Insight

The spiritual quality that enables a person to appreciate God's mind and will in matters of behaviour, truth and providence, especially where right perception is not obvious. Insight is akin to wisdom and understanding. It is given by God and is to be sought by believers.

Insight is given by God

2 Timothy 2:7 See also Proverbs 2:6

Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all things.

Insight through angelic instruction

Job 33:23; Daniel 9:20–22

Insight through Jesus Christ's teaching

Luke 24:45–47 See also Luke 24:27; Matthew 16:12

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

Insight through the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:9–13 See also Isaiah 64:4; Ephesians 3:4–5

Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

Human insight cannot comprehend spiritual truth

1 Corinthians 2:14 See also Job 9:11; 1 Corinthians 1:20–21

The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Insight into spiritual truth

Insight into the truth about Jesus Christ

Colossians 2:2–3 See also John 16:12–15

that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Insight into the providence of God

Joseph's insight

Genesis 50:20 See also Genesis 45:4–8

As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this— to preserve the lives of many people.

David's insight

2 Samuel 5:12 parallel 1 Chronicles 14:2

Job's insight

Job 42:1–6 Job does not learn why he has suffered, but reaffirms his trust in God's superior wisdom and power. See also Job 15:9 Human insight into Job's suffering did not bring enlightenment; Job 26:3, Job 34:35

Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak. I will question you, and you shall inform Me.’ My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You. Therefore I despise myself, and I repent in dust and ashes.”

Insight into correct behaviour

Philippians 1:9–11 See also Proverbs 28:7; Colossians 1:9–10; Psalm 19:12 discerning one's own faults; Psalm 119:34 understanding God's law; Proverbs 5:1–4 avoiding evil

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Insight into the truth about people

2 Kings 4:8–9 The Shunammite woman recognises Elisha as a man of God; Nehemiah 6:1–2 Nehemiah discerns the motives of his enemies; Matthew 9:3–4 parallels Mark 2:6–8, Luke 5:21–22 Jesus Christ is aware of the evil thoughts of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law; John 4:19 The woman of Samaria understands some of the truth about Jesus Christ.

Insight is to be sought

Proverbs 2:3–5 See also Proverbs 3:21, Proverbs 18:15

if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.

Asking God for insight

James 1:5 See also 1 Kings 3:9–12 parallel 2 Chronicles 1:10–12

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Insight through meditation on God's word

Psalm 119:98–100 See also Psalm 119:104; Daniel 9:2; Matthew 22:29 parallel Mark 12:24

Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I discern more than the elders, for I obey Your precepts.

Examples of people of insight

1 Kings 4:29–34 Solomon; 1 Chronicles 27:32 Jonathan, David's uncle; Daniel 5:11 Daniel

Examples of lack of insight

Matthew 16:9–11 parallel Mark 8:17–21 Jesus Christ's disciples; Matthew 16:22 parallel Mark 8:32 Simon Peter; Luke 24:25 Cleopas and his companion; John 3:10 Nicodemus; John 20:2 Mary Magdalene