good deeds and bad deeds essay

Search for a City or Zip to set your location

All information on IslamicFinder.org is verified by professionals beforehand. If you find any inappropriate material (or links leading to inappropriate materials), kindly   contact us.

Download our iOS app

for faster experience and daily updates.

Download our Android app

Noting-Down of Good Deeds and Bad Deeds

Translation, good and bad deeds.

On the Authority of Ibn Abbas (R.A.) that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said:

"Allah ordered (the appointed angels over you) that the good and the bad deeds be written, and He then showed (the way) how (to write). If somebody intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write for him a full good deed (in his account with Him); and if he intends to do a good deed and actually did it, then Allah will write for him (in his account) with Him (its reward equal) from ten to seven hundred times to many more times: and if somebody intended to do a bad deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write a full good deed (in his account) with Him, and if he intended to do it (a bad deed) and actually did it, then Allah will write one bad deed (in his account) ."

(Sahih Al-Bukhari: 6491)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

This Hadith mentions the magnitude of divine blessings which Allah Bestows upon His faithful salves/believers on the day of resurrection.

The Hadith mentions that the reward of good deeds of a believer will be multiplied several times by Allah whereas evil acts/bad deeds will be recorded as only one sin. But we have to be careful because if a person has committed a sin once and then has the intention of repeating it whenever possible. That is this person is persisting on disobedience and is subject to punishment because of his bad intention even if he does it years later.

Promote your business in   United States

SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER

Insert your coordinates

Improve your location’s accuracy.

Sometimes we might have trouble finding where you are located. Having your current location will help us to get you more accurate prayer times and nearby Islamic places. Here are some things you can do to help fix the problem.

• In the top right, click More
• Click Settings and then Show advanced settings.
• In the dialog that appears, scroll down to the "Location" section. Select one of these permissions:
• Allow all sites to track your physical location: Select this option to let all sites automatically see your location.
• Ask when a site tries to track your physical location: Select this option if you want Google Chrome to alert you whenever a site wants to see your location.
• Do not allow any site to track your physical location: Select this option if don't want any sites to see your location.
• Click Done.
• Open System Preferences and then Security & Privacy Preferences and then Privacy and then Location Services.
• To allow for changes, click the lock in the bottom left.
• Check "Enable Location Services."
• Turn on location
• On your phone or tablet, open the Settings app.
• Tap Location.
• At the top, switch location on.
• Tap Mode and then High accuracy.
• Open Chrome
• In the top right, tap More
• Tap Settings .
• Under "Advanced", tap Site Settings
• Tap Location . If you see a toggle, make sure it turned on and blue.
• If you see "Location access is turned off for this device," tap the blue words > on the next Settings screen, tap the toggle to turn on location access.
• If you see "blocked" under "Location," tap Blocked > tap IslamicFinder > Clear & reset .
• Open IslamicFinder in your mobile browser and refresh the web page
• Open Settings app.
• Tap Privacy > Location Services > Safari Websites .
• Under "Allow Location Access," tap While Using the app.
• Open settings app.
• Tap General > Reset .
• Tap Reset Location & Privacy .
• If prompted, enter your passcode.
• You will see a message that says "This will reset your location and privacy settings to factory defaults." Tap Reset Settings .
• Open Safari
• Go to IslamicFinder
• To give Safari access to your location, tap Allow or OK
• To give IslamicFinder access to your location, tap OK

Essay on Good Deeds Reflect Good Character

Students are often asked to write an essay on Good Deeds Reflect Good Character in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Good Deeds Reflect Good Character

What are good deeds.

Good deeds are kind actions we do for others. They can be as simple as helping an old person cross the street or sharing lunch with a friend. These acts show we care about people and want to make their day better.

Good Deeds Show Kindness

When someone does good deeds, it shows they have a kind heart. Kindness is a part of good character. It means thinking about others before ourselves and doing things to help without wanting anything back.

Good Deeds and Respect

Good deeds also show respect. When we act kindly, we are treating others the way we want to be treated. This respect is a big piece of having good character.

Good Deeds Inspire Others

Seeing good deeds makes others want to do the same. This creates a chain of kindness. One good action can lead to many more. This is how good deeds can make a big difference in the world.

250 Words Essay on Good Deeds Reflect Good Character

Good deeds are actions we do that help others or make the world a better place. They can be small things like helping an old person cross the street or big things like raising money for people who are sick. When we do good deeds, it shows that we care about others and not just about ourselves.

Good Deeds Show Who We Are

Our actions speak louder than our words. This means that what we do shows our true character more than what we say. When someone does good things for others, it shows that they have a kind heart and think about other people’s feelings. This is what good character is all about.

Good Deeds Make Us Feel Good

When we do something nice for someone, it makes us feel happy inside. This is because being kind and helpful is a part of who we are as humans. We feel good when we do good. So, doing good deeds not only shows we have good character but also makes us feel better about ourselves.

When people see us doing good deeds, it can encourage them to do the same. It’s like when one person smiles, it can make others smile too. Good actions can spread from person to person, making a chain of kindness. This shows that one person’s good character can really make a difference in the world.

In short, good deeds are a clear sign of good character. They show kindness, caring, and a willingness to help others. By doing good deeds, we not only prove our good character but also spread positivity and inspire others to do the same.

500 Words Essay on Good Deeds Reflect Good Character

Understanding good deeds.

Good deeds are actions that help others and make the world a better place. They can be as simple as helping an old person cross the street or as big as starting a charity to help those in need. When we do something good for someone else, it not only brings a smile to their face but also warms our own hearts.

Good Character Shines Through Actions

A person’s character is like a tree, and their good deeds are like the fruit it bears. Just as sweet fruit is a sign of a healthy tree, good deeds show that a person has a good character. When someone is kind, honest, and caring in their actions, it is clear they have these qualities inside them. Good deeds are like a mirror that reflects what is in a person’s heart.

When we do good things for others, people tend to respect us more. This is because they see that we are thinking about others and not just ourselves. For example, if a student helps their classmates with homework, those classmates will think of the student as helpful and kind. This respect comes from seeing the good character the student shows by doing a good deed.

Good Deeds Create a Ripple Effect

One amazing thing about good deeds is that they can start a chain reaction. If you do something nice for someone, they might feel happy and do something nice for someone else. This is called a ripple effect. It’s like throwing a stone into a pond and watching the ripples spread out. Good deeds work the same way, spreading kindness and good character from one person to another.

Learning from Good Deeds

Good deeds are also a way for us to learn and grow. When we do something nice, we learn about compassion and empathy. We start to understand how other people feel and why it is important to help them. This learning makes our character even stronger and helps us do even more good deeds in the future.

Challenges to Good Deeds

Sometimes, doing good deeds can be hard. We might be busy, or we might not feel like helping. But it is important to remember that every good deed counts, no matter how small. Even when it is tough, choosing to do a good deed shows that we have a strong and good character.

