The verse 1 John 3:20 says “for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” This verse contains a profound truth about God’s nature and His relationship to us. In order to fully understand what it means, we must look at the context and dig into the original language and meaning of the key terms. By doing this, we can better grasp the comfort and hope this verse intends to convey.
The Context of 1 John 3:20
First, it’s important to understand the broader context of this verse. 1 John 3:20 falls within a larger passage (1 John 3:19-24) that deals with the topic of assurance. The recipients of John’s letter were believers, but they were being threatened by false teachers who denied the incarnation of Jesus (1 John 4:1-3). Understandably, these confusing circumstances caused them to question and doubt their salvation. This section aims to give assurance to believers and validate the authenticity of their faith.
In verse 19, John tells believers to set their hearts at rest when their conscience condemns them. The word “conscience” here refers to an internal sense of unworthiness and guilt before God. Even when a believer’s heart condemns them, John says to “set it at rest in the presence of God” (1 John 3:19). This transitions smoothly into verse 20, which provides the reason we can set our condemning hearts at rest – because “God is greater than our heart.” John is contrasting our imperfect internal judge (our heart) with the perfect, omniscient judge (God).
Verses 21-22 then encourage the believers by telling them that if their hearts do not condemn them, they can have confidence before God and receive whatever they ask. The line of reasoning is that if our flawed, limited hearts are not even condemning us, then we can be fully assured that the perfect, unlimited God welcomes us gladly as His children. Those who believe in Jesus and love others demonstrate that God’s love resides within them (1 John 3:23-24). So verse 20 sits in the middle of an encouragement to believers who were doubting to find assurance in God’s greater knowledge and grace towards them.
The Meaning of “Heart”
A key to properly interpreting 1 John 3:20 is understanding what John means by the term “heart.” In the New Testament, the word translated “heart” is often referring to more than just our emotions and feelings. In biblical usage, the “heart” encompasses the central aspects of the inner person – including one’s mind, will, and moral wisdom. It is the control center of both thought and inclination. When John talks about the heart condemning us, he does not simply mean we have negative emotions. He’s saying that our inner faculties judge and accuse us.
In particular, John seems to be zeroing in on the moral wisdom aspect of the heart. Our hearts judge us by instinctively recognizing when we have done wrong. As Romans 2:15 says, the requirements of God’s law are “written on their hearts” – engraved in the conscience of every person. This means our hearts have an innate sense of God’s moral law. When we go against that moral law, our conscience declares us guilty. This is likely the sense in which John means our “heart condemns us.” Our conscience – the moral compass within each person – rightly declares us lawbreakers deserving condemnation.
The Meaning of “God is Greater Than Our Hearts”
When John says “God is greater than our heart,” there are a few key implications. First, God is greater in knowledge. Our hearts only have an imperfect, limited awareness of our sins, flaws, and failures. But God sees and knows all things fully and truly. As Hebrews 4:13 says, “no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” We may think we have succeeded in rationalizing or hiding sin from others, but God perceives it all perfectly. Yet, despite God’s greater knowledge of the depths of our sin, He sent Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 2:2).
Secondly, God is greater in mercy and grace. Our hearts tend to be harsh judges – quickly condemning and seeking punishment. But God is “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” (Psalm 103:8). As Psalm 103:11-12 explains, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Our hearts retain a memory bank of sins and shortcomings that frequently triggers feelings of guilt and shame. However, once God forgives us, He separates our sin from us “as far as the east is from the west.” He casts them away never to be remembered or held against us again (Isaiah 43:25).
Thirdly, God is greater in His power to change us. Our hearts may be plagued by weaknesses, ingrained habits, and recurring sins that we feel powerless to overcome. But God promises to replace our heart of stone with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26) and write His law upon our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). He is able to change our hearts and accomplish far more than we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
The Comfort and Hope of God’s Greater Heart
Recognizing that God is greater than our hearts brings enormous comfort and assurance to believers. Though our hearts condemn us, God’s heart does not. As John says, “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts” (1 John 3:20). Though we may feel only worthy of condemnation, God sees us as worthy of love. Though we may remember the stain of every sin and failure, God sees us as washed clean from guilt and shame. No matter what our feelings, thoughts, or conscience may say, God’s perspective on us as His redeemed children is what is true and lasting.
God’s greater heart is also a source of strength when our old way of life tempts or threatens us. Our hearts – our inclinations and desires – often remain prone to sin and darkness. But God promises that His greater heart can purify and renew our lesser ones. As Paul explains in Philippians 2:13, “It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” We never have to rely on our own weak hearts and wavering willpower. We can confidently surrender to God’s power and grace to transform our hearts to be more like His.
This verse also contains motivation to freely confess our sins and struggles to God without fear of condemnation. Since God knows our hearts better than we do anyway, there is nothing to be gained by hiding. As David prays in Psalm 139:23-24, we can invite God to “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” God already understands the depths of our struggles – but as we confess them openly to Him, He is able to heal and change our hearts in deep, transformative ways.
Finally, recognizing God’s greater heart draws our focus upward to find rest, assurance, and hope in Him. Our hearts will continue to be weak and prone to condemnation. But we can train our hearts to look past ourselves to the God who is greater. We can reject condemning thoughts with the truth of God’s word. We can fight feelings of shame with remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice for us. We can find power to change not by straining to be better, but by trusting in God’s power and love flowing through us. Fixing our eyes and our hearts on God – the One greater than our hearts – is the pathway to freedom and transformation.
Further Biblical Support
There are many other Bible verses that illuminate the amazing truths found in 1 John 3:20 about God being greater than our hearts:
- Psalm 103:8,11-12 – “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love… For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
- Romans 8:1 – “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
- Micah 7:18-19 – “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”
- Hebrews 10:22 – “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
- Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
There are so many rich truths we can unpack from a single Bible verse! Recognizing that God is greater than our hearts brings comfort, hope, and the confidence we need to grow in grace and freedom as God’s beloved children. Though our hearts condemn us, God is greater. He knows us completely, loves us unfailingly, and is powerfully able to transform our hearts into His image. What amazing news!