Proverbs 6: 18 - 19

In the last study, we started this section that speaks of the 7 things that God hates or finds detestable, and covered the first three. These are often spoken of as the “Seven Deadly Sins.” Today, we will continue with the last four of the “deadly sins.” First, let’s re-read the whole section as a refresher:


Proverbs 6: 18 - 19 (NIV)

16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven, even, that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

The fourth thing in this list is “a heart that devises wicked schemes." Again, this is the opposite of the love that we are to show others. The “heart,” in God’s Word, usually indicates the deep, inner “being” or “soul” of a person. This is talking about people that continually “bubble up” evil from deep within themselves, instead of overflowing the love of God toward others.


Verse 18 tells us the fifth thing that God hates… it is, “feet that are quick to rush into evil.” All of these things that are mentioned, are examples of the opposite of the way that God wants His people to be. Here, he wants us to STOP… and THINK… and NOT “be quick” to jump into some evil scheme. Often if we do take the time to stop and think, we won’t make the mistakes that will get us into trouble.


Number six on this list is “a false witness who pours out lies.” This is different from the second thing on the list in that it has to do with being a “false witness” and not just a plain liar. A “false witness” harms another person, and often this would lead to punishment or death for that person.



The last thing on this inventory is, “a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” The word “brother” has many definitions, but the one this most closely calls for is, “One who shares a common ancestry, allegiance, character, or purpose with another or others.” This could be our neighbors, our kinsmen or family members, members of our church group… any group of people that we belong to that have ties of some kind. We must be very careful when we speak to others, that we don’t gossip or otherwise say things that will stir up problems between people, for this is something that God actually says HE hates!