In conclusion, good deeds are a clear sign of a person’s good character. They show that we care about others and want to make a positive difference in the world. Good deeds earn us respect, start a ripple effect of kindness, and help us learn important values. Even when it is difficult, we should always strive to do good deeds because they reflect who we are inside. Let’s all try to do more good deeds and show the world the best of our characters.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on God’s Importance In Life
• Essay on Goals For The Future
• Essay on Goals Are Good For You

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

About Islam

• # Quran 382 Articles
• # Spirituality 382 Articles
• # Discovering Islam 382 Articles
• # Shariah 382 Articles
• # Videos 382 Articles
• # Family & Life 382 Articles
• # Fatwa & Counseling 382 Articles
• # Muslim News 382 Articles
• # Youth Q & A 382 Articles
• # Donate 382 Articles
• Discovering Islam
• Living Islam

Don’t Persist in Sin: Good Deeds Erase Bad Deeds

Have Taqwa (Fear) of Allah wherever you may be, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed which will wipe it out, and behave well towards the people. (Ahmad)

I remember reading that every test in our life makes us bitter or better, every test comes to break us or make us. The choice is ours whether we become victim or victor.

This made me consider the time when we sin, we can either become stronger persons from it by correcting it and not returning to it, or we can become victims and wallow in our sadness rather than repent. We should always choose to become victor.

There is Always Another Chance

Contrary to shame and blame is conviction, which acknowledges that we may have gone wrong, lived a lie, committed an act, said those terrible things or even perhaps failed to do the right thing at the right time. This conviction will always cause us to consider the error of our ways and then persuade us to turn around; no matter how late.

Conviction reminds us, there is mercy and forgiveness awaiting us. There is a fresh start; there is another chance that is of course after we sincerely repent.

Prophet Muhammad narrated:

" title="Advertise and Market to Muslims" target="_blank">Ads by Muslim Ad Network

He who repents of a sin is like him who has committed no sin. (Muslim)

Now that we are on the road again to being the good believer God created us to be, we find ourselves contemplating, well what next?

The thought of doing a good deed might pop into our head from time to time, but due to our busy life, unfortunately it might get pushed to the back burner more than we would like to admit.

The truth is, most good deeds don’t require the amount of time and organization we think they do. The opportunity to do a good deed pops up every day and most are rather simple; it could be in the shopping center, on the daily route to work or while waiting in line to pay our bills.

In fact, one of the greatest things any of us can do is reach out and do a good deed for another human being. Whether it means offering our love and compassion, or making a charitable donation of time, energy, or money, there are many ways to bring sunshine into the lives of others.

Making Good Deeds a Habit

4 ways to find joy and happiness in life.

We should be encouraged to start performing these good deeds on a daily basis, making it a habit and believe me you will realize the rewards immediately even if it’s just a toothless smile by that elderly citizen you helped cross the street.

A big boost and one of the most reliable vehicles for uplifting and making us feel better and less guilty of our sins is volunteer work, which forges a beautiful kind of nourishing.

The thing that will surprise you the most is how good you’ll feel once you have done it. Ignore the whispering of the devil who may make you think it’s too late you’re drowning in sins anyway.

Renew Intentions

Renew your intentions and make it a way of life. Don’t forget that almost everything you do in life can become da’wah (delivering the message) where later you will be used as an example of a good practicing Muslim.

People will copy you and you will continue to reap the rewards even after death. Furthermore doing good deeds seems to have a ripple effect, triggering cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes.

You will notice it will make you more open, more loving, grateful, compassionate, and forgiving.

Performing acts of kindness in fact is highly correlated with increased happiness, improving both our self-image and our sense of satisfaction with bonus rewards from God.

How I Came to Know and Love the Real God

Work for the hereafter.

Take advantage of the little time we have in this world preparing for the Hereafter.

Remember time is like a river, you cannot touch the same water twice, because the flow has passed and will never pass again so take advantage of time you have in this world.

If you have sinned, repent, stop worrying and begin to erase your bad deeds with good ones and always remember that God is the Merciful. His Mercy is conveyed beautifully in the hadith :

I treat My servant as he hopes that I would treat him. I am with him whenever he remembers Me: if he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him in My `heart’; if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering far better than that gathering; if he draws near to Me a hand’s span, I draw near to him an arm’s length; if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

And again His compassion is illustrated in the Quran. Those who remember Allah standing, sitting and reclining and who reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth are highly commended in the Noble Quran . They are wise in that they fill their hearts with the remembrance of God in every moment, in every circumstance and in every posture of their lives.

After we have sinned and made that mistake we must make that diligent effort to embark on the road to recovery. Bear in mind that we do not know when we will leave this world. It may be that the coming morning is our last morning, or perhaps the coming evening is our last evening.

Indeed, it may be that this hour is our last hour, or even, that this moment is our last moment. Morbid, yes, however it is a reality we must make peace with ourselves and begin acting on at once.

Reflect often on this verse from the Quran to understand the seriousness of how long we really are in this world and that the Hereafter is our true abode:

From Allah we came and to Him we shall return. ( 2: 156 )

We, the human race, living on this earth, are sometimes under the perception that we belong here that this is our residence and home. And we sometimes forget or are in denial and we don’t want to know the fact that we are on a train. We must remember that we do not belong here we are mere travelers. That is why the Prophet says:

Be in this world as if you are a traveler. This world is like somebody who is traveling in the desert, and then saw a tree. So he took some shade under this tree and took some rest, and then continued with the journey. (Authenticated by Al-Albani)

Such an uncertainty however does not, of course, justify a complete withdrawal from this life so as to prepare for the next in some form or another.

The uncertainty is important though and we should always be conscious of it to the extent that it motivates us to spend every moment of our remaining life seriously, considering it as a gift from God and spending the resources, time, ability and energy which He has blessed us with to do good and to advocate it.

It is in reality only then, that in our life we will have achieved what is required of it. Now is the time to pump up the volume of our good deeds in this world.

The catchphrase here is to remember God at all times and is a reflection of His all-embracing and overwhelming love for us. The door to God is always open to us even if we have sinned.

In short He is saying: “Remember Me and I will remember you”.

We simply need only to find our way to and through that door.

(From Reading Islam’s archive )

Privacy Overview

Why Good Deeds Can Cause Moral Backsliding

Doing a good deed can lead some people to more kind acts while spurring others to backslide. But how people respond depends on their moral outlook, according to a new study.

People who believe the ends justify the means are likelier to offset good deeds with bad ones and vice versa. By contrast, those who believe right and wrong are defined by principle, not outcome, tend to be more consistent, even if they're behaving unethically.

The findings were published Feb. 27 in the journal Psychological Science.

Mixed results

Some studies show that people maintain a kind of moral equilibrium, meaning that giving money to charity may lead them to skimp on the tip at dinner, whereas partying too much may inspire a volunteer day at the soup kitchen.

But other studies found just the opposite: Behaving ethically leads people to more good deeds later, said study co-author, Gert Cornelissen, a psychologist at the University Pompeu Fabra in Spain.

To sort out this conflicting picture, Cornelissen and his colleagues asked 84 undergraduates what they would do in a hypothetical dilemma where a runaway trolley is on a collision course with five people, and the only way to save them is to flip a switch, reroute the trolley and kill one person. [ The 10 Most Destructive Human Behaviors ]

Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now

Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.

People who would flip the switch were considered to have outcome-based morality, where the end results (saving four lives), not the actions (causing one person's death), matter most. Those in the opposite group were assumed to base their morality on rules, such as "deliberate killing is always wrong."

Half of the participants were then asked to remember a time they  behaved ethically , while the other group remembered past unethical behavior. They then asked participants to share a pot of money with partners.  

