In the context of the Bible, "motive" refers to the underlying intentions or reasons behind a person's actions or thoughts. The Scriptures emphasize the importance of pure and righteous motives, as God examines the heart and discerns the true intentions behind human behavior.

Biblical Understanding of Motive

1. God's Examination of the Heart: The Bible consistently teaches that God looks beyond outward appearances and actions to examine the heart and motives of individuals. In 1 Samuel 16:7, the LORD says to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart." This verse highlights that God values the sincerity and purity of one's motives over external attributes.

2. Purity of Motives in Worship and Service: The New Testament emphasizes that worship and service to God must be conducted with pure motives. In Matthew 6:1, Jesus warns, "Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." This teaching underscores the importance of serving God with genuine intentions rather than seeking human approval or recognition.

3. Motives and Prayer: The Bible also addresses the role of motives in prayer. James 4:3 states, "And when you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures." This passage indicates that prayers driven by selfish desires are not aligned with God's will and may hinder one's relationship with Him.

4. The Role of Love: Love is presented as the highest and purest motive for actions in the Christian life. In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul writes, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." This passage emphasizes that love should be the driving force behind all actions, as it reflects the character of God.

5. Judgment of Motives: The Bible teaches that God will ultimately judge the motives of every individual. In 1 Corinthians 4:5, Paul advises, "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." This verse reassures believers that God will reveal and reward the true intentions of the heart.

6. Examples of Righteous and Unrighteous Motives: Throughout the Bible, there are numerous examples of both righteous and unrighteous motives. For instance, Joseph's brothers acted out of jealousy and malice when they sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:11, 28). In contrast, the Good Samaritan acted out of compassion and love when he helped the injured man (Luke 10:33-34).

Conclusion

The Bible places significant emphasis on the motives behind actions, teaching that God values sincerity, love, and purity of heart. Believers are encouraged to examine their own motives and align them with God's will, seeking to serve Him with genuine love and integrity.1. (n.) That which moves; a mover.

2. (n.) That which incites to action; anything prompting or exciting to choice, or moving the will; cause; reason; inducement; object.

3. (n.) The theme or subject; a leading phrase or passage which is reproduced and varied through the course of a movement; a short figure, or melodic germ, out of which a whole movement is developed. See Leading.

4. (n.) That which produces conception, invention, or creation in the mind of the artist in undertaking his subject; the guiding or controlling idea manifested in a work of art, or any part of one.

5. (a.) Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move; as, a motive argument; motive power.

6. (v. t.) To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.

156. aitia -- cause, reason
... From the same as aiteo; a cause (as if asked for), ie (logical) reason (motive,
matter), (legal) crime (alleged or proved) -- accusation, case, cause, crime ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/156.htm - 6k

1567. ekzeteo -- to seek out, demand, inquire
... by the seeker. This seeking is only as valuable (viable) as the motive
which drives it. enquire, seek after diligently. From ek ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1567.htm - 7k

3056. logos -- a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a ...
... From lego; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject
of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3056.htm - 8k

4616. maan -- purpose, intent
... From anah; properly, heed, ie Purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as
a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that -- because of, to the end ...
/hebrew/4616.htm - 6k

The Christian Aim and Motive.
... SERMONS. XII. THE CHRISTIAN AIM AND MOTIVE. Preached January 4, 1852.
THE CHRISTIAN AIM AND MOTIVE. "Be ye therefore perfect ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/xii the christian aim and.htm

Mercy's Master Motive
... Mercy's Master Motive. A Sermon (No.1041). Delivered on Lord's Day Morning, March
17th, 1872, by. CH SPURGEON,. At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/mercys master motive.htm

The Needs and Motive Forces that Led to the Creation of the New ...
... THE ORIGIN OF THE NEW TESTAMENT I. The Needs and Motive Forces that led to
the Creation of the New Testament. If the trained observer ...
/.../harnack/the origin of the new testament/i the needs and motive.htm

Whether Evil is Properly the Motive of Mercy?
... OF MERCY (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether evil is properly the motive of mercy? Objection
1: It would seem that, properly speaking, evil is not the motive of mercy. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether evil is properly the.htm

