Bible Strands
Matthew 9:4
But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to scribes who have just formed an unspoken accusation of blasphemy against him (v. 3); he answers a thought, not a question.
The words — ἐνθυμήσεις (enthumēseis) means inner deliberation or brooding, not a passing idea; the BSB renders the phrase as "harbor evil," importing a moral verdict the Greek leaves implicit.
The thread — The same pattern recurs in Luke 6:8 and Matthew 12:25, where Jesus again reads unspoken thoughts aloud; Revelation 2:23 extends the claim to the eschatological judge who "searches minds and hearts."
Why it lands — The verse collapses the distance between private judgment and public exposure, asking the reader to treat their unspoken conclusions as already spoken.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
Cross-references
- Luke 6:8 But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and stand among us.” So he got up and stood there.
- Matthew 12:25 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
- Revelation 2:23 Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
- Psalms 44:21 would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?
- Psalms 139:2 You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.
- Luke 9:46 Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.
- Luke 11:17 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall.
- John 16:30 Now we understand that You know all things and that You have no need for anyone to question You. Because of this, we believe that You came from God.”
- John 2:24 But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all.
- Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.