The Sin of Arrogance

adjective: having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride

Vocabulary.com

Oftentimes when we think of sin, we think of outward displays of sin. We may think of someone who is addicted to drugs and we see the effects of the drugs on their mind, body and soul. We may think of a thief and see their cunningness or even see the items that they have stolen. The person who struggles with anger; we may see their violent outbursts or even the damage that their anger has caused. We may see the prostitute walking the streets and in our minds say that “surely she is a sinner.”

While, unfortunately, these may very will be outward signs of sin and those who live these lives might be readily identified as “sinners,” we certainly have to be careful that we don’t just stop at these behaviors only. Sure, there is no doubt that these conditions can be categorized as sin. However, we must be careful not to just stop at those outward appearances or just a list of what we may identify as sin.

The Arrogance of Herod

When we think of arrogance, we often identify a person who displays the characteristics of arrogance. Oftentimes, we think of someone who is rude and offensive. Again, we identify arrogance oftentimes with what we see on the outside. The following scripture follows with what most of us think as arrogant behavior:

And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.

And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of man.

And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

Acts 12: 21-23

Most people would identify Herod as being arrogant in how he is portrayed and how he allowed the people to identify him as a god and not a man. Most people would also think, at least to themselves, that Herod got the judgement that he deserved. Most people might also make the connection that Herod’s arrogance was sin. However, most people might not identify this arrogance because it was a heart condition, rather they would identify it from the standpoint of how it made them feel or that the arrogance was offensive to them.

This is how most people identify sin in others. It is more about what that person did and how it made the other person feel than it necessarily is about the condition of the heart. We call the addict a sinner not because we are necessarily concerned about their heart condition but because we are repulsed about what the drugs are doing to them and how it may affect us. We want tougher laws on drugs or tougher drug enforcement because we are offended but are not necessarily concerned with how God may be offended. We cry out against abortion and call it murder (which it is). But do we take our stands on the issue because of our own personal offense or do we see that murder, in all forms, is an offense to God. Do we hate the sin (because God hates it) or do we also hate the sinner only because of our personal offense.

The Arrogance of Peter

Let’s look a little deeper at the sin of arrogance and see it from maybe a different angle. The setting is a guestchamber in Jerusalem. It was the time of the passover and Jesus had just performed what in our modern day, we call the “last supper.” He is admonishing his disciples and telling them that all men would be offended because of him and how he would be forsaken. It is in this setting and context that Peter says the following:

… Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Matthew 26: 33

Jesus answers him by saying:

Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Matthew 26: 34

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Matthew 26:35

It may be hard to think of Peter as being arrogant in this exchange. He may seem to be, in the minds of many, just overconfident. Admittedly, there may be a fine line between confidence and arrogance. However, going back to our definition, Peter was displaying arrogance. Peter was a leader amongst the disciples. However, his “confidence” lead him to think more highly of his own abilities and less about submitting those abilities to Christ. I could picture that even after Jesus “rebukes” Peter concerning his pride, Peter no doubt really believed that he would not be offended. Peter’s arrogance was not in the same form of haughtiness as Herod. I’m not sure that his statement would have been offensive to other’s who may have been listening to the conversation that he was having with Jesus. They may have seen it as a manifestation of his leadership or, at the very least, they may have thought, “Oh that’s just Peter.” Whatever the case, it was still arrogance and it was offensive to Jesus. So much so that the Lord had to rebuke Peter for really what was in his heart.

Most know the rest of the story. Jesus was, shortly thereafter, betrayed by Judas and led away to face the judgement of his accusers. It was during that time that Peter did follow Jesus, but at a distance. As he was warming himself by a fire, there were those that recognized him as a follower or disciple of Jesus. Peter tried to hide his identity and he even swore when a young girl identified him. However, in the end Jesus was absolutely correct, before the cock crowed, Peter denied him three times. After the cock crowed, somehow in the midst of all that was going on, Jesus saw Peter and looked him in the eye. Peter left and wept bitterly.

