Author: Christian Channel

Daily Bible Study
The word translated "scoffer" is one of four Hebrew words used in this passage to refer to arrogance. The author's words chosen for these passages are "proud and haughty," which are translated from the term which means "profoundly arrogant." And lastly the phrase "arrogant pride" used by the author is from the Hebrew term for "boundless arrogance." From these simple clarifications it becomes very evident God hates pride and a proud heart. Moreover, pride always brings with it destruction when left unchecked. This is because pride brings with it rebellion against God and the promotion of self above God and others. Pride also causes us to harden our hearts against the Holy Spirit's influence and against the needs of those around us. Therefore, God hates a proud heart and God will never honor those who seek in their hearts to lift themselves above others in pride. Jesus told us a person is defiled not by what they eat, but by what's in their hearts and it's through the tongue that many times the evil and desires present in our hearts, is expressed to the world around us.

In other words, our deeds first take place in our hearts as our desires take birth and grow into actions. Moreover, our desires come from what we focus on, that is who or what has captured our hearts. This in turn drives our motives and grows into actions that reflect the true state of our heart toward God and others. This means it's our motives which give rise to our deeds, good or bad, as well as what we say and how we say it. And this is why when God looks at us, He doesn't just look at what we do, he looks at our heart along with the motives and desires behind our actions. And in these passages God is once again giving us practical advice to watch what we say and how we say it. And we must remember we were once dead in our trespasses and sins and it is Jesus who saves us, through our faith in Him. We have to remember, that we do not possess the ability to save ourselves. God gives us grace and mercy because of His love for us, not because there is anything in us by which we merit salvation, let alone that we can do to save ourselves. Therefore, we are to keep a humble heart knowing we stand in Christ or we fall in our own arrogance.