--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So then, according to Jesus, the ‘evils’…" description: "\"“So then, according to Jesus, the ‘evils’ which we think, say and do are not due primarily to our environment, nor are they bad habits picked up from b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/john-r-w-stott-15425_bad-example_so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-whi_75706.jpg" --- # So then, according to Jesus, the ‘evils’ which we think… ![“So then, according to Jesus, the ‘evils’ which we think, say and do are not due primarily to our environment, nor are they bad habits picked up from bad teaching, bad company or bad example; they are due to the inward corruption of our heart.” quote by John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/john-r-w-stott-15425_bad-example_so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-whi_75706.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/john-r-w-stott-15425_bad-example_so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-whi_75706.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/john-r-w-stott-15425_bad-example_so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-whi_75706.jpg) > ““So then, according to Jesus, the ‘evils’ which we think, say and do are not due primarily to our environment, nor are they bad habits picked up from bad teaching, bad company or bad example; they are due to the inward corruption of our heart.”” [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral failings are rooted in internal spiritual corruption rather than external influences or learned habits. **In simple terms:** Evil comes from a corrupted heart, not surroundings. Key Takeaway Inner condition determines moral actions. Themes ethics spirituality human nature morality Mood serious reflective Type theological ethical When to use this quote - personal moral decision‑making - counseling someone struggling with guilt - teaching ethics in a religious context Key Concepts theology of sin inner vs. outer causality Practical Applications - cultivate inner integrity - practice self‑examination Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing inner corruption affect personal responsibility? - Can external influences be mitigated without addressing the heart? A Different Perspective External factors like trauma or oppressive environments can also heavily shape behavior, challenging a purely internal view. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-example/) [Bad habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habit/) [Bad habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habits/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) ## Related quotes > [“All places where the French settled have corruption at their heart, a kind of soft, rotten glow, like the phosphorescence of decaying wood, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rivers-siddons/all-places-where-the-french-settled-have-corruption-at-their-heart-a/) [Anne Rivers Siddons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rivers-siddons/) > [Any strategy to promote democracy and human rights must have the fight against corruption at its heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-malinowski/any-strategy-to-promote-democracy-and-human-rights-must-have-the/) [Tom Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-malinowski/) > [Who you are is not defined by what you do, but it is defined according to who Jesus is to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lentz/who-you-are-is-not-defined-by-what-you-do-but-it-is-defined-according/) [Carl Lentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lentz/) > [“According to Jesus examples discipleship is not a program we launch. It is a lifestyle we embrace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-hayashi/according-to-jesus-examples-discipleship-is-not-a-program-we-launch/) Jonathan Hayashi > [“According to Jesus, what I think about him and how I respond will determine my destiny for all eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/according-to-jesus-what-i-think-about-him-and-how-i-respond-will/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [I don't do things which are wrong according to Jesus. Like don't make 'bad' relations with anyone except your husband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakhi-sawant/i-don-t-do-things-which-are-wrong-according-to-jesus-like-don-t-make/) [Rakhi Sawant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakhi-sawant/) > [“The objective, according to Jesus, was not to get people inside of heaven, but to get heaven inside of people. An understanding of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-mcbrayer/the-objective-according-to-jesus-was-not-to-get-people-inside-of/) [Ronnie McBrayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-mcbrayer/) > [What is the gospel according to Jesus? Simply this: that the love we all long for in our innermost heart is already present, beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mitchell/what-is-the-gospel-according-to-jesus-simply-this-that-the-love-we/) [Stephen Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mitchell/) > [Nothing is more confusing than people who give good advice but set a bad example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/nothing-is-more-confusing-than-people-who-give-good-advice-but-set-a/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Feminism is not a fad. It's not like Angry Birds. Although it does involve a lot of angry birds. Bad example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-christie/feminism-is-not-a-fad-it-s-not-like-angry-birds-although-it-does/) [Bridget Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-christie/) > [I like putting my money into things like food and shelter. I'm probably a bad example of an investor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baker/i-like-putting-my-money-into-things-like-food-and-shelter-i-m/) [Simon Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baker/) > [“Claire was just coming down the stairs, humming and thinking about how nice it was to have things getting back to normal, and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/claire-was-just-coming-down-the-stairs-humming-and-thinking-about-how/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [When you have girlfriend, there is no room for lies, no room for anything but truth.anything other that is a bad example, I believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paritoshik-sharma/when-you-have-girlfriend-there-is-no-room-for-lies-no-room-for/) [Paritoshik Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paritoshik-sharma/) > [The NBA's chosen ones think I'm setting a bad example? I think they need to look around and stop taking themselves so seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/the-nba-s-chosen-ones-think-i-m-setting-a-bad-example-i-think-they/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [Recipients of transfers set a bad example for others, including their children, other relatives, and friends, who see that one can receive goods, services,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/recipients-of-transfers-set-a-bad-example-for-others-including-their/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) ## More by John R.W. Stott > [“The gift of singleness is more a vocation than an empowerment, although to be sure God is faithful in supporting those He calls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/the-gift-of-singleness-is-more-a-vocation-than-an-empowerment/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“The New Testament uses five main Greek words for sin, which together portray its various aspects, both passive and active. The commonest is hamartia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/the-new-testament-uses-five-main-greek-words-for-sin-which-together/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“What God said to Abraham was not 'Obey this law and I will bless you', but 'I will bless you; believe my promise'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/what-god-said-to-abraham-was-not-obey-this-law-and-i-will-bless-you/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“Thomas Cranmer in his ‘Homily of Salvation’ explained that three things had to go together in our justification: on God’s part ‘his great mercy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/thomas-cranmer-in-his-homily-of-salvation-explained-that-three-things/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“We “receive the Spirit,” he insisted, not because of any good works of obedience that we may have done, but “by hearing with faith,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/we-receive-the-spirit-he-insisted-not-because-of-any-good-works-of/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“Nowadays the really great mind is thought to be both broad and open – broad enough to absorb every fresh idea which is presented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/nowadays-the-really-great-mind-is-thought-to-be-both-broad-and-open/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“The power to save lies in the one who is gazed upon, not the one who does the looking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/the-power-to-save-lies-in-the-one-who-is-gazed-upon-not-the-one-who/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“There is much shallowness and levity among us. Prophets and psalmists would probably say of us that ‘there is no fear of God before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/there-is-much-shallowness-and-levity-among-us-prophets-and-psalmists/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“To say that somebody ‘is not responsible for his actions’ is to demean him or her as a human being. It is part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/to-say-that-somebody-is-not-responsible-for-his-actions-is-to-demean/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“It is that the promise of the “gift” or “baptism” of the Spirit is to as many as the Lord our God calls. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/it-is-that-the-promise-of-the-gift-or-baptism-of-the-spirit-is-to-as/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“We state and commend the faith only in so far as we go out and put ourselves inside the doubts of the doubters, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/we-state-and-commend-the-faith-only-in-so-far-as-we-go-out-and-put/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“Perhaps it is a deep-seated reluctance to face up to the gravity of sin which has led to its omission from the vocabulary of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/perhaps-it-is-a-deep-seated-reluctance-to-face-up-to-the-gravity-of/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“To love the glory of God more than our own glory is also to seek approval from God rather than other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/to-love-the-glory-of-god-more-than-our-own-glory-is-also-to-seek/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“Jesus never concealed the fact that his religion included a demand as well as an offer. Indeed, the demand was as total as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/jesus-never-concealed-the-fact-that-his-religion-included-a-demand-as/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“For ‘worship’ is an abbreviation of ‘worthship’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/for-worship-is-an-abbreviation-of-worthship/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) [Explore all 42 John R.W. Stott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) ## More Bad example quotes > [Recipients of transfers set a bad example for others, including their children, other relatives, and friends, who see that one can receive