There is a sin that is in every place man is. Before I begin I want all to know that I also in some ways discover myself falling short of this sin at times. This I say so that I would not appear as a hypocrite to Yahweh. But I do want to share some things in His word about this silent sin. This sin is silent because it is the sin itself that prevents men from admitting it.
It is the sin of Pride
Proverbs 30:32- If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
Indeed, if we ever lifted ourselves up… then let us put our hand over our mouth.
Proverbs 16:18- Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride is deceptive.
Obadiah 1:3- The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? 4 – Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith YHWH.
Proverbs 8:13- The fear of YAHWEH is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Yahweh hates pride. Even a proud look is an abomination to Him.
Proverbs 6:16- These six things doth YAHWEH hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 – A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 – An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 – A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
A proud look? Yes. Even a proud look! Why
I think that pride is one of the most harmful sins a person can do. It decieves us. Often we think we don’t have it and later realize we do. Pride though…can drive a man to do about anything. It can drive a man to be wealthy… artistic..(as in music) powerful, famous.. and even religious.
Why does Yahweh hate pride so much? Well, is there anything that we really have to be proud of ?? Think of it, Yahweh created the heavens and the earth and all that is within. Man has rebelled against his Creator from the beginning of time. Yes, from Eden all the way up to today…Yahweh even sent His own Son to die for us.. And many are too proud to even accept Him! We must be careful when we say…We do this and that. It is Yahweh who gave us the breath of life. Remember Job?
Job 38:1- Then YAHWEH answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 – Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3 – Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 4 – Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Yahweh spends the next 2 chapters declaring His worthiness and our inability to even come close to His might and power.
Isaiah 2:12- For the day of YAHWEH of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
We can read all those scriptures in Proverbs about the fool. We see how much bad shape the fool is in….
Proverbs 26:12- Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Even a fool has more hope than one wise in their own eyes!
Proverbs 3:34- Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth favor unto the lowly.
Yahweh loves the humble and opposes the proud.
1 Peter 5:5- Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “YAHWEH resists the proud, but gives favor to the humble.”
With pride…there is no room for Yahweh.
Psalms 10:4- The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after Elohim: Elohim is not in all his thoughts.
If we are great in our own eyes…Will Yahweh show us truth? Will we accept His ways?
James 4:13- Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 – whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 – Instead you ought to say, “If YAHWEH wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
In all that we do, it must be for Yahweh. Any other work is a wasted work. When singing a hymn or a song…it must be done for Yahweh, not for those who may be watching. When writing a sermon or message…it must be for Yahweh, not because we want others to give us honor. Let’s look at David…When he fought the Goliath…was it with his own might that he boasted?
1 Samuel 17:45- Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of YAHWEH of hosts, the Elohim of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
He saw beyond the flesh. David was small in the eyes of the people. Isn’t that what Yahweh often does? He takes a small thing…and does mighty things with it so that His name will be honored!
Micah 6:8- He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth YAHWEH require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy Elohim?
Isaiah 66:1- Thus saith YAHWEH, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 – For all those things hath mine hand made, and those things have been, saith YAHWEH: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Do we tremble at His word? Or search it…that we might find accusation against another? Do we read His word seeking for things that might convict our heart? Or things that we might use to show others that we are right?
It is good to seek the truth..and share with others… but I think it is better when it convicted us first.
Putting other people down is another thing from pride. I’ve met many a person that part of their personality was putting others down.. so that they might appear better and wise. They might even make false accusations against others.. so that they themselves appear righteous. Gossip often comes from pride. Pride causes arguments and strife in our homes.
Proverbs 28:25- He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in YAHWEH shall be made fat.
1 Timothy 6:3- If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Master Yahushua the Messiah, and to the doctrine which is according to reverence; 4 – He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 – Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is righteousness: from such withdraw thyself.
It is often the root of rebellious children. It is quite elusive. What kept many of the Pharisees from accepting the Messiah? Was it not pride?
John 12:42- Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 – For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of YAHWEH.
It certainly was there. Even a prayer can be driven by pride. I think that when we start to speak in our prayers as if Yahweh isn’t in the first person….pride is often the reason I’ve heard this…many times but at some point..the one offering prayer isn’t talking to Yahweh anymore but to the people. Prayer is not to be a performance, it is an offering…a pure holy offering without blemish unto Yahweh. In prayer, we are speaking TO Yahweh.
Remember this prayer..
Luke 18:10- Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 – The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, Elohim, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
This man prayed ‘thus with himself’.
Luke 18:12- I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 – And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, Elohim be merciful to me a sinner. 14 – I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
“Every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Important words for today!
Luke 14:7- And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, 8 – When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 9 – And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10 – But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. 11 – For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Even so, it is better to be humbled in this life.. than in the next! For all things hidden will come to light
Before I close, I do want to share a scripture that shows a different kind of ‘pride’.
Jeremiah 9:23- Thus saith YAHWEH, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 – But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am YAHWEH which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith YAHWEH.
I don’t think this gives us the go ahead to be self righteous like the scribes and pharisees… But let our honor be in that we are servants of Yahweh. It is not a shameful thing to serve Yahweh. It is an honorable thing to serve the KING, HalleluYah! And we are blessed to be His servants. All of the longsuffering and mercy and love that He has had for us, just so that we could be His own. We are blessed to be servants of the Most High. Yahushua paid the ultimate price so that we could. Let’s not waste it on vanity, let’s exalt Yahweh!
Psalms 115:1- Not unto us, O YAHWEH, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.
May we serve Him with a pure heart 🙂