Proverbs 16:2 (TLV). All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but Adonai weighs the motives.
We are often quick to question peoples’ motives yet we are slow if not even negligent in checking our own. When we are hurt or transgressed by people, we tend to quickly assume the worst-case scenario and conclusion regarding our offenders’ intentions or motives. In reverse, when we are guilty of hurting others we water down our offense, offering numerous excuses to justify our actions while relegating the offense as minor and the offended and hurt person too sensitive.
No matter how we regard or monitor our motives, intentions, and associated actions Proverbs 16:2 states that God weighs (other translations use judges) them which means He places your motives on scales of righteousness to judge them or weigh them according to justice! This is a critical understanding! It reveals that no matter what self-righteous excuse you make for your motives and actions. God sees your heart while humans judge the outside!
I Samuel 16:7. But ADONAI said to Sh'mu'el, "Don't pay attention to how he looks or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. ADONAI doesn't see the way humans see - humans look at the outward appearance, but ADONAI looks at the heart."
Is it possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason? The Kingdom of Judah, after the nation of Israel has split was all that was left after Israel, or the Northern Kingdom had fallen to Assyria. The prophet Isaiah prophesied doom to Judah in the first 39 chapters of the book of Isaiah for its sin, doing the right thing for the wrong reason:
Isaiah 1:10-18. Hear what ADONAI says, you rulers of S'dom! Listen to God's Torah, you people of 'Amora! 11 "Why are all those sacrifices offered to me?" asks ADONAI. "I'm fed up with burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened animals! I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls, lambs and goats! 12 Yes, you come to appear in my presence; but who asked you to do this, to trample through my courtyards? 13 Stop bringing worthless grain offerings! They are like disgusting incense to me! Rosh-Hodesh, Shabbat, calling convocations - I can't stand evil together with your assemblies! 14 Everything in me hates your Rosh-Hodesh and your festivals; they are a burden to me - I'm tired of putting up with them! 15 "When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; no matter how much you pray, I won't be listening; because your hands are covered with blood. 16 "Wash yourselves clean! Get your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing evil, 17 learn to do good! Seek justice, relieve the oppressed, defend orphans, plead for the widow. 18 "Come now," says ADONAI, "let's talk this over together. Even if your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow; even if they are red as crimson, they will be like wool.
What evil was occurring in their assemblies? Judah was going through the motions, doing the rituals, doing all that was prescribed yet their heart was far away from Adonai:
Isaiah 29:13. Then Adonai said: "Because these people approach me with empty words, and the honor they bestow on me is mere lip-service; while in fact they have distanced their hearts from me, and their 'fear of me' is just a mitzvah of human origin.
They were going through the motions; Judah was even following the commands and mitzvah's of God but their hearts were evil doing evil to their fellow citizens. Remember, the Harbinger message is in Isaiah 9!!! Judah was only going through the motions as many believers do today. Yeshua warns us of this:
Matthew 7:21-23. "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants. 22 On that Day, many will say to me, `Lord, Lord! Didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we expel demons in your name? Didn't we perform many miracles in your name?' 23 Then I will tell them to their faces, `I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!'
Lawlessness in the Greek is Anomia, without Torah! Workers who are without Torah! Is it possible to be professing love and loyalty to Yeshua while serving HaSatan? It sure is, as modeled by Kefa - Peter:
Matthew 16:21-23. From that time on, Yeshua began making it clear to his talmidim that he had to go to Yerushalayim and endure much suffering at the hands of the elders, the head cohanim and the Torah-teachers; and that he had to be put to death; but that on the third day, he had to be raised to life. 22 Kefa took him aside and began rebuking him, "Heaven be merciful, Lord! By no means will this happen to you!" 23 But Yeshua turned his back on Kefa, saying, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because your thinking is from a human perspective, not from God's perspective!"
Even though it was done in ignorance, Kefa was still strongly rebuked.....This is an important revelation, God positively, absolutely, unequivocally does not allow and does not tolerate ignorance as an excuse or rational for sin! This reminds me of a recent issue I was involved in that I referenced some time ago. There is a major Christian ministry to Israel in America that is resolute in its stand to not share Yeshua, to withhold the Good News, the Gospel from the Jewish people. They profess love for Israel and our people while carrying out HaSatan's plan just like Kefa. Remember, HaSatan wants Israel unsaved. HaSatan doesn't want Israel to call Yeshua back!
Proverbs 20:5. The heart's real intentions are like deep water; but a person with discernment draws them out.
