10 Aug The Sin That Insults God

What is the one sin (committed by those who have accepted Christ) that insults God? Here is a popular guess:
Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. Matthew 12:32 (NLT)

Good guess, but that’s not it. Gotquestions.org explains this:

The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day committed the unpardonable sin by accusing Jesus Christ (in person, on earth) of being demon-possessed. They had no excuse for such an action. They were not speaking out of ignorance or misunderstanding. The Pharisees knew that Jesus was the Messiah sent by God to save Israel. They knew the prophecies were being fulfilled. They saw Jesus’ wonderful works, and they heard His clear presentation of truth. Yet they deliberately chose to deny the truth and slander the Holy Spirit. Standing before the Light of the World, bathed in His glory, they defiantly closed their eyes and became willfully blind. Jesus pronounced that sin to be unforgivable.

The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, specific as it was to the Pharisees’ situation, cannot be duplicated today. Jesus Christ is not on earth, and no one can personally see Jesus perform a miracle and then attribute that power to Satan instead of the Spirit. The only unpardonable sin today is that of continued unbelief.

Instagram faith based content creator, Ryan Miller recently shared in a video the sin that scripture says is the one that insults God:

Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished. Proverbs 17:5 (NLT)

Let’s look at the Greek word Matthew uses for insult: ḥārap–to defy, ridicule, taunt, mock, insult

So, how can our treatment of the poor insult God?

1. To neglect the poor insults the Giver:

‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’  Matthew 25:37-40 (NLT)

Mother Teresa called those she served “Jesus with skin on.” Jesus identifies personally with the poor. To neglect them is to neglect Jesus

1. Ritual worship without caring for the poor insults Giver.

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. 7 Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Isiah 58:6-7 (NLT)

God doesn’t want us to fast or give money, or anything else as an empty gesture. He doesn’t need our things. We gift God when we gift those in need.

1. To rejoice in the misfortune of others angers the Giver.

Evil lips are at work when the poor are ridiculed or someone’s misfortune becomes an occasion to “gloat” (lit., “rejoice”). Is this one of the wicked messages that verse 4 has in mind? Attitude is an action waiting to happen, and so the way we view others determines the way we will treat them. Perhaps it is the attitude of pride in one’s own merits that offends Yahweh and will not go unpunished (16:5; cf. 14:31; 22:2; 29:13).7 Even as Yahweh identifies himself with the poor, Jesus said that what we do to the least, we do for him (Matt. 25:40). (NIV Application Commentary)

Why is this important? Allow me to ask you another question: what was Sodom’s greatest sin? Here’s the prophet Ezekiel’s answer:

49 “Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door.” Ezekiel 16:49 (NLT)

Was your answer different than Ezekiel’s?  I believe this sin is the one we notice the least in our lives. It’s also the one that got the Israelites sideways with God more than any other. Every time we miss the opportunity to help others, we insult God. Have you insulted Him lately? What can you do to make it right? He’s ready, willing, and more than able to forgive the moment you do!

Pastor Jerry Bader