What Does God Look at Most—The Heart or the Body?

Shalom. May the name of the Lord Jesus be blessed.

Welcome to our Bible study. The Word of God says in Ephesians 5:9-10:

“(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), and find out what pleases the Lord.”
Therefore, it is our daily responsibility to examine what pleases the Lord—whether it’s in what we do, say, or even plan to do. We must be sure that our actions align with God’s will.

Today, we will learn about what God looks at within a person. Many believers commonly say, “God does not look at outward appearance like clothing, but He looks at the heart.” This phrase is widely accepted, especially among young Christians. If you ask around, particularly among women, you’ll hear this expression repeated often.

The Inner and Outer Being

First, we must understand that human beings are made up of two essential parts: the inner being and the outer being.

The inner being includes the soul and spirit.
The outer being is the physical body.

Scripture supports this dual nature:

Romans 7:22 – “For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;”
Ephesians 3:16 – “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.”

The same God who created the inner man also created the outer man. He sees and values both. However, in the context of personal worship, it’s true that God looks at the heart, not outward appearance. If God only considered the physical body, He wouldn’t listen to our prayers made in private, even when we’re not fully dressed. He wouldn’t receive our praises from the shower. Clearly, God focuses on the heart in such moments.

When in Public or in Fellowship

However, when we are in public settings—like in church or on the streets—it’s not just about you and God anymore. It’s you, God, and other people.

Yes, God sees your heart, but others do not. They see your body, your clothing, your appearance. If your dressing is inappropriate—revealing, suggestive, or immodest—it can cause:

Lust in others,
Distraction during worship,
Offense to the weak in faith,
And even anger or sinful thoughts.

These are things that displease God. Therefore, God calls for modesty and respect in appearance.
As the Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:9:

“I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,”

Failing to dress modestly can cause others to stumble into sin—and that makes you responsible for their fall.

Jesus Himself warned in Mark 9:42:

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.”

You may not care if others fall into sin because of how you dress, but God does, and the consequences are serious. God prefers you stay hidden in prayer at home in simple clothes, rather than go out in public in a way that could cause others to sin.

Your Appearance Matters in Public

If you’re feeling hot and want to pray in short clothing, do it at home where no one can see you. There, God will look at your heart.
But once you step outside, your appearance matters to God because it affects others.

As Jesus said in Matthew 5:16:

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Now, if your version of shining light is walking half-naked in public, who will glorify God through that?

Even causing one person to stumble is enough to grieve the heart of God. You cannot cause lust, offense, or temptation with modest clothing. Don’t be deceived by worldly ideologies that tell you there’s no problem wearing revealing clothes in church or in public. That’s 100% deception from Satan, often stemming from a misunderstanding of Scripture.

Modesty in Dress—Not Just in Clothing, But in Ornamentation

When we speak of modesty, we refer not only to clothes, but also to external adornments—such as:

Makeup
Lipstick
Wigs
Earrings
Tattoos
Henna
Eyebrow shaping
Skin bleaching, etc.

These are abominations according to Scripture.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 – “…not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”
Leviticus 19:28 – “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.”

Even in private prayer, you should not wear such adornments, because they are idols on your body. How can you worship God when there are idols (false representations) on your body?

2 Corinthians 6:16-17 –
“What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God…
Therefore, ‘Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.’”

Final Appeal – Repentance and Salvation

May the Lord bless you greatly.
If you are not born again, the door of grace is still open—but not for long. The way to eternal life is becoming narrower.

To get saved tomorrow will be harder than today. That’s why the Bible says:

2 Corinthians 6:2 – “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

Make a sincere decision to repent of all your sins, and truly turn away from them. After repentance, seek proper baptism, which completes your salvation. The only biblical baptism is by immersion in water in the name of Jesus Christ, according to Acts 2:38. When you do this, the Holy Spirit will seal you and empower you to live a victorious life.

Maranatha!
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