Proverbs 6:16–19

Laziness is unworthy, and it is bad and unwise to be idle. It is far worse to be active in evil, for this works endless harm to others. The Holy Spirit first draws a portrait of the dangerous man in verses 12 to 15. Then, in verses 16 to 19, He presents the evils on their own, apart from the closing one — and they are strongly hateful to Jehovah.

Though this is not a complete list of all the things the Lord hates, it is clear that many other evils grow out of these, and if so, then of course the Lord hates them too. It mentions six things first, then adds a seventh, as though the seventh is an afterthought, or is meant to draw special attention. People may think a proud look is a small thing, but even this is an abomination to the Lord (v. 17). "A lying tongue" nearly always points to hypocrisy — a wish to misrepresent the facts, usually for personal gain. This is so common that people think lightly of it, but God does not!

"A false witness who breathes out lies" can only expect God's hatred (v. 19). God does not single out the individual to hate him. But God's hatred of falsehood is absolute. So anyone who chooses falsehood is placing himself on the side of falsehood, and comes under that same dreadful hatred.

Haughty eyes come first, or a proud look. What a contrast with Him who made heaven and earth and everything in them, when He was willing to become man here below! He was the dependent and obedient man, gentle and humble in heart. He always looked up and did only what pleased His Father. He was full of compassion toward suffering people, and ready to forgive the sinful. "A lying tongue" comes next. Jesus was not only true, He was the truth; He alone. Far from Him were "hands that shed innocent blood," since He was Himself the holy sufferer to the very end. But in man there may be something worse still: "a heart that devises wicked plans," in hateful and unmistakable likeness to the evil one. What could be more opposed to Jehovah and His Anointed?

Divisions among the children of God are not of God, but are of the flesh and the devil, and they please a scoffing world very well. The one who "sows discord among brothers" is one of the seven abominations in God's sight; He hates him (Prov. 6:19), and no wonder, since Jesus died to make them one and to bring them into harmony with God.

There are various ways of sowing discord, and it often begins with talebearing. That is far worse than people think. A story can be stretched so badly that the damage will likely never be undone. Let us be careful not to put anyone in a bad light without need. Of course, if someone is clearly an enemy of God, we may need to warn others of his evil character. But that is different from sowing discord among brothers.

It is very difficult for us as Christians to hate, and to hate in a righteous, spiritual way... The Lord Jesus hated things because they stood against His God, and we must have those features too. God expects His people to hate them, to root them out of our own lives first, and to allow no room for them in others.

Laziness is unworthy, and it is bad and unwise to be idle. But it is far worse to be active in evil, because this does endless harm to others. The Holy Spirit first draws a portrait of the dangerous man in verses 12 to 15. Then, in verses 16 to 19, He presents the evils impersonally, except at the end — and these are the evils Jehovah emphatically hates.

They are set out in a more abstract style, which need not be in the same person. So in the mouth of these two divine testimonies every word might be the more established.

This is not a complete list of all the things the Lord hates. Yet many other evils clearly grow out of these, and if so, then of course the Lord hates them too. Six things are mentioned first, then comes "Yes, seven," as though the seventh is an afterthought, or is meant to draw special attention.

Pride is the first thing mentioned by the Lord, and it is the leading member of the seven things that are an abomination to the Lord (Prov. 6:17); it was the cause of Satan's downfall (Ezek. 28:17), and the cause of the fall of many another, as Scripture teaches: "One's pride will bring him low" (Prov. 29:23), and "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18). Pride marks nations, people, and cities alike.

Haughty eyes come first, or a proud look. What a contrast with Him who made heaven and earth, and everything in them, when He stooped to become man here below! He was the dependent and obedient man, meek and lowly in heart. He always looked up and did only what pleased His Father. He was full of compassion toward suffering people, and ready to forgive the sinful.

"A lying tongue" almost always shows hypocrisy. It is a wish to misrepresent the facts, usually for some personal advantage. Lying is so common that people make light of it — but not God!

Jehovah concerns Himself about every lie. Lying lips are an abomination to Him, just like an idol set up to rival and ruin His glory. So those who not only speak but deal truly are His delight.

Everyone's conscience speaks out against this, but some ignore their conscience completely. Cain did, when he killed his brother Abel (Gen. 4:8). No law such as "You shall not murder" existed then. Yet Cain knew he was a guilty man, and his lying proves it. God asked him, "Where is Abel your brother?" (Gen. 4:9).

It is often very difficult for us to hate as Christ hated, because some personal matter may stir up our hatred and our anger. But the Lord Jesus hated things because they stood against His God, and we too must have those features... God expects His people to hate them too, to make sure we first get rid of them in our own lives, and to make sure we allow them no room in others.

Laziness is unworthy, and it is bad and unwise to be idle. But it is far worse to be active in evil, for this does endless harm to others. In verses 12 to 15 the Holy Spirit first draws a portrait of the dangerous man. Then in verses 16 to 19 He sets out the evils themselves, without naming a person until the end — and the LORD strongly hates them.

This is not a complete list of everything the Lord hates. Still, it is clear that many other evils grow out of these, and if so, the Lord hates them too. Six things are listed first, and then it adds, "Yes, seven," as if the seventh came as an afterthought, or was meant to draw special attention.

But in man there may be something worse still: "a heart that devises wicked imaginations." Here he looks hatefully and unmistakably like the evil one. What can be more opposed to the LORD and His Anointed?

Evil thoughts. These are the inward reasonings and debates of man's mind. Inside himself he weighs things up, he calculates, he plans his schemes of sinful pleasure or deliberate rebellion. "Things come into his mind, and he devises an evil device" (Ezek. 38:10; Micah 2:1-2)... The thoughts are hidden in the heart, and one of man's strange delusions is that they are therefore hidden from God, who knows everything.

Do we read of men's "feet swift and running to mischief"? The Son tells us of the father running to meet the prodigal son.

Another thing the Lord hates is "a heart that devises wicked plans." This was true of Haman (Esther 3:8-10). Out of quiet hatred he planned to have all the Jews killed. God showed His own hatred of such evil by exposing Haman and putting him to death, and by judging those who joined him in this wicked plot. In fact, they were all bent on being swift to shed blood, their feet swift in running to evil (v. 18).

That mouth, once "full of cursing and bitterness," is now full of blessing. That tongue, long used to "deceit," now spreads the word of truth and life... Those feet, once "swift to shed blood," now "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace," run gladly in the paths of mercy. A new power, the Holy Spirit, has taken over this clay vessel, and the parts of the body have become instruments of righteousness.

It is very hard for us as Christians to hate, and to hate in a righteous, spiritual way. The Lord could hate as perfectly as He loved... the Lord Jesus hated things because they stood against His God, and we have to share those same features... God expects His people to hate them too. He expects us to root them out of our own lives first, and then to allow no room for them in others.

Laziness is unworthy, and it is bad and unwise for anyone to be idle. But it is far worse to be active in evil, for this works endless harm to others. In verses 12 to 15 the Holy Spirit first draws a portrait of the dangerous man. Then, in verses 16 to 19, He presents the evils themselves rather than a person, apart from the last one — evils the Lord strongly hates.

"A false witness who breathes out lies" can only expect God's hatred (v. 19). It is not that God singles out the individual to hate him. But God hates falsehood completely. So the one who chooses falsehood places himself on the side of falsehood, and comes under that same dreadful hatred.

Breathing out lies works better, and traps more people, than a loud, angry attack. A loud attack would catch attention and bring a quick answer that proves it false. But breathing out lies spreads the malice well, and spreads it widely, through trusted friends he has fooled, while the people he slanders never learn of the harm. It is a picture of complete corruption.

The evil has a root deeper than his perverse mouth; "deceits are in his heart." Other bad men may seek money, pleasure, or ambition. His heart is set on perverseness. Feeding that perverse spirit is his business and his life; "he devises mischief at all times." His pleasure is to set people against each other; "he sends out, or sows, discords." Anyone who bows to the written Word cannot doubt how a course so ungodly and malicious will end. And even now, how often a blow falls on evil in this world!

"One who sows discord among brothers" falls under the same hatred as his evil does, unless he judges this wickedness and stops. People sow discord in many ways. It often starts by carrying tales about others, which is far worse than people think. A tale is easily stretched, and the damage is likely never undone. Let us be careful not to put anyone in a bad light without need. Of course, if someone is clearly an enemy of God, we may need to warn others about his evil character. But that is different from sowing discord among brothers.

Divisions among the children of God are not of God, but are of the flesh and the devil, and they please a scoffing world well. "One who sows discord among brothers" is one of the seven things God detests. He hates him (Prov. 6:19). No wonder, since Jesus died to make them one, and to bring them into harmony with God.

The Lord could hate as perfectly as He loved. He loved with perfection, and He hated with perfection... The Lord Jesus hated things because they stood against His God, and we have to have those features too... God expects His people to hate these things as well. We must first root them out of our own lives, and then make sure we do not allow them in others.