The masks they wear harbor hurt for us and ruin for themselves
By Dean Collins
A couple of weeks ago you may have had several visitors knock on your door. On any other day, you likely would have called the police. Those who approached your house were in various disguises that might have been startling except that your guests were short of stature and simply wanted the usual treats that come at Halloween!
Proverbs 26:24 says, “Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart.” Certainly, the neighborhood trick-or-treaters bore no real deceit with their costumes. They simply followed the annual tradition. Maybe you give sweets to those who knock on your door every day but I suspect not. The disguise or costume of the children warms hearts and leads to a generous gift of candy.
The abominations of deceit
Unfortunately, the person described in Proverbs 26:24-27 has a different agenda. Maybe they act and speak as if they like you and support your work, yet their heart is filled with deceit. This deceit masks hatred and, according to this proverb, may include many other abominations, seven of them, in fact.
We are not told what are the seven abominations from the one who says nice things to us and spreads lies and hatred behind our backs. Maybe we could think about another Proverb in 6:16-19. Some of the seven abominations seen there seem relevant: pride, lying tongue, false witness, one who sows discord, and the one who makes wicked plans. Certainly, a gossip or hypocrite isn’t guilty of the one abomination listed in the text: hands that shed innocent blood. I suspect that when a gossip or hypocrite speaks, they do not intend to murder, but the hardness they bring with their deceit can kill one’s spirit, soul, and character.
Complete evil
Another possibility is the seven abominations in Proverbs 26 are referencing another biblical concept. The number seven is sometimes referred to as a perfect number. The word perfect in Scripture often describes completion. Maybe the writer of Proverbs is saying that when we act hypocritical and spread falsehood, the result may lead to a complete heart of evil.
There is certainly a warning for us in this passage. Don’t be the person who spreads lies and deceit because it not only wounds another but can destroy your own heart.
Verse 27 seems connected and may give us another application. Proverbs may well be suggesting that we leave the gossip and liar alone because the pit they are digging with their lies may very well be the pit they fall into. And the stone they begin to roll might just roll back and crush them.
Lord, forgive us for the times we have inadvertently and sometimes deliberately spread gossip or shared information that was not ours to share. Help us forgive the ones who have at times spread gossip and information about us as well. We pray you would give us wisdom when we hear information, to know what is truth and what talk contains lies. Give us discernment in our communication with others and help us always to speak truth in love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Proverbs 26:24-27; 6:16-19 ESV
Photo by Rach Teo on Unsplash
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