Bible verses about "motives" | Mace

¹ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

¹⁷ let your discourse and your actions be all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father by him.

¹² not acting like Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother: but why did he slay him? because his own actions were evil, and his brother's were virtuous.

¹ you breathe slaughter and revenge for what you cannot obtain. ² you quarrel and go to war, but without success, because you don't petition for it: and if you did, ³ you would not obtain it, because you wickedly request to have your passions gratified. ⁴ Degenerate race, don't you know that friendship with vice is hostility against heaven. he that is a friend to the vicious world, is an enemy to God. ⁵ or do you imagine that passage of scripture to be insignificant, "does the spirit that dwells in you, incite you to vice?" ⁶ on the contrary, he heaps his favours upon you. wherefore 'tis said, "God defeats the proud, but is gracious to the humble." ⁷ Surrender therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ address your selves to God, and you will find him present with you: cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, you that are diffident. ⁹ be afflicted, be mournful, and weep: let your mirth be converted to sadness, and your joy to vexation. ¹⁰ humble your selves before the Lord, and he will raise you up. ¹¹ Don't, my brethren, treat one another with detraction. he that reflects upon his brother, and censures his brother, reflects upon the law, and censures the law: if you censure the law, instead of obeying it, you set up for a judge. ¹² there is but one legislator, and judge, he that has the power of life and death: who art thou, to pass sentence upon another? ¹³ As for you, who affirm, "to-day, or, to-morrow we will go to such a city, we will stay there a whole year, there we will traffic, and find our account." ¹⁴ how do you know, what will happen to-morrow? for, "what is your life?" a vapour that just appears, and then vanishes. ¹⁵ your language ought to be this, "if the Lord pleases to give us life, we shall do this, or that." ¹⁶ you triumph in your vain projects, but your presumption is vicious. ¹⁷ he then that knows what is virtuous, and does not practise it, is a criminal.

⁵ therefore suspend your judgment till the Lord comes, who will bring to light the secrets of darkness, and expose the counsels of mens hearts: and then shall every man have his due reward from God.

⁵ such a charge will produce that charity, which arises from purity, from a good conscience, and a sincere belief:

¹ Take care not to perform any religious act in order to be observed by men: otherwise you will have no reward from your father who is in heaven.

³ Do nothing out of a spirit of contention, or for vain-glory, but modestly look upon others as if they were better than yourselves. ⁴ we preach the gospel just as God thought fit to intrust it with us, not being studious to please men, but God, who approves our sincerity.

¹⁰ for do I now act in obedience to men, or to God? or do I seek to please men? if I had hitherto pleased men, I should not have been the servant of Christ.

¹ Take care not to perform any religious act in order to be observed by men: otherwise you will have no reward from your father who is in heaven. ² therefore, when you give alms, do not make a proclamation of it as the hypocrites do, in their publick assemblies by sound of trumpet, that they may have the applause of men. for I assure you, they have their reward. ³ but when you give alms, "let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth:" ⁴ that your alms may be secret: and your father who sees your secret actions, shall reward you. ⁵ And when you pray, be not as the hypocrites are: for they chuse to stand praying in publick places, and at the corners of the streets, to be observ'd by men. I assure you, they have their reward. ⁶ but you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut the door, pray to your father who is with you in your retirement, and your father who observeth the actions of your retirement shall reward you. ⁷ When you pray, be not verbose, as the heathen are: for they think they shall be heard for their loquaciousness. ⁸ don't therefore imitate them: for your father knows what you want, before you ask him. ⁹ After this manner do you therefore pray: "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. thy kingdom come. ¹⁰ thy 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 forgive our debtors. ¹³ and let us not be left under temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." ¹⁴ for if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses. ¹⁶ When ye fast, don't put on a dismal air, as the hypocrites do, who look dejected, that men may take notice of their fasting: I assure you, they have their reward. ¹⁷ but whenever you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face: ¹⁸ that your fasting may not be observed by men, but by your father, who is with you in your retirement, and your father who observes what you do in private, shall give you a reward.