This is an update to the previous entry, Was Jesus Omniscient?

Someone responded that Jesus had to be God manifest in the flesh because he could read the thoughts of men. This person quoted the following verses as proof texts:

  • Matthew 9:3-4
    (3)  And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This fellow blasphemes.”
    (4)  And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?
  • Luke 11:17
    (17)  But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls.
  • John 1:47
    (47)  Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and *said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

To study and learn and know the word of God is to grow in wisdom. Here is a word of wisdom from Psalms 12:5:

The thoughts of the righteous are just, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

Are there other examples in scripture of righteous men “knowing the thoughts” of other men? Yes.

  • Job said he did:
    Job 21:27
    (27)  “Behold, I know your thoughts, And the plans by which you would wrong me.”
  • David knew the thoughts of his enemies:
    Psalms 56:5
    (5)  All day long they distort my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil.
  • God revealed to Daniel what the thoughts of Nebuchadnezzar were:
    Daniel 2:29
    (29)  “As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place.

Therefore, Jesus knowing the thoughts of others, that there was evil or deceit in their thoughts or hearts, is not unusual among the righteous men and prophets of God.