Those who had an ends-justify-the-means mindset were likelier to be stingier with others if they were reminded of their past good deeds and more generous if they recalled past unethical behavior. By contrast, those who tended towards rules-based morality showed the opposite trend, suggesting that past good deeds or bad deeds were prompting similar behavior later on.

In another experiment, students showed the same trends in their likeliness to cheat on a self-graded quiz. Consistent with that trend, remembering past  bad deeds made people with rule-based morality more likely to cheat.

Different behaviors

For people who are keeping a mental balance sheet of their good and bad deeds, one bad act can be an offset in their minds with a nice one, Cornelissen said.

But for those with rule-based morality, that bad deed can cause a slippery slope, Cornelissen said.

"When people are thinking in terms of rules, they think once a rule is broken, the harm is done, so it's very difficult to undo that, the stain remains," Cornelissen told LiveScience. "The more efficient way for people in that case to feel is to convince themselves that whatever wrong they did is not that bad."

Once that's the case, it's easier for them to behave unethically in the future, he said.

Of course in real life, most people have a messier moral approach, mixing outcome-based morality with firm principles in different areas of their lives, he said.

Follow Tia Ghose on Twitter @tiaghose .  Follow us @livescience , Facebook & Google+ . Original article on  LiveScience.com

Tia is the managing editor and was previously a senior writer for Live Science. Her work has appeared in Scientific American, Wired.com and other outlets. She holds a master's degree in bioengineering from the University of Washington, a graduate certificate in science writing from UC Santa Cruz and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Tia was part of a team at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that published the Empty Cradles series on preterm births, which won multiple awards, including the 2012 Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism.

30,000 years of history reveals that hard times boost human societies' resilience

'We're meeting people where they are': Graphic novels can help boost diversity in STEM, says MIT's Ritu Raman

Gargantuan sunspot 15-Earths wide shoots powerful X-class flare toward Earth, triggering radio blackouts

Most Popular

• 2 'It would be within its natural right to harm us to protect itself': How humans could be mistreating AI right now without even knowing it
• 3 'Hostilities began in an extremely violent way': How chimp wars taught us murder and cruelty aren't just human traits
• 4 Key events in the Bible, such as the settlement and destruction of Jerusalem, confirmed using radiocarbon dating
• 5 'Lost' satellite finally found after orbiting undetected for 25 years
• 2 Siberia's 'gateway to the underworld' is growing a staggering amount each year
• 3 Hoard of 17th-century coins hidden during English Civil War unearthed during kitchen renovation
• 4 2,500-year-old Illyrian helmet found in burial mound likely caused 'awe in the enemy'
• 5 Record-shattering Tonga volcanic eruption wasn't triggered by what we thought, new study suggests

Good Deeds Essay

A good deed can be defined as helping someone without expecting something in return. Doing good deeds is important for all of us. It helps us to become better people. It affects our lives and the lives of other people (for whom good deeds are performed) positively. It’s our moral responsibility to help others.

Good deeds are also done thinking if we will do good to others, good will come in return to us. It’s a belief that motivates us to do good to others.

When we do good to someone, it inspires him/her to do good, help others as he/she received well. This way it affects our society as a whole and makes it a better place to live.

Good deeds can be done in a variety of ways. We can feed poor people, help orphans, teach poor children, help people with disabilities, donate money and other basic goods to NGOs, help the homeless, feed the street dogs, etc.

We should help others as much as possible. When each one of us will do so, it will make a huge difference and make this place a happy world. 

Related Posts:

• Raag Darbari Summary & Notes Part 3 by Shrilal Shukla
• Mirza Ghalib Shayari on God
• The Highwayman Poem by Alfred Noyes Summary, Notes and Line by Line Explanation in English
• Good Country People Short Story by Flannery O'Connor Summary and Analysis
• My Last Duchess Poem Summary and Line by Line Analysis by Robert Browning in English
• A Woman Killed With Kindness by Thomas Heywood

• Albalagh.net
• AnswersToFatawa
• Arij Canada
• Askimam.org
• Askmufti.co.za
• AskOurImam.com
• CouncilofUlama.co.za
• Darulfiqh.com
• Darulifta Azaadville
• Darulifta Deoband Waqf
• Darulifta-Deoband.com
• Daruliftaa.com
• DaruliftaaMW.com
• DaruliftaaZambia.com
• DarulIftaBirmingham
• Darulihsan.com
• DarulUloomTT.net
• Fatwa-TT.com
• Fatwa.org.au
• FatwaCentre.org
• HadithAnswers.com
• IslamicPortal.co.uk
• IslamicSolutions.org
• Jamia Binoria
• Mahmoodiyah
• Mathabah.org
• Muftionline.co.za
• Muftisays.com
• MuslimaCoaching.com
• Seekersguidance.org
• ShariahBoard.org
• Tafseer Raheemi
• TheMufti.com
• ZamzamAcademy.com
• BinBayyah.net
• Darul Iftaa Jordan
• Shafiifiqh.com
• HanbaliDisciples.com
• TheHanbaliMadhhab.com
• Ask Question
• Lailatul Qadr

Home » Hanafi Fiqh » HadithAnswers.com » If your good deeds make you happy and your bad deeds make you sad, then you are a Believer

Related Q&A

• Saying ‘La ilaha illallah’, the most virtuous of good deeds
• When a person walks to the Masjid, good deeds are recorded and sins are wiped out
• Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) ordered the Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum) to carry out seven deeds
• No one is better than anyone else except through religion or good deeds.
• A Believer receives reward for his good deeds in this life and the next
• Remaining steadfast on Sunnah at all times

If your good deeds make you happy and your bad deeds make you sad, then you are a Believer

What is the authenticity of this Hadith?

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “If your good deeds make you happy and your bad deeds make you sad, then you are a believer.”

This Hadith is recorded in many Hadith collections on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Umamah Al Bahili (radiyallahu ‘anhu). Among them:

• Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5 pg. 251, pg. 252 and pg. 256
• Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 176
• Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 1 pg. 14

Imams Ibn Hibban and Hakim (rahimahumallah) have declared the Hadith authentic. ‘Allamahs Mundhiri and Haythami (rahimahumallah) have declared the narrators of Musnad Ahmad reliable.

(Targhib, vol. 2 pg. 560 and Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 1 pg. 176)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

This answer was collected from HadithAnswers.com . The answers were either answered or checked by Moulana Haroon Abasoomar (rahimahullah) who was a Shaykhul Hadith in South Africa, or by his son, Moulana Muhammad Abasoomer (hafizahullah), who is a Hadith specialist. 

Read answers with similar topics:

Random Q&A

How do we explain to others that we don’t worship the kaaba when we face the qibla, saying something which is kufr or shirk without any knowledge, which ayat should i recite to help me find a job, uttering talaaq three times: my mistake and the consequences, i will be on the plane during iftar time of ramdan on 21st november. to break the fast by iftar, should i follow the local time of departing station or time of next station, fasting on saturday, more answers….

• Allah Ta’ala guaranteed safety from punishment for the ummah of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)
• Associating with an innovator will cause spiritual illness
• The du’a when congratulating and supplicating for the newlywed
• Du’a seeking protection from the evils of the limbs
• Difference between ‘Al Marfu’ and ‘Al Mawquf’
• False information regarding Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu)

Latest Q&A

• Is Makeup Allowed During Iḥrām?
• Do These Actions Formulate Disbelief?
• The Status of a Job Acquired with False Certification
• Can a Ḥanafī Resident Pray Behind a Shāfi’īe Traveller?
• Is it Permissible to Allow Wheelchairs in a Masjid?
• Is an Entry Fee at a Charity Event Considered Charity?

