38 Bible Verses about motives

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

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Jehovah ponders the hearts.

Let all your things be done in 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? Nevertheless, in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached. And I rejoice in this. Yet, also I will rejoice.

You ask and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it upon your lusts.

Examine me, O Jehovah, and prove me; purify my heart and my mind.

The ordering of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from Jehovah.

but as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who tries our hearts.

For we are not as many, hawking the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.

Some indeed even preach Christ because of envy and strife, and some also of good will.

each one's work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as to what kind it is.

But I ask, not being present, that I may be bold with the confidence which I think to be daring against some, who thought of us as walking according to flesh.

I Jehovah search the heart, I try the reins, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

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

You have proved my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me, and You will find nothing; my thoughts do not pass beyond my mouth.

But these others preach in love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.

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

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. But we are revealed to God, and I trust also that we are revealed in your consciences.

Did you not make a difference among yourselves and became judges with evil thoughts?

The sacrifice of the wicked is hateful to God; how much more when he brings it with a wicked mind?

For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of man within him? So also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

I know also, my God, that You try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. I, in the uprightness of my heart, have willingly offered all these things. And now I have seen with joy Your people who are present here to offer willingly to You.

Talk no more so very proudly. Remove arrogance out of your mouth, for Jehovah is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.

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

The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

But Jehovah said to Samuel, Do not look on his face, nor on his height, because I have refused him. For He does not see as man sees. For man looks on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looks on the heart.

Who can understand his errors? Oh make me pure from secret faults;

My defense is from God, who saves the upright in heart.

They speak vanity each one with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

If you say, Behold, we did not know; does not He who searches the heart consider it? And the Keeper of your soul, does He know? And He repays to a man according to his works.

They are zealous for you, but not well. But they only desire to shut you out, that you be zealous to them.

For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor with pretense of covetousness; God is witness.

And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind. For Jehovah searches all hearts and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you. But if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

For though walking about in flesh, we do not war according to flesh.

O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just. For the righteous God tries the minds and hearts.