Those who boldly seek the truth of God's word will discover Romans 1:16 and learn how to share Yeshua as Sha'ul shared:
I Thessalonians 2:3-4. For the appeal we make does not flow from error or from impure motives, neither do we try to trick people. 4 Instead, since God has tested us and found us fit to be entrusted with Good News, this is how we speak: not to win favor with people but with God, who tests our hearts.
Our motives must be pure and sincere in fulfilling God's commission upon us to be His Ambassadors who have the message of reconciliation. Is it possible to sacrifice for God and be wrong? Ask King Saul:
I Samuel 13:6-13. The men of Isra'el saw that their options were limited and that the people felt so hard pressed that they were hiding themselves in caves, thickets, crevices, watchtowers and cisterns; 7 while some of the Hebrews crossed the Yarden to the territory of Gad and Gil'ad. But Sha'ul was still in Gilgal, where all the people were eager to follow him. 8 He waited seven days, as Sh'mu'el had instructed; but Sh'mu'el didn't come to Gilgal; so the army began to drift away from him. 9 Sha'ul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings," and he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished sacrificing the burnt offering, there was Sh'mu'el -he had come, and Sha'ul went out to meet and greet him. 11 Sh'mu'el said, "What have you done?" Sha'ul answered, "I saw that the army was drifting away from me, that you hadn't come during the time appointed and that the P'lishtim had assembled at Mikhmas. 12 I said, 'Now the P'lishtim will fall on me at Gilgal, and I haven't asked the favor of ADONAI,' so I forced myself and offered the burnt offering." 13 Sh'mu'el said to Sha'ul, "You did a foolish thing. You didn't observe the mitzvah of ADONAI, which he gave you. If you had, ADONAI would have set up your kingship over Isra'el forever.
Saul hadn't learned to trust in the impossible as Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego did. Remember, when God gives the word, the impossible is not only possible it's assured! When God gives you an assignment or a mission that's impossible, the only way you can fail is if you are disobedient. The wrong motives coupled with disobedience were Saul's recipe for failure and loss of the throne. Is it possible to pray, even have prayer meetings and events with the wrong motive? Scripture says yes:
James 4:3. Or you pray and don't receive, because you pray with the wrong motive, that of wanting to indulge your own desires
Soulish or self-righteous prayers are prayers done with the wrong motive and are a very large problem within the body of Messiah today! These are prayers that are said and done outside of God's will. It is one person attempting to control another, it's Spiritual Manipulation, prayers done out of selfish motives that are not God's motives.
There are many influences and experiences that cause us as human beings to do what we do. We can be motivated to do good things such as Love for God, compassion for the poor and needy, with a giving heart and love four your neighbors, in fact, this is a recipe for a God encounter:
Acts 10:1-4. There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a Roman army officer in what was called the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout man, a "God-fearer," as was his whole household; he gave generously to help the Jewish poor and prayed regularly to God. 3 One afternoon around three o'clock he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" 4 Cornelius stared at the angel, terrified. "What is it, sir?" he asked. "Your prayers," replied the angel, "and your acts of charity have gone up into God's presence, so that he has you on his mind.
On the other hand, actions and motivation can also come from a place of pride, insecurity, hurt, pain, lust, greed, guilt, anger, bitterness, fear, even vengeance and hatred. It's even possible to do the best thing with the worst motives:
Matthew 26:47-50. While Yeshua was still speaking, Y'hudah (one of the Twelve!) came, and with him a large crowd carrying swords and clubs, from the head cohanim and elders of the people. 48 The betrayer had arranged to give them a signal: "The man I kiss is the one you want -- grab him!" 49 He went straight up to Yeshua, said, "Shalom, Rabbi!" and kissed him. 50 Yeshua said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they moved forward, laid hold of Yeshua and arrested him.
Judas fulfilled God’s destiny for Yeshua but did so with the wrong motives. He betrayed Yeshua for 30 pieces of silver, not to see God's glory, yet it was God's plan for Yeshua to die! For each and every one of us, in the end as Proverbs 16:2 states:
Proverbs 16:2 (TLV). All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but Adonai weighs the motives.
God will judge your motives, in fact, we are told not to judge prematurely:
I Corinthians 4:5. So don't pronounce judgment prematurely, before the Lord comes; for he will bring to light what is now hidden in darkness; he will expose the motives of people's hearts; and then each will receive from God whatever praise he deserves.
This serves as a guide for us:
II Corinthians 1:12. "For we take pride in this: that our conscience assures us that in our dealings with the world, and especially with you, we have conducted ourselves with frankness and godly pureness of motive- not by worldly wisdom but by God- given grace."