Indexed Websites

Privacy overview.

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Life Experiences — Good Deeds

Essays on Good Deeds

Doing good deeds: can you be good without god, discussion of whether people are good at heart, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

The Power of a Good Act: Making a Positive Impact

Relevant topics.

• Professionalism
• Law of Life
• Life Changing Experience
• Volunteering
• Writing Experience

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• en العربية ar English en

Bad deeds may erase good deeds

Publication : 23-12-2006

Views : 99649

What are the bad deeds that cancel out good deeds if a person does them and cause them to be erased from the record of deeds?.

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly: 

One of the basic principles among Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah is that good deeds are not accepted if they are accompanied by kufr, and that nothing cancels out all good deeds except kufr. 

This is indicated by the verse in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Say: Spend (in Allah’s Cause) willingly or unwillingly, it will not be accepted from you. Verily, you are ever a people who are Faasiqoon (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).”

54. And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger (Muhammad), and that they came not to As-Salaah (the prayer) except in a lazy state, and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly”[Al-Tawbah 9:53-54]

Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

Nothing cancels out good deeds except kufr, because the one who dies as a believer will inevitably enter Paradise, and he will be brought out of Hell if he does enter it, but if all his good deeds are cancelled out, he will never enter Paradise. Good deeds can only be cancelled out by that which is their opposite, and nothing can be the opposite of all good deeds except kufr. This is well known from the principles of Sunnah. End quote. Al-Saarim al-Maslool (p. 55) 

The followers of innovation, such as the Khawaarij, Mu’tazilah and Murji’ah differed. The Khawaarij and Mu’tazilah went to extremes and said that major sins erase and cancel out all good deeds and acts of worship. In contrast the Murji’ah said that the good deed of faith cancels out all bad deeds. 

Secondly: 

Once it is understood that nothing can cancel out all good deeds except that which cancels out faith altogether, namely kufr, then can some sins cancel out and erase some good deeds? 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Majmoo’ al-Fatawa (10/638): 

If bad deeds do not cancel out all good deeds, can they cancel out a proportional amount of them, or can some good deeds be erased by sin that is less than kufr? 

There are two views among those who claim adherence to the Sunnah, some who deny that and some who affirm it. End quote. 

The first view is that bad deeds do not cancel out good deeds, rather good deeds are the ones that cancel out bad deeds, by the grace and bounty and kindness of Allah. 

Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-Jaami’ li Ahkaam al-Qur’aan (3/295): 

The correct ‘aqeedah is that bad deeds do not cancel out good deeds. End quote. 

The second view is that sins and innovations may cancel out the reward for good deeds as a form of punishment. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah attributed this view to the majority of Ahl al-Sunnah. See Majmoo’ al-Fatawa (10/322). 

This was also the view favoured by Shaykh al-Islam and his student Ibn al-Qayyim. He said in Madaarij al-Saalikeen (1/278): 

Ahmad stated that in one report and said: A person should get married if he fears for himself; he should borrow money and get married, lest he fall into haraam actions which would cancel out his good deeds. End quote. 

Imam al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Kitaab al-Eemaan (the Book of Faith) in his Saheeh: 

Chapter: Fear of the believer inadvertently cancelling out his good deeds. Ibraaheem al-Taymi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: When I compare my words with my deeds, I am afraid that my deeds belie my words. Ibn Abi Mulaykah said: I met thirty of the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) all of whom feared that they might be guilty of hypocrisy, and not one of them said that his faith was like that of Jibreel and Mika’eel. It was narrated from al-Hasan: No one fears it (hypocrisy) but a believer and no one feels safe from it but a hypocrite. And one should be afraid of persisting in hypocrisy and sin without repenting, because Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “and [they] do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:135]. 

Imam Muslim also entitled a chapter: The believer’s fear of his good deeds being cancelled out.  

Imam Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

Al-Bukhari’s title for this chapter is suited to what is mentioned in it of good deeds being cancelled out by some sins, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk as you speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds should be rendered fruitless while you perceive not” [al-Hujuraat 49:2]

Imam Ahmad said: Al-Hasan ibn Moosa said: Hammad ibn Salamah narrated from Habeeb ibn al-Shaheed, that al-Hasan said: These people do not think that some deeds can cancel out others, but Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“O you who believe! Raise not your voices …, lest your deeds should be rendered fruitless while you perceive not”

[al-Hujuraat 49:2]

This is also indicated by the verses in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“O you who believe! Do not render in vain your Sadaqah (charity) by reminders of your generosity or by injury, like him who spends his wealth to be seen of men, and he does not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day. His likeness is the likeness of a smooth rock on which is a little dust; on it falls heavy rain which leaves it bare. They are not able to do anything with what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people”

[al-Baqarah 2:264] 

“Would any of you wish to have a garden with date palms and vines, with rivers flowing underneath, and all kinds of fruits for him therein, while he is stricken with old age, and his children are weak (not able to look after themselves), then it is struck with a fiery whirlwind, so that it is burnt? Thus does Allah make clear His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses) to you that you may give thought” [al-Baqarah 2:266]

In Saheeh al-Bukhari it is narrated that ‘Umar asked the people about it and they said: Allah knows best. Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The verse gives a likeness of deeds. ‘Umar said: What deeds? Ibn ‘Abbaas said: Deeds. ‘Umar said: A rich man may strive in obedience of Allah, then Allah sends the shaytaan to him and he commits sins until they drown out his good deeds. 

‘Ata’ al-Khursaani said: This is a man whose deeds end with shirk or a major sin, so all his good deeds are cancelled out. 

It is narrated in a saheeh report that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever does not pray ‘Asr, his deeds are cancelled out.” Narrated by al-Bukhari (553). 

It also says in al-Saheeh that a man said: By Allah, Allah will not forgive So and so. Allah said: ‘Who is the one who swore by Me that I will not forgive So and so? I have forgiven So and so and I have cancelled out your good deeds. Muslim (2621). 

‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Tell Zayd that his jihad with the Messenger of Allah (S) will be cancelled out unless he repents. Narrated by al-Daaraqutni (3/52) and al-Bayhaqi (5/330) 

This indicates that some bad deeds cancel out some good deeds, but they may be restored if one repents. 

Ibn Abi Haatim narrated in his Tafseer from Abu Ja’far, from al-Rabee’ ibn Anas, that Abu’l-Aaliyah said: The companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) thought that no sin could do harm if one was sincere and that no good deed was of any avail if one associates others with Allah. Then Allah revealed the words (interpretation of the meaning): 

“O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger (Muhammad) and render not vain your deeds” [Muhammad 47:33]

Then they began to fear major sins after they found out that they may cancel out good deeds. 

It was narrated from al-Hasan that he said concerning the words “and render not vain your deeds” i.e., by committing sins. It was narrated from Ma’mar from al-Zuhri concerning the words “and render not vain your deeds” i.e., by committing major sins. 

It was narrated that Qataadah said concerning this verse: Whoever among you can avoid rendering vain his righteous deeds by doing bad deeds, let him do so, and there is no strength except with Allah. Good cancels out evil, and evil cancels out good, and what matters is one’s final deeds. 

Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) said: There are very many reports from the salaf about good deeds being cancelled out by major sins, and it would take too long to list them all. Hudhayfah said: Slandering a chaste innocent woman cancels out the good deeds of a hundred years. 

It was narrated that ‘Ata’ said: A man may say a word in anger that destroys the good deeds of sixty or seventy years. 

Imam Ahmad said, according to the report of al-Fadl ibn Ziyaad: No one of you can be sure that he will not steal a glance that will cancel out his good deeds. 

As for those who say that the view that good deeds may be cancelled out by bad deeds is the view of the Khawaarij and Mu’tazilah, this is a false view, and the views of the righteous salaf do not agree with that. Yes, the Khawaarij and Mu’tazilah said that faith is cancelled out by major sins and that major sin dooms one to spend eternity in Hell, but this is a false view which was held by them alone. Sharh Kitaab al-Eemaan min Saheeh al-Bukhari (206-210). 

Ibn al-Qayyim said: The things that cancel out or spoil good deeds are too many to count. It is not the deeds that count, rather it is the protection of one's good deeds from that which may spoil them or cancel them out. Al-Waabil al-Sayyib (18). 

And Allah knows best.

Was this answer helpful? No Yes

Source: Islam Q&A

share Question

You can ask your question on the website via this link: https://islamqa.info/en/ask

Log in Create an account

Password should contain small, capital letter and at least 8 characters long

Can't log in to your account?

If you do not have an account, you can click the button below to create one

If you have an account, log in

Create new account Log in

Reset Username or Password

Send feedback.

Do good deeds make bad people?

• Published: 23 May 2014
• Volume 42 , pages 491–513, ( 2016 )

Cite this article

• Sophie Clot 1 ,
• Gilles Grolleau 2 &
• Lisette Ibanez 3  

1999 Accesses

35 Citations

5 Altmetric

Explore all metrics

According to the so-called ‘self-licensing effect’, committing to a virtuous act in a preceding choice may lead to behave less virtuously in the succeeding decision. Consequently, well-intentioned policies can lead to overall counter-productive effects by licensing people to behave badly in related behaviors. On the other side, motivational crowding theory argues that constraining people to adopt a desirable behavior can backfire. We use of a classroom experiment to test whether a regulatory framework to incentivize individuals to adopt pro-environmental behavior generate similar spillovers in terms of licensing effect than a non-regulatory framework. We show that the way the good deed is caused doesn’t seem to influence the licensing effect. Nevertheless, we found that business- and environmental-orientated majors react adversely to the regulatory framework. We show that environmental-orientated students exhibit higher intrinsically motivations than business-orientated ones. Accordingly, we suggest that the licensing effect is more likely to arise when the preceding ‘virtuous’ act is freely chosen (respectively regulatory caused) for non-intrinsically (respectively intrinsically) motivated individuals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price includes VAT (Russian Federation)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Rent this article via DeepDyve

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Understanding left-wing authoritarianism: Relations to the dark personality traits, altruism, and social justice commitment

Social Identity Theory

Carroll’s pyramid of csr: taking another look.

Not directly in line with our study but in the domain of law and economics, Cain et al. ( 2005 ) refer to moral licensing to explain the negative side effects of disclosure of conflict of interest as it may lead to an increase in biased information or advice.

These items were utilized because they indicated a high degree of reliability in terms of coefficient alpha (Cronbach’s α = 0.84).

A similar method is used in Exadaktylos et al. ( 2013 ).

The good deed was hypothetical for practical reasons. A similar method was used in Khan and Dhar ( 2006 ), who show that the imagination of engaging in a good deed is sufficient to boost the self-esteem.

See instructions in “ Appendix ”.

See Chartier ( 2002 ), for instance, for divergences of policies in terms of objectives or communication strategies of Greenpeace and WWF.

Non-parametric tests such as Wilcoxon (for two samples comparison) and Kruskal–Wallis (for more than two samples comparison) were preferred to more common parametric Student t test and ANOVA (one-way analysis of variance) because of the size of our samples.

They were only four people in the intrinsically motivated group to decline the option of committing to the virtuous act, and gave an average of 13€. It could be interpreted as a compensation effect, but statistical power is too weak for further deduction.

This point is consistent with Frank’s finding ( 2003 ). Frey and Meier ( 2003 ) survey on Cornell graduates show that 88 % of socially concerned respondents would prefer a job for the American Cancer Society rather than for Camel Cigarettes with an average compensating wage premium of about $24.000/year. Cornell graduates were invited to choose between pairs of hypothetical jobs where the job nature was the same but the employers’ social responsibility reputation was different.

http://www.cefi.org/MODE_B/BCU_OVER.HTM .

For sake of exposition, we distinguish intrinsically motivated and non-intrinsically motivated but we are conscious that the reality is more nuanced. In short, we contend that business-students also truly care about the environment, but maybe not as strongly as environment-students.

Dunlap et al. ( 2000 ) survey holds 477 citations.

A non parametric Wilcoxon test has been used.

Adda, G. (2011). Motivation crowding in environmental protection: Evidence from an artefactual field experiment. Ecological Economics, 70 (11), 2083–2097.

Article   Google Scholar  

Alberini, A., & Segerson, K. (2002). Assessing voluntary programs to improve environmental quality. Environmental and Resource Economics, 22 , 157–184.

Bauman, Y., & Rose, E. (2011). Selection or indoctrination: Why do economics students donate less than the rest? Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 79 (3), 318–327.

Bénabou, R., & Tirole, J. (2006). Incentives and prosocial behavior. The American Economic Review, 96 (5), 1652–1678.

Bénabou, R., & Tirole, J. (2011). Identity, morals, and taboos: Beliefs as assets. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 126 (2), 805–855.

Beretti, A., Figuières, C., & Grolleau, G. (2011). Using money to motivate both ‘Saints’ and ‘Sinners’: A field experiment on motivational crowding-out. Working Paper # 2011-15. http://www.lameta.univ-montp1.fr/Documents/DR2011-15.pdf .

Bolle, F. (1990). High reward experiments without high expenditure for the experimenter. Journal of Economic Psychology, 11 (2), 157–167.

Bolton, G. E., Zwick, R., & Katok, E. (1998). Dictator game giving: Rules of fairness versus acts of kindness. International Journal of Game Theory, 27 (2), 269–299.

Bowles, S. (2008). Policies designed for self-interested citizens may undermine ‘the moral sentiments’: Evidence from economic experiments. Science, 320 (5883), 1605–1609.

Brehm, S. S., & Brehm, J. W. (1981). Psychological reactance: A theory of freedom and control . New York: Academic Press.

Google Scholar  

Brekke, K. A., Kverndokk, S., & Nyborg, K. (2003). An economic model of moral motivation. Journal of Public Economics, 87 , 1967–1983.

Bruvoll, A., Halvorsen, B., & Nyborg, K. (2002). Households’ recycling efforts. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 36 (4), 337–354.

Cain, D., Loewenstein, G., & Moore, D. (2005). The dirt on coming clean: Perverse effects of disclosing conflicts of interest. Journal of Legal Studies, 34 (1), 1–25.

Charness, G., & Gneezy, U. (2009). Incentives to exercise. Econometrica, 77 (3), 909–931.

Chartier, D. (2002). ONG et société civile: Un inventaire à la Prévert. Écologie & Politique , 25 , 101–106.

