Top 25 Bible Verses About Discernment (ESV)

4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.

33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints,

13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

125   I am your servant; give me understanding,
    that I may know your testimonies!

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

2:1   My son, if you receive my words
    and treasure up my commandments with you,
2   making your ear attentive to wisdom
    and inclining your heart to understanding;
3   yes, if you call out for insight
    and raise your voice for understanding,
4   if you seek it like silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5   then you will understand the fear of the LORD
    and find the knowledge of God.

9   Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
    whoever is discerning, let him know them;
  for the ways of the LORD are right,
    and the upright walk in them,
    but transgressors stumble in them.

4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.

14   The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

15   An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.