Ulterior motives are hidden reasons to do something that will benefit ourselves. I am sure we have all had ulterior motives at some point in our lives. Maybe as a child, you told your sibling that your mom needed them so that you could change the television channel and watch what you desired. You may have sat in a specific seat at school to be near a certain boy or girl because you wanted to get to know them or because you did not study and wanted to cheat. These examples are simplistic and familiar to youth, but their motives are still self-serving. They are representing one thing but desiring another.
In scripture, we see many examples of people who had ulterior motives. In John chapter 6 Jesus was teaching in the area and multitudes showed up. They had seen His healing miracles and now experience Him feeding the five thousand. This set the wheels in motion for them to take Jesus and make him their king. Jesus knew this, and in John 6:15, Jesus denied them this opportunity. “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” In the parallel passage in Mark chapter 6, the disciples wanted to send them away because it was close to the end of the day and time to eat. Jesus told his disciples to have them sit, and He blessed the fish and loaves of bread that a little boy had brought for his meal. after blessing the food, there was enough for Jesus to feed the multitude.
Mark 6:36 “Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. It was time to eat and the disciples.”
The next day the people show up again. Here Jesus tells them of their ulterior motive. It was because they wanted a full belly with no effort of their own.
John 6:26 “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”
In Matthew 8:14-16, we see those whose ulterior motive was healing their friends and loved ones. They brought those who were possessed by demons or were physically sick to Jesus. They had heard about Jesus’ healing Peter’s mother-in-law, and their desire was to cash in on the miracles of this man. They did not come seeking Him for who He was: the Savior of the world, the Messiah, the Son of God, the one and only God in the flesh.
Matthew 8:14-16 “And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.”
When was the last time you checked your heart and were honest with yourself about why you sought Jesus? Some go to church because it is the “right” thing to do. It gives them a good name in the neighborhood. It helps their business because it gives Him a good image. I’ve known teen boys who attended church and youth activities because of a pretty girl. Sometimes, wrong motives can lead to a knowledge of Jesus and a surrender of the soul. Others may seek Him because they do not want to go to Hell, and I’ll be honest, as a 10-year-old girl, that was my motivation, but when I asked Him into my heart and surrendered to Him as my Lord, love and gratitude for Him grew.
God desires that we love Him for who He is. We should love Him because He first loved us and gave His life to pay the penalty for our sins. God wants us to bring our request to Him, but He also desires our praise and adoration. What is your motive for coming to Jesus?