Chiou, W. B., Wan, C. S., Wu, W. H., & Lee, K. T. (2011). A randomized experiment to examine unintended consequences of dietary supplement use among daily smokers: Taking supplements reduces self-regulation of smoking. Addiction, 106 (12), 2221–2228.

Clary, E. G., & Snyder, M. (1999). The motivations to volunteer: Theoretical and practical considerations. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 8 (5), 156–159.

Cordano, M., Welcomer, S. A., & Scherer, R. F. (2003). An analysis of the predictive validity of the New Ecological Paradigm scale. Journal of Environmental Education, 34 (3), 22–28.

Cornelissen, G., Pandelaere, M., Warlop, L., & Dewitte, S. (2008). Positive cueing: Promoting sustainable consumer behavior by cueing common ecological behaviors as environmental. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 25 (1), 46–55.

Costa, D. L., & Khan, M. E. (2010). Energy conservation “nudges” and environmentalist ideology: Evidence from a randomized residential electricity field experiment. NBER Working Paper No. 15939.

Croson, R. (2007). Theories of commitment, altruism and reciprocity: Evidence from linear public goods games. Economic Inquiry , 45 (2), 199–216.

Dunlap, R. E., & Van Liere, K. D. (1978). The “new environmental paradigm”: A proposed measuring instrument and preliminary results. Journal of Environmental Education, 9 (1), 10–19.

Dunlap, R. E., Van Liere, K. D., Mertig, A. G., & Emmet Jones, R. (2000). Measuring endorsement of the New Ecological Paradigm: A revised NEP Scale. Journal of Social Issues, 56 (3), 425–442.

Engel, C. (2013). Behavioral law and economics: Empirical methods . Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods, WP 2013/1.

Exadaktylos, F., Espín, A. M., & Brañas-Garza, P. (2013). Experimental subjects are not different. Scientific Reports, 3 , 1213. doi: 10.1038/srep01213 .

Frey, B. S., & Jegen, R. (2001). Motivation crowding theory. Journal of Economic Survey, 15 (5), 589–611.

Frey, B. S., & Meier, S. (2003). Are political economists selfish and indoctrinated? Evidence from a natural experiment. Economic Inquiry, 41 (3), 448–462.

Frey, B. S., & Oberholzer-Gee, F. (1997). The cost of price incentives: An empirical analysis of motivation crowding-out. The American Economic Review, 87 (4), 746–755.

Gneezy, A., Imas, A., Brown, A., Nelson, L. D., & Norton, M. I. (2012). Paying to be nice: Consistency and costly prosocial behavior. Management Science, 58 (1), 179–187.

Gneezy, U., Meier, S., & Rey-Biel, P. (2011). When and why incentives (don’t) work to modify behavior. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 25 (4), 191–210.

Gneezy, U., & Rustichini, A. (2000). Pay enough or don’t pay at all. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 115 (3), 791–810.

Hahn, R. W. (1989). Economic prescriptions for environmental problems : How the patient followed the doctor’s orders. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 3 (2), 95–114.

Hawcroft, L. J., & Milfont, T. L. (2010). The use (and abuse) of the new environmental paradigm scale over the last 30 years: A meta-analysis. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30 (2), 143–158.

Jolls, C. (2007). Behavioral law and economics . NBER working paper series, 12879, 1–45.

Jolls, C., Sunstein, C., & Thaler, R. (1998). A behavioral approach to law and economics. Stanford Law Review, 50 , 1471–1548.

Jordan, J., Mullen, E., & Murnighan, J. K. (2011). Striving for the moral self: The effects of recalling past moral actions on future moral behavior. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37 (5), 701–713.

Khan, U., & Dhar, R. (2006). Licensing effect in consumer choice. Journal of Marketing Research, 43 (2), 357–365.

Khan, U., Dhar, R., & Schmidt, S. (2010). Giving consumers license to enjoy luxury. MIT Sloan Management Review. http://sloanreview.mit.edu/the-magazine/2010-spring/51310/giving-consumers-license-to-enjoy-luxury/ .

Mazar, N., & Zhong, C. (2010). Do green products make us better people? Psychological Science, 21 (4), 494–498.

Nyborg, K. (1999). Informational aspect of environment policy deserves more attention: Comment on the paper by Frey. Journal of Consumer Policy, 22 (4), 419–427.

Nyborg, K., Howarth, R. B., & Brekke, K. A. (2006). Green consumers and public policy: On socially contingent moral motivation. Resource and Energy Economics, 28 (4), 351–366.

Sachdeva, S., Iliev, R., & Medin, D. (2009). Sinning saints and saintly sinners: The paradox of moral self-regulation. Psychological Science, 20 (4), 523–528.

Thaler, R. H., & Sunstein, C. R. (2008). Nudge: Improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness. Environmental and Resource Economics, 47 (1), 149–150.

Tiefenbeck, V., Staake, T., Roth, K., & Sachs, O. (2013). For better or for worse? Empirical evidence of moral licensing in a behavioural energy conservation campaign. Energy Policy, 57 , 160–171.

Véleine, C. (2007). Les représentations et motivations des étudiants et des étudiantes en 1ère année d’école d’ingénieur/e ou vétérinaire. Lettre du réseau «Egalité des chances entre les femmes et les hommes dans l’enseignement supérieur agricole», 6, 1–8.

Vollan, B. (2008). Socio-ecological explanations for crowding-out effects from economic field experiments in southern Africa. Ecological Economics, 67 (4), 560–573.

Woodyard, C. (2009). Hybrid car owners drive more and get more traffic tickets. USA Today. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2009/07/68494710/1#.U3oCyy8hB7M .

Zhang, Y., Xu, J., Jiang, Z., & Huang, S. C. (2011). Been there, done that: The impact of effort investment on goal value and consumer motivation. Journal of Consumer Research , 38 (1), 78–93.

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

LAMETA, UMR 1135, ENSAM, 2, Place Pierre Viala, Bât. 26, 34060, Montpellier Cedex 1, France

Sophie Clot

LAMETA, UMR 1135, ENSAM, Burgundy School of Business, LESSAC, Montpellier, France

Gilles Grolleau

LAMETA, UMR 1135, INRA, Montpellier, France

Lisette Ibanez

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sophie Clot .

Appendix: Instructions

The following instructions were originally written in French. We document the instructions we used in an experiment involving 30 participants. The instructions in the other experiments are exactly the same except that they were adapted according to the number of participants (e.g. One prize of 30€ was given for each group of 30 participants. So if we had 60 participants, we gave two prizes, 90 participants, 3 prizes and so forth).

General instructions: First step

“You are now taking part in a survey referring to environmental issues. The envelopes you have been given contain the questionnaires. Please, wait for our signal before opening those envelopes. This survey will last about 5 min in total. Questionnaires are anonymous. At the end of the survey, one of you will win up to 30€. Drawing lots will designate the winner. Later on, when you will open your envelopes, you will see a numbered tag stapled to your questionnaire. You should leave it, because it will be used for the drawing lots. Your envelopes are numbered. You must keep them up to the end of the survey in order to collect your prize if your get the winning number. If you have any doubts or questions, please ask one of the experimenters. But we remind you that you must keep silent for the whole duration of the survey. Anyone that will not keep silent will be excluded from the drawing lots. Please fill in those questionnaires as accurately as possible. Notice that questionnaires not properly filled in will not be part of the drawing lots.”

