37 Bible Verses about motives

All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.

Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.

Let all you do be done in love.

For this reason let there be no judging before the time, till the Lord comes, who will make clear the secret things of the dark, and the designs of the heart; and then will every man have his praise from God.

What then? only that in every way, falsely or truly, the preaching of Christ goes on; and in this I am glad, and will be glad.

You make your request but you do not get it, because your request has been wrongly made, desiring the thing only so that you may make use of it for your pleasure.

Put me in the scales, O Lord, so that I may be tested; let the fire make clean my thoughts and my heart.

The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.

But even as the good news was given to us by the approval of God, so we give it out; not as pleasing men, but God by whom our hearts are tested.

For we are not like the great number who make use of the word of God for profit: but our words are true, as from God, being said as before God in Christ.

Though some are preaching Christ out of envy and competition, others do it out of a good heart:

Every man's work will be made clear in that day, because it will be tested by fire; and the fire itself will make clear the quality of every man's work.

Yes, I make my request to you, so that when I am with you I may not have to make use of the authority which may be needed against some to whom we seem to be walking after the flesh.

I the Lord am the searcher of the heart, the tester of the thoughts, so that I may give to every man the reward of his ways, in keeping with the fruit of his doings.

For our witness does not come from error or from an unclean heart or from deceit:

But those are preaching Christ in a spirit of competition, not from their hearts, but with the purpose of giving me pain in my prison.

The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.

Having in mind, then, the fear of the Lord, we put these things before men, but God sees our hearts; and it is my hope that we may seem right in your eyes.

Is there not a division in your minds? have you not become judges with evil thoughts?

The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!

For who has knowledge of the things of a man but the spirit of the man which is in him? in the same way, no one has knowledge of the things of God but the Spirit of God.

And I am conscious, my God, that you are the searcher of hearts, taking pleasure in righteousness. As for me, with an upright heart I have freely given all these things; and I have seen with joy your people who are here to make their offerings freely to you.

Say no more words of pride; let not uncontrolled sayings come out of your mouths: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, by him acts are judged.

God will be judge of every work, with every secret thing, good or evil.

The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.

But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not take note of his face or how tall he is, because I will not have him: for the Lord's view is not man's; man takes note of the outer form, but the Lord sees the heart.

Who has full knowledge of his errors? make me clean from secret evil.

God, who is the saviour of the upright in heart, is my breastplate.

Everyone says false words to his neighbour: their tongues are smooth in their talk, and their hearts are full of deceit.

If you say, See, we had no knowledge of this: does not the tester of hearts give thought to it? and he who keeps your soul, has he no knowledge of it? and will he not give to every man the reward of his work?

Their interest in you is not good; but their desire is that you may be shut out, so that you may go after them.

For it is common knowledge among you that we never made use of smooth-sounding false words, and God is witness that at no time were we secretly desiring profit for ourselves,

And you, Solomon my son, get knowledge of the God of your father, and be his servant with a true heart and with a strong desire, for the Lord is the searcher of all hearts, and has knowledge of all the designs of men's thoughts; if you make search for him, he will be near you; but if you are turned away from him, he will give you up for ever.

For though we may be living in the flesh, we are not fighting after the way of the flesh

O let the evil of the evil-doer come to an end, but give strength to the upright: for men's minds and hearts are tested by the God of righteousness.