There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who declares lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.
Have you ever met someone who thinks they are right about everything? These people often irritate us because the reality is no one is right about everything. We may be able to easily point out this quality in others, but we may struggle to see the same behavior in ourselves. Arrogant eyes are destructive because they give us the impression that we are in the right when there is sin in our hearts. Usually, it’s this perspective—that we are always in the right—that stirs up trouble with others. Matthew 7:3-5 speaks to this destructive nature of arrogance in our lives, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye!” This passage highlights the issue of hypocrisy, but it also shows the great division we create when we point out the flaws in others before asking God to reveal sin in our own lives.
It is easier to point out where another person is struggling with sin than to acknowledge and surrender our own sin to God, but this is not a step in our faith journey we can gloss over. An acknowledgment of sin does not lead the believer to shame but rather to continual surrender to the Lord. Whether we use words to divide or tell a white lie, we need to take our sin seriously and run to our heavenly Father, who desires to continually change us into His image.
- What are some areas of sin you have wrestled with recently?
- How do you typically respond when you recognize sin in your life?
- Pray, confess, and repent of your sin to God.