Whether the Sole Motive of Anger is Slight or Contempt?
... AND OF THE REMEDIES OF ANGER (FOUR ARTICLES) [*There is no further mention of these
remedies in the text, except in A .] Whether the sole motive of anger is ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the sole motive of.htm

A Third Motive to Resolution is the Danger of Tepidity...
... THE NATURE AND END THEREOF, AND GENERAL DISPOSITION REQUIRED THERETO. CHAPTER V.
A third motive to resolution is the danger of tepidity? Sec. Sec. ...
/.../chapter v a third motive.htm

Whether the Motive of Anger is Always Something done against the ...
... ANGER, AND OF THE REMEDIES OF ANGER (FOUR ARTICLES) [*There is no further mention
of these remedies in the text, except in A .] Whether the motive of anger is ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the motive of anger.htm

The Motive that Led Men to Adopt Darwinism.
... THE MOTIVE THAT LED MEN TO ADOPT DARWINISM. Before presenting the motive
that led some of the great minds in unbelief to advocate ...
/.../the motive that led men.htm

Love, the Motive Power for Service.
... CHAPTER II. LOVE, THE MOTIVE POWER FOR SERVICE. Let me ... It is not always
more work that we want so much as a better motive. Many of ...
/.../moody/to the work to the work/chapter ii love the motive.htm

Whether Marriage Can Result from one Person's Consent to Take ...
... OF THE OBJECT OF THE CONSENT (TWO ARTICLES) Whether marriage can result from
one person's consent to take another for a base motive? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether marriage can result from.htm

Motive (3 Occurrences)
... 5. (a.) Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move; as, a motive argument;
motive power. ... Multi-Version Concordance Motive (3 Occurrences). ...
/m/motive.htm - 8k

Guilt (180 Occurrences)
... In other words, in thinking of guilt we ask the questions of cause, motive and
consequence, the central idea being that of the personal blameworthiness of the ...
/g/guilt.htm - 46k

Charity (29 Occurrences)
... char'-i-ti (agape): 1. A New Word 2. A New Ideal 3. An Apostolic Term 4. Latin
Equivalents 5. English Translation 6. Inward Motive 7. Character 8. Ultimate ...
/c/charity.htm - 23k

Innocents (2 Occurrences)
... ANALYSIS OF NARRATIVE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MOTIVE 1. Focus of Narrative-Residence
at Nazareth 2. Corollaries from Above Facts 3. Marks of Historicity I ...
/i/innocents.htm - 20k

Massacre (1 Occurrence)
... ANALYSIS OF NARRATIVE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MOTIVE 1. Focus of Narrative-Residence
at Nazareth 2. Corollaries from Above Facts 3. Marks of Historicity I ...
/m/massacre.htm - 20k

For (102061 Occurrences)
... 2. (prep.) Indicating the antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the motive
or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state; the reason of ...
/f/for.htm - 9k

Spring (122 Occurrences)
... 7. (vi) To issue or proceed, as from a parent or ancestor; to result, as from a
cause, motive, reason, or principle. 8. (vi) To grow; to prosper. ...
/s/spring.htm - 40k

Latin (2 Occurrences)
... Sprache (1878-81); Pfister, Vulgarlatein und Vulgargriechisch (Rh. Mus., 1912,
195-208). AT Robertson. LATIN VERSION, THE OLD. " 1. The Motive of Translation 2 ...
/l/latin.htm - 28k

Confusion (71 Occurrences)
... The motive was to "make us a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of
the whole earth." This seems to mean that the buildings would give them a ...
/c/confusion.htm - 39k

Manasses (1 Occurrence)
... 1. Name 2. Canonicity and Position 3. Contents 4. Original Language 5. Authenticity
6. Author and Motive 7. Date 8. Text and Versions (1) Greek (2) Latin ...
/m/manasses.htm - 19k

What does the Bible say about dyeing hair? | GotQuestions.org

How can I stop being a people-pleaser? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that “as a man thinks, so is he” in Proverbs 23:7? | GotQuestions.org

Motive: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus