Bible verses about "motives" | RKJNT

¹ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God: because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

¹² Do not be like Cain, who was of the wicked one, and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's were righteous.

¹ What causes strife and quarrels among you? do they not come from your passions, which are at war in your members? ² You covet, and do not have, so you kill; and envy, and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask, and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it upon your pleasures. ⁴ You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. ⁵ Do you think that the scripture speaks in vain when it says, The spirit he made to dwell in us tends toward envious desires? ⁶ But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. ⁷ Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Be miserable, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. ¹¹ Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law: but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it. ¹² There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: but who are you to judge your neighbour? ¹³ Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, and remain there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit. ¹⁴ Yet you do not even know what shall happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is just a vapour, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live, and do this, or that. ¹⁶ But now you boast in your presumption: all such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ Therefore, for him who knows the good he ought to do, and does not do it, for him it is sin.

⁵ Therefore, judge nothing before the time; before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the things hidden in darkness, and will disclose the motives of the heart: and then every man shall have his praise from God.

⁵ Now the aim of this commandment is love from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a sincere faith:

¹ Take heed that you do not practice your righteousness before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

³ Let nothing be done through selfishness or vain conceit; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the others as better than himself. ⁴ But just as we were approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.

¹⁰ Do I now seek the favour of men, or of God? or do I seek to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

¹ Take heed that you do not practice your righteousness before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. ² Therefore, when you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have praise from men. Truly I say to you, They have received their reward. ³ But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing: ⁴ That your alms may be in secret: and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you. ⁵ And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have received their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you. ⁷ But when you pray, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their many words. ⁸ Therefore, do not be like them: for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him. ⁹ Therefore, pray in this manner: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. ¹⁴ For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ¹⁶ Moreover, when you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Truly I say to you, They have received their reward. ¹⁷ But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; ¹⁸ That you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret: and your Father, who sees in secret, shall reward you.