8227 discernment, nature of

Discernment is given by God, through his Holy Spirit. It is received through God’s word and through the insight of a renewed mind. Discerning believers seek to grow in their understanding and knowledge of God’s truth.

Discernment as sound judgment

Judging the right course Pr 15:21; Php 1:9-10 See also Pr 3:21-23; Pr 8:8-9; Pr 10:21; Pr 11:12; Pr 18:1; Pr 24:30; Hos 14:9

Distinguishing good from evil 2Sa 14:17 See also Ge 3:22; Job 6:30; Job 34:3-4; Isa 7:15

Distinguishing holy from common Lev 10:10; Lev 11:47; Eze 22:26; Eze 44:23

Seeing through outward appearances Pr 28:11 See also 1Sa 16:7; Isa 11:3

Understanding the significance of events Dt 32:29-30 See also 1Ch 12:32; Est 1:13; Mt 24:32-33 pp Mk 13:28-29; Lk 12:54-56

Exercising judgment to rule 1Ki 3:9 See also Pr 8:14-16; Pr 28:2,16; Jer 23:5

Discernment as insight into spiritual realities

Distinguishing between spirits 1Co 12:10 See also 1Ki 22:19-23 pp 2Ch 18:18-22; 1Ti 4:1; 1Jn 4:1-3

Discerning true and false prophecy Dt 13:1-3; Dt 18:21-22; 1Co 14:29

Characteristics of discerning people

The discerning grow in wisdom Pr 1:5 See also Pr 9:9; Pr 10:14; Pr 14:6; Pr 15:14; Pr 17:24; Pr 18:15

The discerning accept rebuke Pr 17:10; Pr 19:25

The discerning keep God’s law 1Ch 22:12; Ps 119:34; Pr 28:7

The source of discernment

Discernment is given by God Da 2:21 See also Pr 9:10; Da 2:27-28; 1Co 2:12-15

Discernment through God’s word Heb 5:14 See also Ps 19:7; Ps 119:98-100,130; Ro 2:18

Discernment through a renewed mind Ro 12:2 See also Jer 31:33; 1Co 2:16

Asking for discernment Ps 119:66 See also Ps 119:27,125; Jas 1:5

See also