goods, services,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/recipients-of-transfers-set-a-bad-example-for-others-including-their/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [The NBA's chosen ones think I'm setting a bad example? I think they need to look around and stop taking themselves so seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/the-nba-s-chosen-ones-think-i-m-setting-a-bad-example-i-think-they/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [When you have girlfriend, there is no room for lies, no room for anything but truth.anything other that is a bad example, I believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paritoshik-sharma/when-you-have-girlfriend-there-is-no-room-for-lies-no-room-for/) [Paritoshik Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paritoshik-sharma/) > [“Claire was just coming down the stairs, humming and thinking about how nice it was to have things getting back to normal, and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/claire-was-just-coming-down-the-stairs-humming-and-thinking-about-how/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [I like putting my money into things like food and shelter. I'm probably a bad example of an investor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baker/i-like-putting-my-money-into-things-like-food-and-shelter-i-m/) [Simon Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baker/) > [Feminism is not a fad. It's not like Angry Birds. Although it does involve a lot of angry birds. Bad example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-christie/feminism-is-not-a-fad-it-s-not-like-angry-birds-although-it-does/) [Bridget Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-christie/) > [Nothing is more confusing than people who give good advice but set a bad example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/nothing-is-more-confusing-than-people-who-give-good-advice-but-set-a/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Greenlight is a bad example of an election process. We came to the conclusion pretty quickly that we could just do away with Greenlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-newell/greenlight-is-a-bad-example-of-an-election-process-we-came-to-the/) [Gabe Newell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-newell/) > [Whatever parent gives his children good instruction and sets them at the same time a bad example, may be considered as bringing them food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-balguy/whatever-parent-gives-his-children-good-instruction-and-sets-them-at/) John Balguy > [“BARBIE GOES TO WAR There are more than a billion Barbies. Only the Chinese outnumber them. The most beloved woman on the planet would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/barbie-goes-to-war-there-are-more-than-a-billion-barbies-only-the/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [Who said I was wise? I’m a professional bad example. You can learn a lot by watching me. Or listening to me. Either one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jubal/who-said-i-was-wise-i-m-a-professional-bad-example-you-can-learn-a/) Jubal > [I know I'm bad atleast I can be used as BAD EXAMPLE!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-i-m-bad-atleast-i-can-be-used-as-bad-example/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But as a Christian, let me say Merry Christmas on a national holiday called Christmas and you’d think Satan incarnate himself just showed up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-hutcherson/but-as-a-christian-let-me-say-merry-christmas-on-a-national-holiday/) [Ken Hutcherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-hutcherson/) > [The truth is very few of us are related to Napoleon or Cleopatra. Although, those are bad examples as I am actually descended from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-piddock/the-truth-is-very-few-of-us-are-related-to-napoleon-or-cleopatra/) [Jim Piddock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-piddock/) > [“Everyone in life has a purpose, even if it's to serve as a bad example”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-bryant/everyone-in-life-has-a-purpose-even-if-it-s-to-serve-as-a-bad-example/) [Carroll Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-bryant/) [Browse all 86 Bad example quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-example/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So then, according to Jesus, the ‘evils’ which we think, say and do are not due primarily to our environment, nor are they bad habits picked up from bad teaching, bad company or bad example; they are due to the inward corruption of our heart.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John R.W. Stott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-which-we-think-say-and-do-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad example" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-which-we-think-say-and-do-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/john-r-w-stott-15425_bad-example_so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-whi_75706.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/john-r-w-stott-15425_bad-example_so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-whi_75706.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/887/john-r-w-stott-15425_bad-example_so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-whi_75706.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So then, according to Jesus, the ‘evils’ which we think, say and do are not due primarily to our…” — John R.W. Stott", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John R.W. Stott", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“So then, according to Jesus, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-which-we-think-say-and-do-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-which-we-think-say-and-do-are/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```