Proverbs 24:12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
This verse destroys the excuse: “I did not know.” A person may deceive other people, but he cannot deceive God. God sees what we know, what we do, what we refuse to do, and the motives behind our actions.
“Doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it?” God searches and examines the heart. Three works of God: [1] God searches the heart. He knows our thoughts, motives, desires, and intentions. “For the righteous Lord trieth the hearts and reins” (Ps. 7:9). Jeremiah 17:10 similarly declares that God searches the heart and tests the inward parts to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Nothing is hidden from Him. [2] God keeps the soul. God is the guardian of those who belong to Him. Psalm 121 repeatedly emphasises that the Lord keeps His people, while 1Peter 1:5 speaks of believers being “kept by the power of God through faith.” God knows the condition of our lives because we are never outside His sight. [3] God judges the works of man. God will ultimately bring every person’s works into judgment. This truth is repeated throughout Scripture (Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:11–15; 2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 16:27).
God judges not merely outward appearances but the heart and motives behind what we do.
‘Shall not he render to every man according to his works?’ There is accountability before God. We may escape human justice, hide information from others, or convince ourselves that our actions do not matter, but we cannot escape God’s knowledge or judgment. This gives great comfort to the innocent and a solemn warning to those who deliberately refuse to do what is right.