God clearly sees both the actions and the motives of every person even though we do not. God has a radically different evaluation of our deeds and actions. God evaluates or judges us based upon the motives of our heart:
Luke 16:15. He said to them, "You people make yourselves look righteous to others, but God knows your hearts; what people regard highly is an abomination before God!
In fact, God will even test our motives and thoughts to see if we align with Him.
Jeremiah 11:20. ADONAI-Tzva'ot, righteous judge, tester of motives and thoughts, I have committed my cause to you; so let me see your vengeance on them.
It is by a careful balancing of both deeds and motives that God judges humans and consequently rewards or punishes them
Romans 2:2-10. We know that God's judgment lands impartially on those who do such things; 3 do you think that you, a mere man passing judgment on others who do such things, yet doing them yourself, will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or perhaps you despise the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience; because you don't realize that God's kindness is intended to lead you to turn from your sins. 5 But by your stubbornness, by your unrepentant heart, you are storing up anger for yourself on the Day of Anger, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed; 6 for he will pay back each one according to his deeds. 7 To those who seek glory, honor and immortality by perseverance in doing good, he will pay back eternal life. 8 But to those who are self-seeking, who disobey the truth and obey evil, he will pay back wrath and anger. 9 Yes, he will pay back misery and anguish to every human being who does evil, to the Jew first, then to the Gentile; 10 but glory and honor and shalom to everyone who keeps doing what is good, to the Jew first, then to the Gentile.
We must test ourselves to judge our motives or even more importantly ask God to test our motives and hearts so our deeds and actions will be found pure and righteous before Him. Though God will turn what was meant for harm into good, we do not want to be found on the wrong side of God's judgment. I am often amazed at the wrong agendas and motives that exist in ministry. In general, when you become affiliated with this congregation, we don't engage you in any specific task or works for at least 6 months or more. I've learned a few hard lessons over the years. Many people who have come here over the years have been wolves in sheep's clothing. They have their own agenda and motives. Everything from Jezebel and Jehovah's Witnesses to Wiccans and Mormonism. We test motives and agendas.
Psalms 19:15. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable in your presence, ADONAI, my Rock and Redeemer.
Shalom and Blessings,
Rabbi Eric S Carlson
We are often quick to question peoples’ motives yet we are slow if not even negligent in checking our own. When we are hurt or transgressed by people, we tend to quickly assume the worst-case scenario and conclusion regarding our offenders’ intentions or motives. In reverse, when we are guilty of hurting others we water down our offense, offering numerous excuses to justify our actions while relegating the offense as minor and the offended and hurt person too sensitive.
No matter how we regard or monitor our motives, intentions, and associated actions Proverbs 16:2 states that God weighs (other translations use judges) them which means He places your motives on scales of righteousness to judge them or weigh them according to justice! This is a critical understanding! It reveals that no matter what self-righteous excuse you make for your motives and actions. God sees your heart while humans judge the outside!
I Samuel 16:7. But ADONAI said to Sh'mu'el, "Don't pay attention to how he looks or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. ADONAI doesn't see the way humans see - humans look at the outward appearance, but ADONAI looks at the heart."
Is it possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason? The Kingdom of Judah, after the nation of Israel has split was all that was left after Israel, or the Northern Kingdom had fallen to Assyria. The prophet Isaiah prophesied doom to Judah in the first 39 chapters of the book of Isaiah for its sin, doing the right thing for the wrong reason:
Isaiah 1:10-18. Hear what ADONAI says, you rulers of S'dom! Listen to God's Torah, you people of 'Amora! 11 "Why are all those sacrifices offered to me?" asks ADONAI. "I'm fed up with burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened animals! I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls, lambs and goats! 12 Yes, you come to appear in my presence; but who asked you to do this, to trample through my courtyards? 13 Stop bringing worthless grain offerings! They are like disgusting incense to me! Rosh-Hodesh, Shabbat, calling convocations - I can't stand evil together with your assemblies! 14 Everything in me hates your Rosh-Hodesh and your festivals; they are a burden to me - I'm tired of putting up with them! 15 "When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; no matter how much you pray, I won't be listening; because your hands are covered with blood. 16 "Wash yourselves clean! Get your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing evil, 17 learn to do good! Seek justice, relieve the oppressed, defend orphans, plead for the widow. 18 "Come now," says ADONAI, "let's talk this over together. Even if your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow; even if they are red as crimson, they will be like wool.
