While this isn’t an exhaustive list of sins that God despises, they summarize much of our sinful behavior. This specific account of transgressions exposes our hearts’ motives.
Have you ever wondered if God hates certain sins more than others?
The Scriptures clearly express God’s disdain for sin. Sin entered the world through the rebellion of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Consequently, we are born sinners. We find redemption through Christ’s atoning work on the cross and placing our faith in Him. However, we are not wholly restored in this life. We continue to sin until we leave this earth.
Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven things the Lord hates, “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” (NIV)
While this isn’t an exhaustive list of sins that God despises, they summarize much of our sinful behavior. This specific account of transgressions exposes our hearts’ motives.
The contents of our hearts determine our speech, behavior, and treatment of others (Luke 6:45). Let’s take a closer look into these seven things, and pray that God protects our hearts and purifies our motives (Psalm 51:10).
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1. Haughty Eyes
A person with haughty eyes believes they are better than others. A haughty spirit is arrogant and prideful, thinking highly of itself and poorly of anyone else. We shouldn’t forget that anything good inside of us is a credit to the Holy Spirit’s working in our lives. It’s easy for Christians to fall into spiritual snobbery when we believe we are superior due to our depth of biblical understanding or theological knowledge. Spiritual wisdom is a gift from a gracious God, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, our hearts and minds are enlightened; the things of God are illuminated. May we exchange pride for humility, arrogance for selflessness, giving glory to God alone.
2. A Lying Tongue
“A half-truth is a whole lie.” I heard these words as a child, and they have carried me through adulthood. Many would agree that lying is wrong, but leaving out the less than favorable parts is acceptable. The definition of lying is “an intentionally falsified Statement to present a false impression.” We lie when we speak untruths about other people and when we use words of flattery for selfish gain. God hates this sin because He is the God of Truth. Conversely, Satan is “the father of lies” (John 8:44). When we engage in lying, whether a full-blow whopper, or a tiny white lie, we are behaving like the enemy, and that always saddens our Creator. Let’s pray for God to set a guard over our mouths and keep watch over our lips (Psalm 144:3).
3. Hands that Shed Innocent Blood
Matthew 5, 21-24 Jesus tells us that anyone who harbors anger in his heart and refuses forgiveness is guilty of murder. As with lying, we acknowledge that taking someone’s life is wrong, but what about thinking negatively about our friends and foes? Our hearts’ motives are just as important as our physical actions to the Lord. We should always ask God to search our hearts and examine our motives, confessing our sins and granting forgiveness to others as it has been given to us.
4. A Heart that Devises Wicked Schemes
A heart focused on wicked schemes desires that others experience physical, spiritual, or emotional ruin. Personal gain is achieved through someone else’s loss. Typically, we don’t consciously engage in this activity, but more of “wouldn’t it be a shame if something happen to them.” We console our conscience with assurance we would never act on such evil, but our hearts betray us. Daily prayers filled with gratitude and thanksgiving serve as reminders of our many blessings, discouraging discontentment and discord in our hearts.
5. Feet that are quick to Rush into Evil
One of the fruits of the spirit is self-control, the power to refrain from sin. With the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling inside believers, we are expected to resist evil and cling to what is good (Romans 12:9). Someone quick to rush into evil displays no spiritual restraint to sin. Temptation is a part of the Christian life, but we have a choice to give in or turn away. Through the act of sanctification, our desires to please God should increase as our participation in sin decreases.
6. A False Witness Who Pours Out Lies
This is similar to lying but speaks explicitly to the severity of talking untruthfully about your neighbor. Think about when someone is called to give a testimony in court. They swear on the Bible, promising to tell the whole truth. And if they don’t, there are consequences for lying. The 10 commandments also speak about not giving a false witness, and the New Testament is replete with verses on the subject. Often when we speak against our neighbors, there is an underlying heart issue of covetousness, jealousy, or comparison. We must take an inventory of our hearts’ desires and confess anything that keeps us from pursuing holiness in all that we say and do.
7. A Person Who Stirs Up Conflict in the Community
Have you ever been around someone who finds pleasure in “stirring the pot?” No matter the situation, the one who always seems to come in and create dissent, discord, and drama? God is displeased when people intentionally create dissension among the body of believers. Christians will experience disagreements, but we are called to be peacemakers, not peace breakers.
Reference:
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/lie
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