General instructions: Second step

“You can open your envelope. You have 1 min and 30 s from now to fill in your questionnaire.”

3.1 Instructions for control’s sample

3.2 instructions for treatment 1, 3.3 instructions for treatment 2, general instructions: third step.

«Time is over. We will now get back the questionnaires. Keep you envelope up to the drawing lots. We thank in advance the winner to keep silent in order to maintain the anonymous conditions of the survey. The winner is number xxx. The winner may collect his/her prize by the professor at the end of the lecture. Thanks for your participation».

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Clot, S., Grolleau, G. & Ibanez, L. Do good deeds make bad people?. Eur J Law Econ 42 , 491–513 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10657-014-9441-4

Download citation

Published : 23 May 2014

Issue Date : December 2016

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10657-014-9441-4

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Environment
• Self-licensing
• Voluntary approaches

JEL Classification

• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research

Good Deeds and Bad Hearts?

October 9, 2021

Your heart matters. We are to love and honor God in our hearts. Pseudo-religion from an evil heart offends God. But what is the heart? Or, more to the point for this essay, what should the heart be contrasted with?  

Some people contrast our hearts with our actions; what’s in the heart, versus what we do. Jesus, on the other hand contrasts the heart with the lips. What we really are, versus the front we put on with our words. Instead of talking about people who  did  the right things but had bad hearts, he talked about people who  said  (some of) the right things with their lips but had bad hearts.  

We do much better to follow Jesus in contrasting the heart with the lips, rather than adopting the modern habit of contrasting the heart with our actions. Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” He describes how they generate a pious appearance with careful rules about washing their hands (for ritual purity), and fine words about their wealth belonging to God while engaging in substantive wrong by withholding support from their own parents (Matthew 15:1-9). 

It is easy to say certain, good sounding things while having an evil heart. We can say we love God. We can say we love our brothers and sisters. We can say we worship and adore God, or that we support godliness. But saying “Lord, Lord” does not mean our heart is with the Lord. We may pick some strategic actions that will make us look good. We can attend church and even participate in the Lord’s supper with wicked hearts. We can do things that our various cultures treat as markers of goodness. That might be wearing the right clothing, or not driving the wrong cars. It might be purchasing products with the right environmental or fair-trade labels. It might be avoiding the conspicuous sins that would get us kicked out of the church or thrown in jail. The outward appearance can be maintained by good sounding words and strategic actions, while our inward selves, that is, our hearts, are evil. 

It is a drastic mistake, though, to make a general contrast between our heart and our actions. In the teachings of Jesus and the prophets, our actions go with the  heart , not with the  lips . Our actions are on the inner side of things, not the outer side of things. Jesus takes for granted that our actions (taken as a whole, not the few we select to maintain a pious image) reveal the heart inside. 

Jesus’ encounters with the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew chapters 15 and 23 show how He sees the relation between actions and the heart. In Matthew 23:28 Jesus says they “outwardly appear righteous to others, but within are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”  Sometimes we hear that these people were “doing all the right things,” only with evil hearts. Jesus said nothing of the sort. Rather, He said their hearts were evil because their deeds were evil. “They preach, but do not practice;” they say things in favor of goodness, but don’t do what is good and right. We must not imitate their deeds (28:3).  

If their deeds were evil, how did they appear outwardly righteous? How did they manage to maintain a good reputation while doing evil deeds? One thing Jesus excoriates them for is devising ways to get out of keeping their word. They made fancy but foolish distinctions. One could swear by the temple or by the altar and break his word with impunity, or so they said. In their system, the oath would only be binding if they invoked the gold of the temple or the gift on the altar. This is one way they erected a religious front to hide wicked actions (23:16-22). Another way they appeared outwardly good was through scrupulous (and appropriate) tithing, right down to the herbs in their gardens. But at the same time, they neglected “justice and mercy and faithfulness” which are “the weightier matters of the law” (23:23). In other words, they cheated others rather than acting generously. It is safe to assume the money that was gained or retained in an unrighteous way made their tithes of mint look like a pittance.  

The difference between what’s inside and what’s outside is not that the inside is separate from actions. It’s that what is inside is what we really are and what we really do. The outside is the front that fools (some) people. Jesus says these people “clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence” (23:25).” We should not imagine that the greed and self-indulgence inside the cup were somehow divorced from their actions, or, that they had greedy hearts but not greedy actions.  

Why dwell on these points? What should I learn from Jesus’ harsh words to certain Pharisees who lived 2,000 years ago? Our first response must be to examine our own hearts as evidenced in our actions. Do I find places where I am unwilling to forgive or unwilling to live at peace with other people? Do I cheat others or fail to be generous? Do I use violence or operate in anger? Do I dishonor my own marriage or the marriage of someone else? If so, I must repent and turn my heart from evil to God. If I do not address these things, then preaching sermons, writing articles, consistent church attendance, and whatever else puts up a good front is merely a cup clean outside but dirty inside, or mere whitewash on a tomb full of bones. 

We must also note how Jesus distinguishes the inside from the outside because we often get mixed up about the difference between the heart and the lips.  We may think of the heart as thoughts and feelings disconnected from action. On the other hand, we may think of actions as mere mechanical doings disconnected from our hearts.  

This confusion about the relationship between our hearts and our actions results in two problems. Some wickedly downplay their sinful actions because they think their heart is right. Others, who are genuinely open to God, are scared to exert biblical effort toward righteous behavior because they are scared it won’t come from a right heart. They fear that their efforts will be “mere outward deeds” and so neglect the instruction to struggle against sin and to strive for peace with others and for holiness (Hebrews 12:4 and 14). It is by consistent attention to what Jesus asks that we enter the narrow gate. It’s not by saying “Lord, Lord” or through spectacular prophecies, exorcisms, or mighty works (Matthew 6:13-23). 

Some tell us of people who are like these Pharisees who “do all the right things” but have wicked hearts.  Of course, Jesus said the Pharisees had wicked hearts precisely because they did lots of evil things. But a certain style of theology constantly warns us of the boogeyman of people doing the right things with evil hearts. This can make us think that the greatest danger we face is that we might seek righteousness in the wrong way—I.e. in a way that is different than their idea of how we seek God “from the heart.”  Jesus constantly warned us against a different danger—that we might manage to appear good, respectable, and pious while living wickedly—that’s what whitewashed tombs do. 

Some of you will protest that I overlook another danger. What about the proud humanistic moralist? Are there not people who follow a moral code but refuse to admit that they need God? People who think they can be righteous with no need of God’s forgiveness or redemption? People who admit no need to trust God, and give no thanks to God? Yes, some seek to do good without seeking God or acknowledging their need for mercy and redemption. These people need to learn that they are creatures of God who should worship Him. They need to learn that only through the cross of Christ can they be justified, sanctified, and regenerated. They also need to learn what Jesus asks of us, because, apart from Him they can only partially grasp what is good and what is bad. 

In fact, all of us must be reminded that our deliverance from evil depends on the victory of Jesus Christ. We remember that the first command is to love God and that we need to live with faith and thanksgiving toward God. We petition God to forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 

It is possible to strive for a high (but not the highest) moral code without acknowledging our dependence on God. That is a danger, but it is not the danger that Jesus addressed in Matthew chapters 15 and 23.  The danger that a certain theology constantly holds in front of us is that we might strive for righteousness without trusting God or acknowledging our dependence on Him. The danger that Jesus holds in front of us is that we might appear with our words, and a few cherry-picked actions, to be righteous, pious, and God honoring, while we are in fact wicked. 

