) Mak\_786 > [She was the epic crush of my childhood. She was the tragedy that made me look inside myself and see my corrupt heart. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/she-was-the-epic-crush-of-my-childhood-she-was-the-tragedy-that-made/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I want your heart, Sin. (Callie) It’s battered and useless, but what remains of it is all yours, milady. (Sin)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinley-macgregor/i-want-your-heart-sin-callie-it-s-battered-and-useless-but-what/) [Kinley MacGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinley-macgregor/) > [“The more you free your heart from sin, the more your heart is free to serve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/the-more-you-free-your-heart-from-sin-the-more-your-heart-is-free-to/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [I have kept your birthday in my heart for me not to sin against you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olalekan-omojayogbe/i-have-kept-your-birthday-in-my-heart-for-me-not-to-sin-against-you/) Olalekan Omojayogbe > [“as I prayed, the heavens were opened, and I see the woman whom I had desired saluting me from the sky, and saying, “Hail,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/as-i-prayed-the-heavens-were-opened-and-i-see-the-woman-whom-i-had/) The Church Fathers > [Gospel repentance is not a little hanging down of the head. It's a working of the heart until your sin becomes more odious to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sibbes/gospel-repentance-is-not-a-little-hanging-down-of-the-head-it-s-a/) [Richard Sibbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sibbes/) ## More by John Bunyan > [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [To seek yourself in this world is to be lost; and to be humble is to be exalted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/to-seek-yourself-in-this-world-is-to-be-lost-and-to-be-humble-is-to/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“it is common for those that have called themselves His servants, after awhile to give Him the slip, and return again to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/it-is-common-for-those-that-have-called-themselves-his-servants-after/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [A comely sight indeed it is to see, a world of blossoms on an apple tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/a-comely-sight-indeed-it-is-to-see-a-world-of-blossoms-on-an-apple/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“The preeminent job of the church is to equip Christian for life's challenges. This requires the emphasis on being fitted with tested armor. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-preeminent-job-of-the-church-is-to-equip-christian-for-life-s/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“So he had them into the slaughter house, where was a butcher killing a sheep. And behold, the sheep was quiet and took her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/so-he-had-them-into-the-slaughter-house-where-was-a-butcher-killing-a/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [I will stay in prison till the moss grows on my eye lids rather than disobey God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/i-will-stay-in-prison-till-the-moss-grows-on-my-eye-lids-rather-than/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“...I am for going on, and venturing my eternal state with Christ, whether I have comfort here or no; if God doth not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/i-am-for-going-on-and-venturing-my-eternal-state-with-christ-whether/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“Evangelist spoke from his heart with great passion. “You cannot be justified by the works of the law, because it isn’t how one follows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/evangelist-spoke-from-his-heart-with-great-passion-you-cannot-be/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [God speaks once, yea twice, yet Man perceiveth it not, in a Dream, in a Vision of the night, when deep Sleep falleth upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/god-speaks-once-yea-twice-yet-man-perceiveth-it-not-in-a-dream-in-a/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [No man, without trials and temptations, can attain a true understanding of the Holy Scriptures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/no-man-without-trials-and-temptations-can-attain-a-true-understanding/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Afflictions make the heart more deep, more experimental, more knowing and profound, and so, more able to hold, to contain, and beat more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/afflictions-make-the-heart-more-deep-more-experimental-more-knowing/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“It is the glory of the next world that will never wear out, while the good things of this world will vanish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/it-is-the-glory-of-the-next-world-that-will-never-wear-out-while-the/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [It is possible to learn all about the mysteries of the Bible and never be affected by it in one's soul. Great knowledge is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/it-is-possible-to-learn-all-about-the-mysteries-of-the-bible-and/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“This hill, though high, I covet to ascend; The difficulty will not me offend. For I perceive the way to life lies here. Come,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/this-hill-though-high-i-covet-to-ascend-the-difficulty-will-not-me/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) [Explore all 299 John Bunyan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) ## More Cleansing quotes > [I put hibiscus flower in every cup of tea I have. It's sweet, sexy, and