What evil was occurring in their assemblies? Judah was going through the motions, doing the rituals, doing all that was prescribed yet their heart was far away from Adonai:
Isaiah 29:13. Then Adonai said: "Because these people approach me with empty words, and the honor they bestow on me is mere lip-service; while in fact they have distanced their hearts from me, and their 'fear of me' is just a mitzvah of human origin.
They were going through the motions; Judah was even following the commands and mitzvah's of God but their hearts were evil doing evil to their fellow citizens. Remember, the Harbinger message is in Isaiah 9!!! Judah was only going through the motions as many believers do today. Yeshua warns us of this:
Matthew 7:21-23. "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants. 22 On that Day, many will say to me, `Lord, Lord! Didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we expel demons in your name? Didn't we perform many miracles in your name?' 23 Then I will tell them to their faces, `I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!'
Lawlessness in the Greek is Anomia, without Torah! Workers who are without Torah! Is it possible to be professing love and loyalty to Yeshua while serving HaSatan? It sure is, as modeled by Kefa - Peter:
Matthew 16:21-23. From that time on, Yeshua began making it clear to his talmidim that he had to go to Yerushalayim and endure much suffering at the hands of the elders, the head cohanim and the Torah-teachers; and that he had to be put to death; but that on the third day, he had to be raised to life. 22 Kefa took him aside and began rebuking him, "Heaven be merciful, Lord! By no means will this happen to you!" 23 But Yeshua turned his back on Kefa, saying, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because your thinking is from a human perspective, not from God's perspective!"
Even though it was done in ignorance, Kefa was still strongly rebuked.....This is an important revelation, God positively, absolutely, unequivocally does not allow and does not tolerate ignorance as an excuse or rational for sin! This reminds me of a recent issue I was involved in that I referenced some time ago. There is a major Christian ministry to Israel in America that is resolute in its stand to not share Yeshua, to withhold the Good News, the Gospel from the Jewish people. They profess love for Israel and our people while carrying out HaSatan's plan just like Kefa. Remember, HaSatan wants Israel unsaved. HaSatan doesn't want Israel to call Yeshua back!
Proverbs 20:5. The heart's real intentions are like deep water; but a person with discernment draws them out.
Those who boldly seek the truth of God's word will discover Romans 1:16 and learn how to share Yeshua as Sha'ul shared:
I Thessalonians 2:3-4. For the appeal we make does not flow from error or from impure motives, neither do we try to trick people. 4 Instead, since God has tested us and found us fit to be entrusted with Good News, this is how we speak: not to win favor with people but with God, who tests our hearts.
Our motives must be pure and sincere in fulfilling God's commission upon us to be His Ambassadors who have the message of reconciliation. Is it possible to sacrifice for God and be wrong? Ask King Saul:
I Samuel 13:6-13. The men of Isra'el saw that their options were limited and that the people felt so hard pressed that they were hiding themselves in caves, thickets, crevices, watchtowers and cisterns; 7 while some of the Hebrews crossed the Yarden to the territory of Gad and Gil'ad. But Sha'ul was still in Gilgal, where all the people were eager to follow him. 8 He waited seven days, as Sh'mu'el had instructed; but Sh'mu'el didn't come to Gilgal; so the army began to drift away from him. 9 Sha'ul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings," and he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished sacrificing the burnt offering, there was Sh'mu'el -he had come, and Sha'ul went out to meet and greet him. 11 Sh'mu'el said, "What have you done?" Sha'ul answered, "I saw that the army was drifting away from me, that you hadn't come during the time appointed and that the P'lishtim had assembled at Mikhmas. 12 I said, 'Now the P'lishtim will fall on me at Gilgal, and I haven't asked the favor of ADONAI,' so I forced myself and offered the burnt offering." 13 Sh'mu'el said to Sha'ul, "You did a foolish thing. You didn't observe the mitzvah of ADONAI, which he gave you. If you had, ADONAI would have set up your kingship over Isra'el forever.
Saul hadn't learned to trust in the impossible as Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego did. Remember, when God gives the word, the impossible is not only possible it's assured! When God gives you an assignment or a mission that's impossible, the only way you can fail is if you are disobedient. The wrong motives coupled with disobedience were Saul's recipe for failure and loss of the throne. Is it possible to pray, even have prayer meetings and events with the wrong motive? Scripture says yes:
James 4:3. Or you pray and don't receive, because you pray with the wrong motive, that of wanting to indulge your own desires
Soulish or self-righteous prayers are prayers done with the wrong motive and are a very large problem within the body of Messiah today! These are prayers that are said and done outside of God's will. It is one person attempting to control another, it's Spiritual Manipulation, prayers done out of selfish motives that are not God's motives.