Essay Author

Marlin Sommers

Marlin and Meredith live with their five precious children in southeast Tennessee. Marlin has been trained in philosophy and carpentry, and enjoys pushing into other areas, such as mechanics and biblical Greek. Marlin works at Kingdom Channels and Anabaptist Perspectives in finance, communications, and other roles that are harder to describe. He is slowly endeavoring to put his public brain on his website marlin.work.

Related Content

David Bercot

The trinity, the early church, and contemporary critics.

Paul Lamicela

The nation-state of israel and the church.

How to Read Revelation and Avoid the Mark of the Beast

Anabaptist Perspectives

Anabaptists and gifts of the spirit.

The Historical Jesus and the Risen Christ

Faith, Works, and Assurance 

Leave a comment cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

“Using digital media to encourage allegiance to Jesus’ sacrificial kingdom.”

Explore Topics

Choose from our popular topics

Get Involved

Enjoy AP content and want to be more connected?

Partner Program

Privacy Policy and Site Terms

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

Good Deeds, Bad Deeds: What Deeds Will Be Judged?

• By Stephanie Solberg
• May 11, 2021
• Bible Studies , Prophecy

While salvation is a gift from God that all believers receive, there are also rewards for faithfulness and a loss of rewards for unfaithfulness. Because of this, our ambition should be to please Christ ( 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 ). As our righteous judge, Jesus will look at our deeds and reward us based not just on external service but on inward devotion. He will judge our deeds, whether good or bad ( 2 Corinthians 5:10 ). Good deeds are those that have eternal value and are accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit. Bad deeds do not have lasting value and are done through our own volition and without the Holy Spirit’s power.

Throughout the Bible, we see example after example of deeds that pleased God. Look at the woman with the alabaster vial of costly perfume who didn’t consider the cost when she poured the expensive oil over Jesus’ head ( Matthew 26:7-10 ) or Enoch who never experienced death but was taken straight to Heaven because he pleased God (Hebrews 11:5-6). Jesus talks about deeds in Matthew 10:40-42 when He says that we are to treat other believers well, and then we will be rewarded. In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he instructs him to teach others to do good, be rich in good works and be generous and ready to share ( 1 Timothy 6:18 ).

Deeds Can Diminish Rewards

Not every believer will receive the same reward in Heaven. At the judgment seat of Christ, there will be those who suffer loss. However, regardless of the outcome on the judgment seat, believers can be assured that they will not lose their salvation. Don Stewart, writing for blueletterbible.org, illustrates this concept as follows:

“Let us say you have recently built a new two story house. While on the second floor, you smell smoke. Looking downstairs you see that the first floor is on fire. You jump out the second story window to save your life. You then watch your new house burn to the ground. Obviously you will have mixed emotions. You’re thankful that you were able to jump and save your life, but you sad because your new house is destroyed. This is similar to those believers who are saved but have nothing to show for it. They squandered their opportunities to live for Christ yet they are enjoying the benefits of Heaven with Jesus.”

The Bible also tells us that believers’ rewards can be diminished for not adhering to the truth and entertaining those who deceive ( 2 John 1:7-11 ). Sin, in general, can diminish our rewards. The choices we make now determine what rewards we receive in Heaven. 

Crowns for the Victors

All who experience the judgment seat of Christ will possess the privileges and honors as children of God. Jesus tells us that He will acknowledge those who have acknowledged Him before the Father. His acknowledgment includes rewarding us in proportion to the faithfulness we show in life. The Greek word translated to “crowns” in English refers to wreaths of garlands placed on the heads of dignitaries and victorious military officers’ to honor them. Five crowns are mentioned in the Bible.

The first crown is the crown of righteousness ( 2 Timothy 4:7-8 ) which is given to those who don’t allow earthly things to distract them to the point that they forget that their true citizenship is in Heaven. These victors look forward to Christ’s Second Coming and live holy lives in expectancy of His return.

The second crown is the crown of victory ( 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ). This crown is given to those who exercise self-discipline in their spiritual race and refuse to let their flesh dominate their life.

The third crown is the crown of life ( James 1:12, Revelation 2:10 ) given to those who persevere under trial and are faithful no matter the difficulties and persecutions they face in this life.

The fourth crown is the crown of rejoicing ( 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, Philippians 4:1 ), often called the soul winner crown. This crown is awarded for bringing people to Christ.

The fifth crown is the crown of glory ( 1 Peter 5:1, 4 ), often called the Pastor’s crown because it is a reward given to those who shepherd others.

Other Rewards in Heaven

Believers will receive other rewards in Heaven. Some believers will receive thrones ( Revelation 20:4, Matthew 19:27-30 ), others will be put in charge of many things ( Matthew 25:21 ). All of us will receive new names, a name which only He knows ( Revelation 2:17, 3:12 ). We will have jobs serving God ( Matthew 6:20 ).

Rewards are a wonderful benefit of serving Christ here on earth. However, they never should be the reason we serve Him. The reason we serve Christ should be because we want to please Him above all else – if loving Him and serving Him means we get rewards in Heaven that is an added benefit! Amen!

I am a truth seeker by nature. My passion is studying God's Word and sharing His Truth with others.

View all posts

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Cancel reply

About author.

I am a truth seeker by nature. My passion is studying God's Word and sharing His Truth with others.

RECENT POSTS

From Skimming to Soaking: Embracing the Depth of Scripture with the Deep Bible Study Method

Diving In with the DEEP Bible Study Method | Prayer & Preparation

Exploring the Text: Intro & Bible Book Map Tutorial

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest Bible studies, tools, videos, and resources.  No spam. Only Bible study.

FOLLOW US ON

Join Our Newsletter

Enter your email and get a quick start guide and be the first to know when the book "How to Study the Bible for Yourself" is available.

Insert/edit link

Enter the destination URL

Or link to existing content

English Essay on “A Good Deed” English Essay-Paragraph-Speech for Class 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 CBSE Students and competitive Examination.

A Good Deed

“A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.”

A Good Deed is one act, big or small, of kindness which makes life a wee bit easier for someone other than you. Acts of kindness can be so many that you actually do not have to plan it or think about it too much. All you need to do is be good at heart and when the occasion presents itself be sure to act. It is not good enough to be moved by the miseries of others without pitching in to help. A good deed is something that should come naturally to you, so much so that you do not think about it after it is done. Helping a child cross the road, stopping to give directions to a person who is lost, running errands for your old neighbor, soothing a hurt child….the list of good deeds are endless.

Small niceties lead to good deeds. If you give someone the right of way or smile when you enter an elevator, you are being polite and soon, this very habit of just being nice will be synonymous with just being “you” and unknowingly, you will be doing many good deeds without effort and without any expectations whatsoever. Just think how much better this world will be because of you!

Related Posts

Absolute-Study

Hindi Essay, English Essay, Punjabi Essay, Biography, General Knowledge, Ielts Essay, Social Issues Essay, Letter Writing in Hindi, English and Punjabi, Moral Stories in Hindi, English and Punjabi.

One Response

Thank you sir for the easy.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.