cleansing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/i-put-hibiscus-flower-in-every-cup-of-tea-i-have-it-s-sweet-sexy-and/) [Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/) > [We must not forget; but we must forgive. Suffering often such compassion from the Jewish community. It was Jewish groups in the US who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/we-must-not-forget-but-we-must-forgive-suffering-often-such/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I use Bioderma. It's like a cleansing oil. I just use that to cleanse my face, I use moisturizer and that's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-consani/i-use-bioderma-it-s-like-a-cleansing-oil-i-just-use-that-to-cleanse/) [Alex Consani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-consani/) > [I find the greatest songs in the world come out of pain, and I don't like it! Here's what it does: It strips away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-richie/i-find-the-greatest-songs-in-the-world-come-out-of-pain-and-i-don-t/) [Lionel Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-richie/) > [When I get home at night, then it's time for the real cleansing deal. I go to town either with the Clarisonic or ProActiv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/when-i-get-home-at-night-then-it-s-time-for-the-real-cleansing-deal-i/) [Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/) > [I don't want to say I drank the Kool-Aid because I'm definitely not religious and I don't buy into any religion at all. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladyhawke/i-don-t-want-to-say-i-drank-the-kool-aid-because-i-m-definitely-not/) [Ladyhawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladyhawke/) > [“Laugh now, and laugh hard. For laughter is the bell. And when it rings, it cleanses the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/laugh-now-and-laugh-hard-for-laughter-is-the-bell-and-when-it-rings/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“cleansing your friends doesn’t mean you have to expel them from your life forever, but depending on the level of their negativity and potentially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-alden/cleansing-your-friends-doesn-t-mean-you-have-to-expel-them-from-your/) [Michael Alden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-alden/) > [Israel should have exploited the repression of the demonstrations in China, when world attention focused on that country, to carry out mass expulsions among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/israel-should-have-exploited-the-repression-of-the-demonstrations-in/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [In the evening, I use a cleansing oil - coconut oil also works - to remove makeup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mock/in-the-evening-i-use-a-cleansing-oil-coconut-oil-also-works-to-remove/) [Janet Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mock/) > [“Work has a way of cleansing the mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-wheeler/work-has-a-way-of-cleansing-the-mind/) [Jeff Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-wheeler/) > [“If salt is a cleansing agent,can't the sea wash away our sins.?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ms-nazareth/if-salt-is-a-cleansing-agent-can-t-the-sea-wash-away-our-sins/) ms.nazareth > [“Many think they play the last act. With life in turmoil, they seem to live the setup of a shattering countdown. To an insistent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/many-think-they-play-the-last-act-with-life-in-turmoil-they-seem-to/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [As most doctors will tell you, cleansing is ridiculous. You know what's been around longer than that state-of-the-art juicer? Your kidneys. And your liver.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/as-most-doctors-will-tell-you-cleansing-is-ridiculous-you-know-what-s/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [In some quiet way, the expression and feelings of gratitude have a wonderful cleansing or healing nature. Gratitude brings warmth to the giver and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/in-some-quiet-way-the-expression-and-feelings-of-gratitude-have-a/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) Browse all 238 Cleansing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The law, instead of cleansing the heart from sin, doth revive it, put strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discover and forbid it, for it doth not give power to subdue.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Bunyan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-law-instead-of-cleansing-the-heart-from-sin-doth-revive-it-put/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cleansing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-law-instead-of-cleansing-the-heart-from-sin-doth-revive-it-put/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/john-bunyan-1055_cleansing_the-law-instead-of-cleansing-the-heart-f_133020.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/john-bunyan-1055_cleansing_the-law-instead-of-cleansing-the-heart-f_133020.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/john-bunyan-1055_cleansing_the-law-instead-of-cleansing-the-heart-f_133020.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The law, instead of cleansing the heart from sin, doth revive it, put strength into, and increase it in the…” — John Bunyan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Bunyan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The law, instead of cleansing the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-law-instead-of-cleansing-the-heart-from-sin-doth-revive-it-put/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-law-instead-of-cleansing-the-heart-from-sin-doth-revive-it-put/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```