Perfect discernment is displayed by God and Jesus Christ. Evil spirits also have discernment, about the person and work of Christ. Discernment has been evident in the rulers and spiritual leaders of God's people, but Israel, like children and the foolish who lack judgment, failed to discern God's purpose and truth.

Psalms 139:1-4

God's discernment

See also

Job 31:4; 34:21
Hebrews 4:13
1 John 3:20
Psalms 19:12

God alone knows our hidden faults.

John 2:25

Jesus Christ's discernment

See also

Matthew 9:4

pp Mk 2:8

Matthew 16:23

pp Lk 5:22

Jesus Christ discerns the thoughts of the teachers of the law

Matthew 22:18

pp Mk 8:33

Jesus Christ discerns the source of Peter's words

pp Mk 12:15

John 1:47

pp Lk 20:23

Jesus Christ discerns the true motive of his questioners

John 8:16

Jesus Christ sees into the heart of Nathaniel

Jesus Christ has perfect discernment of right and wrong.

Mark 1:23-24

Evil spirits' discernment

See also

Mark 1:34

pp Lk 4:33-34

Acts 16:17

pp Lk 4:41

Genesis 41:39

Discernment in those who govern

Acts 7:10

Joseph:

1 Kings 3:12
2 Chronicles 2:12

Solomon:

Job 12:20

elders

2 Kings 4:9

Examples of spiritual discernment

See also

John 4:19,42
1 Kings 22:19-23

See also

pp 2Ch 18:18-22

Jeremiah 23:16-22

Micaiah discerns that a lying spirit is responsible for false prophecy.

Acts 5:3

Jeremiah knows that the false prophets' message is not from God

Acts 8:23

Peter is aware of the deception of Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 16:18

Peter discerns the true condition of Simon's heart

Paul discerns the spiritual source of a girl's fortune-telling ability.

2 Samuel 14:18-20

Futher examples of discernment

1 Kings 3:24-28

David sees through Joab's ruse

Nehemiah 6:12-13

Solomon discerns a child's true mother

Nehemiah sees through the plot against him.

Deuteronomy 1:39

Lack of discernment

See also

Young children lack discernment

Isaiah 7:15-16
Jonah 4:11
Deuteronomy 32:28
Luke 12:54-56

Israel's lack of discernment

See also

Isaiah 1:3; 5:13; 44:18-19
Ezekiel 12:2
Acts 28:27
Isaiah 6:9-10
Proverbs 6:32; 10:21

See also

Those who lack judgment

Proverbs 7:7; 9:4; 12:11; 18:1; 24:30
Psalms 82:5

Other examples of lack of discernment

Micah 4:12

the "gods" in the heavenly assembly

See also

the nations who fail to discern God's plan

1025 God, anger of
1439 revelation
2045 Jesus Christ, knowledge of
2203 Christ, titles of
3110 Holy Spirit, titles of
4203 earth, the
5009 conscience
5949 shyness
6183 ignorance, of God
8331 reliability
8477 self-examination
8759 fools