There are many influences and experiences that cause us as human beings to do what we do. We can be motivated to do good things such as Love for God, compassion for the poor and needy, with a giving heart and love four your neighbors, in fact, this is a recipe for a God encounter:
Acts 10:1-4. There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a Roman army officer in what was called the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout man, a "God-fearer," as was his whole household; he gave generously to help the Jewish poor and prayed regularly to God. 3 One afternoon around three o'clock he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" 4 Cornelius stared at the angel, terrified. "What is it, sir?" he asked. "Your prayers," replied the angel, "and your acts of charity have gone up into God's presence, so that he has you on his mind.
On the other hand, actions and motivation can also come from a place of pride, insecurity, hurt, pain, lust, greed, guilt, anger, bitterness, fear, even vengeance and hatred. It's even possible to do the best thing with the worst motives:
Matthew 26:47-50. While Yeshua was still speaking, Y'hudah (one of the Twelve!) came, and with him a large crowd carrying swords and clubs, from the head cohanim and elders of the people. 48 The betrayer had arranged to give them a signal: "The man I kiss is the one you want -- grab him!" 49 He went straight up to Yeshua, said, "Shalom, Rabbi!" and kissed him. 50 Yeshua said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they moved forward, laid hold of Yeshua and arrested him.
Judas fulfilled God’s destiny for Yeshua but did so with the wrong motives. He betrayed Yeshua for 30 pieces of silver, not to see God's glory, yet it was God's plan for Yeshua to die! For each and every one of us, in the end as Proverbs 16:2 states:
Proverbs 16:2 (TLV). All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but Adonai weighs the motives.
God will judge your motives, in fact, we are told not to judge prematurely:
I Corinthians 4:5. So don't pronounce judgment prematurely, before the Lord comes; for he will bring to light what is now hidden in darkness; he will expose the motives of people's hearts; and then each will receive from God whatever praise he deserves.
This serves as a guide for us:
II Corinthians 1:12. "For we take pride in this: that our conscience assures us that in our dealings with the world, and especially with you, we have conducted ourselves with frankness and godly pureness of motive- not by worldly wisdom but by God- given grace."
God clearly sees both the actions and the motives of every person even though we do not. God has a radically different evaluation of our deeds and actions. God evaluates or judges us based upon the motives of our heart:
Luke 16:15. He said to them, "You people make yourselves look righteous to others, but God knows your hearts; what people regard highly is an abomination before God!
In fact, God will even test our motives and thoughts to see if we align with Him.
Jeremiah 11:20. ADONAI-Tzva'ot, righteous judge, tester of motives and thoughts, I have committed my cause to you; so let me see your vengeance on them.
It is by a careful balancing of both deeds and motives that God judges humans and consequently rewards or punishes them
Romans 2:2-10. We know that God's judgment lands impartially on those who do such things; 3 do you think that you, a mere man passing judgment on others who do such things, yet doing them yourself, will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or perhaps you despise the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience; because you don't realize that God's kindness is intended to lead you to turn from your sins. 5 But by your stubbornness, by your unrepentant heart, you are storing up anger for yourself on the Day of Anger, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed; 6 for he will pay back each one according to his deeds. 7 To those who seek glory, honor and immortality by perseverance in doing good, he will pay back eternal life. 8 But to those who are self-seeking, who disobey the truth and obey evil, he will pay back wrath and anger. 9 Yes, he will pay back misery and anguish to every human being who does evil, to the Jew first, then to the Gentile; 10 but glory and honor and shalom to everyone who keeps doing what is good, to the Jew first, then to the Gentile.
We must test ourselves to judge our motives or even more importantly ask God to test our motives and hearts so our deeds and actions will be found pure and righteous before Him. Though God will turn what was meant for harm into good, we do not want to be found on the wrong side of God's judgment. I am often amazed at the wrong agendas and motives that exist in ministry. In general, when you become affiliated with this congregation, we don't engage you in any specific task or works for at least 6 months or more. I've learned a few hard lessons over the years. Many people who have come here over the years have been wolves in sheep's clothing. They have their own agenda and motives. Everything from Jezebel and Jehovah's Witnesses to Wiccans and Mormonism. We test motives and agendas.
Psalms 19:15. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable in your presence, ADONAI, my Rock and Redeemer.
Shalom and Blessings,
Rabbi Eric S Carlson
Posted in July 2025