Wicked Hearts

The writer of Proverbs declares seven things that are an abomination to God.   The first is a prideful spirit reflected in the countenance of a person. The second is a lying tongue. The third are hands that shed innocent blood. The fourth is a heart that devises wicked plans. The fifth are feet that quickly run toward evil. The sixth is a false witness who breathes out lies, and the seventh is one who sows conflict among the members of a community (Proverbs 6:16-19). These things are an abomination to God, meaning that they provoke in him a feeling of disgust!  God finds these things revolting, perhaps in the same way that you might be disgusted by a bowl of maggots and manure if that were served to you one morning for your breakfast meal. The writer of Proverbs also declares that such bloodthirsty people hate those who are blameless (Proverbs 29:10), and that they “eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence” (Proverbs 4:17). Paul says that such people not only practice such evils, but they approve of others who practice them (Romans 1:28-32). 

These are the kinds of people who sought to kill Paul at Jerusalem – men who moved in the highest religious circles and spoke of a zeal for God, but whose true nature was satanic (Acts 23:12-22).  Notice how many abominations mentioned by the writers of those proverbs above are present in their character.  They had lying tongues, and slandered Paul’s Judaism (Acts 21:20-24). They hated a blameless man, and so devised in their hearts a wicked plot to murder him with their own hands (Acts 23:12). They sought the approval of their elders regarding the murderous wickedness they were plotting – and received it (Acts 23:20-21)! They ran quickly to evil when presented with challenging ideas (Acts 23:2, Acts 22:22-23). Rather than exploring the possible truth of Paul’s teaching, they sowed discord and conflict in the community against Paul’s teaching, making it extraordinarily difficult for that community to reasonably consider it (Acts 21:20-24). Finally, instead of eating real food and drink, they’d rather eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence (Acts 23:12).

So these were not good religious men who had God’s law in mind. They were evil men who had their own traditions, pride, and love of influence at heart! 

But as it turned out, God had other plans.  Their wicked plot was foiled when for some reason, Paul’s nephew happened to be in Jerusalem instead of Tarsus, caught word of their plot and made it known to the Roman Tribune, who then arranged for Paul’s case to be heard before the Roman Governor, Felix. Their plot not only failed, but broadened Paul’s influence in the world! Ironically, this further validated the writers of Proverbs who wrote that perverted hearts which plot evil and sow discord will be broken beyond healing in one sudden calamitous moment (Proverbs 6:12-15), and that what the wicked dread will come upon them, while what the righteous desire will be granted to them (Proverbs 10:24). Notice that the Sanhedrin no longer exists, but the writings of Paul have changed the world and still influence it today!