38 Bible Verses about motives

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD weighs the hearts.

Let all your things be done with charity.

Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each one have praise of God.

What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached, and I therein do rejoice, and will even rejoice.

Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your pleasures.

Examine me, O LORD and prove me; melt my kidneys and my heart.

Of man are the preparations of the heart, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

but because we have been approved of God that he might entrust us with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who tries our hearts.

For we are not as many, false merchandisers of the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Some indeed preach the Christ even out of envy and strife, but others also out of good will.

the work of each one shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire; the work of each one, whatever sort it is, the fire shall put it to test.

but I beseech you that I need not be bold when I am present with that confidence, with which I am esteemed to use against some who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh.

I the LORD search the heart; I try the kidneys, even to give each man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.

For our exhortation was not of error nor of uncleanness nor in guile,

Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast refined me and hast found no iniquity; that which I thought did not pass through my mouth.

but the others out of charity, knowing that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel.

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of intelligence will draw it out.

Therefore being certain of that terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Are ye not then judging in yourselves and are become judges of evil thoughts?

The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination; how much more, when he brings it with lewdness?

For who among men knows the things of man, except the spirit of man which is in him? Even so no one has known the things of God, but the Spirit of God.

I know also, my God, that thou dost try the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now have I seen with joy that thy people, who are present here, have given willingly unto thee.

Do not multiply thyself speaking great and lofty things; let arrogant words cease from your mouth, for the LORD is the all-knowing God, and the magnificent works are his.

For God shall bring every work to judgment with every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.

The spirit of man is the fire of the LORD, which searches the secrets of the inward parts.

And the LORD replied unto Samuel, Do not look on his countenance or on the height of his stature because I have refused him, for it is not as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

My shield is in God, he who saves the upright in heart.

Each one speaks vanity with his neighbour: they speak with flattering lips and with a double heart.

if thou should say, Behold, we knew it not; shall not he that weighs the hearts understand it? and he that keeps thy soul, does he not know it? and shall he not render to every man according to his works?

They are zealous after you, but not for good; they would exclude you from us, that ye might be zealous after them.

For we were never flatterers in the word, as ye know, nor tainted with covetousness, God is witness,

And thou, Solomon, my son, know thou the God of thy father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing soul, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands 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.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh

Let wickedness consume the wicked; but establish the just: for the righteous God is he who tries the hearts and kidneys.