“And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.”
My Notes
What Does 2 Chronicles 25:2 Mean?
"And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart." Amaziah receives the most damning half-compliment in Scripture. His behavior was right — externally, observably correct. But his heart wasn't whole. The narrator can evaluate the external actions positively while simultaneously diagnosing the internal motivation as deficient. Right behavior plus wrong heart equals incomplete obedience.
The phrase "not with a perfect heart" (lo b'levav shalem — not with a whole/complete heart) suggests divided allegiance. Amaziah did right things for wrong reasons, or did right things while wanting to do wrong things, or obeyed in some areas while harboring rebellion in others. The actions checked the boxes. The heart didn't match.
Reflection Questions
- 1.If God wrote a footnote about your faith, would it include 'but not with a perfect heart'?
- 2.Where are you doing the right thing for the wrong reason — or with a divided motivation?
- 3.How do you diagnose a divided heart when the external behavior looks correct?
- 4.What would a 'whole heart' look like in the specific area where your heart is currently split?
Devotional
He did what was right. But not with a perfect heart. That's the epitaph of a man who performed well and believed poorly. The outside was acceptable. The inside was divided.
This is the most common spiritual condition among religious people — and the hardest to diagnose from the outside. Amaziah looked faithful. He followed the law. He made the right decisions at the right times. An observer would have checked all the boxes. And the narrator — who sees with God's eyes — adds the footnote that changes everything: but not with a perfect heart.
A divided heart can produce right behavior for a long time. You can attend church without worshipping. You can give generously without loving. You can obey God's commands without actually wanting what God wants. The behavior looks identical from the outside. But the heart — the motivational center, the seat of genuine desire — is somewhere else.
Amaziah's story bears this out: he obeys God's prophet when it's convenient (25:7-10) but then worships the gods of a defeated enemy (25:14) — the gods who couldn't even protect their own people. His obedience is selective. His faith is pragmatic. He does what's right when it aligns with his interests and departs from it when something shinier catches his eye.
The scariest thing about a divided heart is that it feels like faithfulness to the person living it. Amaziah probably thought he was doing fine. The right behaviors were in place. The sacrifices were offered. The laws were kept. And underneath it all, the heart was split. Performing for God in public. Wanting something else in private.
God's standard isn't right behavior. It's a whole heart.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
He did that which was right - He began his reign well, but soon became an idolater, Ch2 25:14, Ch2 25:15.
Here is, I. The general character of Amaziah: He did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, worshipped the true…
2Ch 25:1-4 (2Ki 14:1-6). Amaziah Succeeds
2. not with a perfect heart In Kings, "yet not like David his father"…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture