God Knows our Thoughts

“But he knew their thoughts …”  (Luke 6:8 KJV)

God needs no interpreter—He doesn’t need anyone to translate the meaning of the imaginations or the intents of our hearts. He just KNOWS.

Jesus said to the hypocritical Pharisees, “Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts …” (Luke 16:15 KJV)

Jesus equated Himself with God. As GOD IN Christ, He could—and did—read their minds. When the Pharisees came and interrogated Jesus, He already KNEW exactly what they were thinking about Him and what He was doing BEFORE they even opened their mouths. Before they could formulate the words and lay out their arguments, He read ALOUD the script of their hearts precisely. Instantly.

Language interpreters—transposing a message LIVE from one language to another —must be a bit of a mind reader. A simple word-for-word interpretation rarely conveys the true intent implied by the speaker. Rather, an interpreter must transpose the source language (language to be translated), within the proper context, preserving the original meaning but rephrasing idioms, colloquialisms, and other culturally-specific references so that the intended audience can understand—without the aid of notes, script, or a dictionary—IN REAL TIME.  A daunting task—it takes experience, a good memory, and lightning-quick reflexes.

When my husband and I served as furlough replacement missionaries in the Czech Republic, we had several very good interpreters to call on for when he preached. Once he had an interpreter who was unusually quick. His lesson was on Paul and Silas in prison, and as he taught, before a phrase had even left his lips, she was giving the translation quick as lightning into Czech. He said, “Their feet were placed in stocks and bonds.” She quickly interpreted. “They were scared stiff.” She interpreted without hesitation. My husband looked at her with a sly smirk and said, “They were SWEATING BULLETS!” She immediately gave the interpretation and, returning the smile, said, “We also have a saying for that.”

Faster than a speeding bullet, Jesus knows every thought in every heart IMMEDIATELY—not just in every language, but BEFORE it can even sort itself into words, phrases and sentences. In the split second before a thought finds its way to the tongue and can be expressed through language, God already knows it.

The Psalmist, David, wrote: “O LORD, thou hast searched me and known me … Thou understandest my thought afar off … and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O LORD, thou KNOWEST it altogether …” (Psalm 139:1-4 KJV)

And just to be clear, hiding our thoughts from God is not an option. Even if we try, we cannot do it. NO ONE can. No matter how dark or diabolical our heart, God reads it like a book.

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea … the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”  (Psalm 139:7-8,11-12 KJV)

God discerns our deepest thoughts, deeper than those defined or refined by language. Where thoughts transcend language, He is already THERE.

Prayer: Search me, O God, and KNOW my heart: try me, and KNOW my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. In Jesus’ name. Amen.