Herod vs. Peter

Most of us would probably not identify with the arrogance of Herod. However, if we are honest, we probably can identify with Peter. At its root, all arrogance is rooted in pride. All pride is rooted in selfishness. This post is not meant to be accusatory. On the contrary, it is meant to help us and to warn us of a sin, that if left unchecked, can reign havoc not only amongst God’s people but also in society as a whole. There is obviously a difference between the sin of Herod and the “sin” of Peter. For one thing Herod’s life was consumed with the sin of arrogance. So much so, that the last act of his life was a culmination of a heart that was given over to arrogance and pride. Herod’s lifestyle was such that he was not opposed to people lifting him up to be on par with God himself. Peter, on the other hand, was not a man of pride. He was a leader who possessed confidence. However, he also was one who was also willing to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn. Sometimes, the portrayal of Peter is one of a man who would speak before he would think. That may, in some instances, may be true. I believe that Peter, actually, was a very thoughtful person who would actually speak strongly on what he believed. The problem was that what he believed was not always correct. When he was with Jesus on the Mountain of Transfiguration, Peter really believed that it was good to build tabernacles to all those that he saw. His heart was sincere. God had to correct his thinking and direct him to see Jesus only. Peter’s life was not one filled with arrogance. However, like you and I, he was susceptible to that sin when his thoughts were definitely misguided.

However, both were guilty of the sin of arrogance. One whose heart was consumed; the other whose mind was consumed. Neither at the time could see the wrong in their condition. However, God had mercy on the one and not the other. God allowed Peter’s sin to be revealed to him so that he could learn and allow Jesus to minister to his condition (more about that later). Is this not the same thing that we deal with? Hopefully, you are not one whose heart is consumed with arrogance and pride. The scripture does speak of this condition:

Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16: 18

This is an absolute truth! If we are given to arrogance and pride then destruction and a fall are not too far behind. How many times have we witnessed this absolute truth manifest itself. We have seen great leaders who have become overly confident in themselves to the point of being on par with God in the people’s minds, only to fall and be utterly destroyed in the end.

What About Us?

Those that allow their hearts to be consumed, struggle to find the lessons to be learned in the fall. Just like other sin, one has to become first offended by their own sin and then come to see how their offense hurts God. However, if we can see the offenses then God has a way, through his Holy Spirit, to be able to teach us the lessons that we need to learn and move us beyond the offense that the sin of arrogance may cause. In other word’s, we must first see it before we can get the help that we need.

Peter’s offense was laid bare before him when the cock crowed. He knew that he had failed through his own actions. When he looked upon the face of Jesus, all was revealed. He ran away with bitter tears because of the truth found in Proverbs 16: 18. However, God would not allow him to be left in that condition. After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it was Jesus himself who ministered to Peter’s need. We read in John the 21st chapter, how Jesus revealed himself to the disciples and had a special conversation with Peter. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. This is significant because of the fact the Peter denied Jesus three times. After each of Peter’s responses, Jesus gave Peter his commission. He was restoring Peter for the work that He had for him to accomplish. Jesus even foreshadowed the type of death that Peter would have to sustain. Jesus worked through Peter’s mind to get to his heart to establish His purpose for Peter’s life.

Jesus will do the same for us. I use the sin of arrogance to help show that oftentimes we may get wrapped up in our minds with false thinking and if carried out can turn into sin. Arrogance, pride and haughtiness are close cousins but not always the same. We can easily recognize haughtiness, especially in others. However, its hard to recognize arrogance or prideful thinking, especially in us. This thinking may not offend us at first. But it certainly offends God. However, He is willing to help us when we get to the point of seeing the offense for ourselves and also seeing how it does offend Him. This goes with all sin. Whether it is outwardly manifested or it is inwardly concealed. It comes from the same root which is a heart of selfishness.

I have personally seen how this can, if allowed, work on me. However, I have also seen the miracle working power of God work through his Holy Spirit to “forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” However, the choice is ours. God allows us to decide whether we want to live like Herod or to live like Peter. There are those “Herods” among us who have been sweetly delivered from the bondage of a life overtaken by sin. However, far too often many more “Herods” become so consumed that they choose to stay in their deplorable conditions. There are also “Peters” that when they fall are willing to allow Jesus to minister unto their need and who learn from the experiences that life has to offer. It’s up to us to make the right choice!