Laura R Bailey

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).

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).

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