The Problem of Sin
The Seven Things God Hates - Proverbs 6:16-19
The Book of Proverbs, a compendium of wise sayings, was written over 3,000 years ago to provide wisdom and practical instruction to the believer. This rich collection of wisdom literature addresses matters of godliness, the intentions of the heart, family matters, interpersonal relationships, and many issues that can be damaged by our sinful nature. In Proverbs 6:16-19, for instance, this writer specifies seven things that God absolutely hates. The writer says, “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.” The first, “haughty eyes,” in this context, refers to that feeling of pride that becomes sinful when we look down upon others with disdain. It’s when we begin to think of ourselves more highly than we should because of any perceived favor or recognition of unmerited brilliance, because Christ lives in us. It’s the Holy Spirit who fans the flames of our gift, and not of our own doing. Second, a “lying tongue” is the one who willingly speaks falsely with the intention of deceiving others. It is a detestable thing to a God of truth. When we lie, we closely resemble the devil, as described in John 8:44, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Lying is a choice and comes from a dark intention in the heart. The third detestable thing is “murder,” whether in act or deed. The act can be performed with a weapon to inflict permanent harm, or, as a deed spurned on by hate, as described in 1 John 3:15, which says, “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” In this understanding, anyone who is unreasonably angry with someone without offering room for forgiveness commits a sin equivalent to murder. And then we have the “wicked schemer,” who is the one that conceives evil action against another to benefit themselves personally or out of a misguided ideology. Any wicked scheme is a sin. David’s murder of his “mighty man,” Uriah, the Hittite, was contrived because of his adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife. It’s logical to assume that the wicked schemer would easily venture into the fifth detestable sin, which describes “feet that are quick to rush into evil.” They are incapable of resisting the lure of the sin and its wicked ends. They become just another unwitting slave to sin and are caught in its grip. James 4:7 reminds us that when we are being tempted, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
The sixth detestable thing is someone who is a “false witness who pours out lies.” It’s just as egregious as having a lying tongue, but it goes even further. A false witness can cause an innocent person to be sent to jail or put to death. A biblical example of this appears in 1 Kings 21 and 2 Kings 9, which tells of two witnesses who gave false testimony against Naboth, a man of Jezreel and owner of a vineyard that King Ahab wanted. The king offered to buy the land, but Naboth refused him, citing the Levitical Law for tribal allotments. This displeased Ahab. Jezebel, the queen, seeing her husband sulking because he had not received the land he wanted, paid two dastardly men to make false statements against Naboth. Because of their accusations, Naboth and his sons were stoned to death. And because there was no family left to inherit the land, Jezebel presented the vineyard to Ahab as a gift. The ninth commandment speaks of the sin of bearing false witness, which is detestable to God.
The seventh detestable thing is “the man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” God intends for us to live in unity as brothers and sisters in Christ, the Head of the Church. Anyone who purposely causes disunity in the Body of Christ will displease God. Not only does it create room for other sins, but it also causes others to sin. Jesus specifically pronounced a blessing over anyone who chooses to be a peacemaker, for they will be called “sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). C.S. Lewis said, “We have a strange illusion that mere time cancels sin ... But mere time does nothing … to the guilt of a sin. The guilt is washed out not by time but by repentance and the blood of Christ: if we have repented these … sins, we should remember the price of our forgiveness and be humble” (The Problem of Pain). Wisdom is our source of righteousness, and the proverb was written to help us know about the things God detests and why we should avoid them.
The Problem of Sin - written by Daphne Collins
the Lighthouse Keeper for
Carry the Light Ministries
Scriptures Used in this Module
Our Sin Nature
Genesis 3:1-6 (ESV)
Psalm 51:5 (ESV)
James 1:14-15 (NLT)
1 John 3:6-10 (ESV)
Psalm 14:2-3 (NIV)
Romans 5:12-15 (NLT)
PRIDE
Jeremiah 9:23 (NLT)
Proverbs 16:18 (ESV)
Proverbs 29:23 (ESV)
Galatians 6:3-4 (NASB)
1 John 2:15-16 (ESV)
Romans 12:16 (ESV)
ENVY
Galatians 5:19-21 (ESV)
Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)
James 3:16 (NIV)
Titus 3:3 (ESV)
1 Timothy 6:3-5 (BSB)
Ecclesiastes 4:4 (ESV)
GLUTTONY
Galatians 5:16-17 (NLT)
Proverbs 28:7 (ESV)
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
Philippians 3:19 (ESV)
Proverbs 23:20-21 (ESV)
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)
LUST
Matthew 5:28 (NIV)
Colossians 3:5 (ESV)
1 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV)
1 Peter 2:11 (ESV)
James 1:14-15 (ESV)
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (ESV)
ANGER
Psalm 37:8 (ESV)
Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NLT)
James 1:20 (ESV)
Proverbs 15:18 (ESV)
Matthew 5:22 (NLT)
Proverbs 22:24-25 (AMP)
GREED
1 Timothy 6:9-10 (ESV)
Proverbs 28:25 (NIV)
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
Matthew 6:24 (ESV)
James 4:3 (ESV)
Psalm 10:3 (NIV)
SLOTH
Proverbs 6:9-11 (NIV)
Proverbs 20:4 (NIV)
Proverbs 20:13 (NLT)
Proverbs 12:24 (ESV)
Proverbs 21:25-26 (ESV)
Proverbs 19:15 (NLT)
When Faith Leads to Virtue
