Bible Verses About Motives
Ranked by the OpenBible.info topical community
These are the Bible verses most often cited for motives, ranked by the OpenBible.info topical community across 2,197 votes, led by Proverbs 21:2. Each passage links to its verse page or the interactive map; scripture is the King James Version.
Top verses about Motives
Proverbs 21:2252 votes
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
Matthew 6:1-18231 votes
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Galatians 1:10196 votes
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:4159 votes
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
Philippians 2:3130 votes
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
1 Timothy 1:5116 votes
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
Matthew 6:1102 votes
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
1 Samuel 16:7100 votes
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
1 Corinthians 4:587 votes
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Proverbs 16:280 votes
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.
1 John 3:1262 votes
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
James 4:1-1756 votes
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Ecclesiastes 12:13-1455 votes
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Genesis 4:753 votes
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Colossians 3:1751 votes
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:2349 votes
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
1 John 4:147 votes
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Ephesians 6:635 votes
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Matthew 10:2834 votes
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-1226 votes
For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
Matthew 18:1-3525 votes
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
1 Thessalonians 2:6-1222 votes
Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
1 John 2:2722 votes
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
1 Chronicles 28:920 votes
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth 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.
1 John 1:919 votes
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
What does the Bible say about motives?
Readers most often cite Proverbs 21:2 on the subject of motives. Across 2,197 votes, 25 passages are commonly cited for this topic, including Matthew 6:1-18, Galatians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:4. This page lists all 25 in ranked order, quoted in the King James Version, with each linked to its cross-references.