Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Motives?
11 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Motives in the Bible
Discover 17 powerful Bible verses about motives. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential miscellaneous topic.
Top 10 Verses About Motives
- 1Genesis 4:7
“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. be accepted: or, have the excellency unto: or, subject unto thee”
KJV - 2Proverbs 16:2
“All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.”
KJV - 3
- 4Ecclesiastes 12:13
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Let: or, The end of the matter, even all that hath been heard, is”
KJV - 5Matthew 6:1
“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. alms: or, righteousness of your: or, with your”
KJV - 6Galatians 1:10
“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.”
KJV - 7Ephesians 6:6
“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;”
KJV - 8Philippians 2:3
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
KJV - 9Colossians 3:17
“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.”
KJV - 10
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Motives? (4 Verses)
“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. be accepted: or, have the excellency unto: or, subject unto thee”
“All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.”
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.”
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Let: or, The end of the matter, even all that hath been heard, is”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Motives? (7 Verses)
“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. alms: or, righteousness of your: or, with your”
“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.”
“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;”
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
“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.”
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily , as to the Lord, and not unto men;”
“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? fightings: or, brawlings lusts: or, pleasures”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Motives
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about motives. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about motives and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about motives is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on motives needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about motives with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about motives, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Motives?
You have studied 11 verses about motives. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.