22 March 2023 - God hates arrogant (haughty) eyes

Proverbs 6:16-19 (AMP) These six things the LORD hates; Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him: A proud look , a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that creates wicked plans, Feet that run swiftly to evil, A false witness who breathes out lies , And one who spreads discord (rumors) among brothers.

The Message Bible states: Proverbs 6:16-19 (MSG) Here are six things GOD hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion: eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent, a heart that hatches evil plots, feet that race down a wicked track, a mouth that lies under oath, a troublemaker in the family.

Arrogant (haughty) eyes - the word haughty is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as ‘blatantly and disdainfully proud’. The word is always used in the Bible in the evil sense of ‘arrogant, disdainful and setting oneself above others’; it is often set in contrast to humility.

Proverbs 21:4 (ESV) Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.

The haughty person sets himself above others and ultimately above God. God is resistant to haughtiness.

Psalm 18:27 (ESV) For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.

Isaiah 2:11 (ESV) The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

The opposite of haughtiness here is submitting to God and drawing near to God. Pride wants to be independent, self-governing, autonomous. Therefore, it inevitably comes into conflict with God. This is why people who do not love to submit to God’s teachings stay as far from God as they can.

James 4:6-8 (NKJV) But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

Romans 12:3 (NKJV) For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

I conclude this morning with: Hebrews 10:19-22 (NIV) Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.