Motives

Motives are the reasons behind what a person does, and the Lord weighs the heart behind every action. This page lists verses on God testing motives, doing good to be seen by others, acting from wrong motives, and doing all things for God.

The Lord weighs the heart

• Proverbs 16:2
  All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 16 →
• 1 Samuel 16:7
  But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
  Show context · Read 1 Samuel 16 →
• Jeremiah 17:10
  I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
  Show context · Read Jeremiah 17 →
• 1 Chronicles 28:9
  And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
  Show context · Read 1 Chronicles 28 →
• Hebrews 4:12
  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 4 →

Not done to be seen by others

• Matthew 6:1-4
  ¹Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. ²Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. ³But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
  Show context · Read Matthew 6 →
• Matthew 6:5-6
  ⁵And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. ⁶But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
  Show context · Read Matthew 6 →
• Matthew 6:16-18
  ¹⁶Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. ¹⁷But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
  Show context · Read Matthew 6 →
• Matthew 23:5
  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
  Show context · Read Matthew 23 →

Asking and acting from wrong motives

• James 4:3
  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.
  Show context · Read James 4 →
• James 3:14-16
  ¹⁴But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. ¹⁵This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
  Show context · Read James 3 →
• Philippians 1:15-18
  ¹⁵Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains. ¹⁸What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
  Show context · Read Philippians 1 →
• 1 Corinthians 13:3
  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.
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God will bring hidden counsels to light

• 1 Corinthians 4:5
  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 4 →
• Romans 2:16
  In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
  Show context · Read Romans 2 →
• Ecclesiastes 12:14
  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
  Show context · Read Ecclesiastes 12 →
• Luke 12:2-3
  ²For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. ³Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.
  Show context · Read Luke 12 →

Doing all things for God

• 1 Corinthians 10:31
  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 10 →
• Colossians 3:17
  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
  Show context · Read Colossians 3 →
• Colossians 3:23-24
  ²³And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
  Show context · Read Colossians 3 →
• Ephesians 6:6
  Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
  Show context · Read Ephesians 6 →
• 1 Thessalonians 2:3-5
  ³For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery. ⁴But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts. ⁵For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
  Show context · Read 1 Thessalonians 2 →

Searching one's own heart

• Psalm 139:23-24
  ²³Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. ²⁴And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.
  Show context · Read Psalm 139 →
• Psalm 19:14
  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
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• Proverbs 20:5
  Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 20 →
• Lamentations 3:40
  Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD.
  Show context · Read Lamentations 3 →

See also

• Heart
• Hypocrisy
• Integrity
• Mind and thoughts
• Sincerity
• Self-examination

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.