The Thought Really Does Not Count

While waiting in the airport recently, I had the distinct pleasure of overhearing an argument that I wish had been carried out in some other city.  Two sisters (I presume) were discussing a family affair that had turned out a major disaster.  Each held the other to blame, and from where I sat – clear across the room – there was plenty of blame to go around.  And then the final pronouncement:

After all, it’s the thought that counts, anyway!

Judaism’s worldview would say, in a word, “No” – in two words, “No, No.”

The father who receives ANOTHER tie for Fathers’ Day may hear that it is the thought that counts, but deep down he knows that, with a little bit more thought, he might have received something else. The wife who feels ignored is not comforted by her husband’s plea that he had thought about calling.

In Judaism’s world, thoughts do not matter, only actions.  Well, sort of.

True, Jimmy Carter’s lusting in his heart would have no consequence in Judaism.  That is why the twice stated commandment about coveting is so problematic.  Only what you actually do matters.

But let’s explore two scenarios.

Number one – a man wants to kill his rival, but takes no actions.
Number two – a man wants to kill his rival, prepares the weapon, plans his getaway, arranges an alibi, but the gun does not work.

No one was killed in either case. However, Judaism would assign blame in the second case but not in the first.

While Judaism holds no sin of thought, only action, the nature of our thoughts does help us rise to our higher selves or fall in stature.  We become the people we are based on our actions. Our actions may intend evil that does not happen. Those actions are still evil. Our actions may intend good, and whether the good happens or not, good is still good.