How does Job 20:13 illustrate the consequences of cherishing sin in our hearts? Job 20:13 in Context “though he cherishes it and will not let it go but keeps it in his mouth,” (Job 20:13) Zophar describes a wicked person treating sin like a savory morsel, tucked safely under the tongue for repeated enjoyment. The picture is vivid: sin is tasted, savored, rolled around, and guarded from anyone who might snatch it away. Although Zophar misapplies the principle to Job, the truth about sin’s deceitful sweetness stands firm. Savoring Sin Like Candy Sin appeals to our senses first (Genesis 3:6). We keep it “in the mouth” where taste buds are most sensitive—symbolizing deliberate, ongoing indulgence. What begins as a momentary flavor quickly becomes a guarded treasure. The Heart’s Dangerous Attachment “Cherishes it” implies affection, not mere weakness. • Willful approval • Emotional investment • Secret protection Psalm 66:18 echoes this: “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened”. Proverbs 28:14 warns that “he who hardens his heart will fall into trouble”. The Bitter Aftertaste: Consequences Job 20:14 follows with inevitable ruin: “his food will turn to venom in his stomach.” The journey of cherished sin: 1. Attraction — sweet taste (v. 12) 2. Concealment — hidden under the tongue (v. 12) 3. Attachment — refusal to release (v. 13) 4. Corruption — becomes poison within (v. 14) Other passages reinforce the pattern: James 1:14-15 – desire conceives, gives birth to sin, sin brings death. Galatians 6:7-8 – sow to the flesh, reap corruption. Scriptural Parallels Proverbs 5:3-4 – forbidden woman’s lips drip honey, yet end is bitter wormwood. Psalm 32:3-4 – concealed sin dries up vitality. Numbers 32:23 – “be sure your sin will find you out.” Living Out the Warning • Take sin seriously the moment it enters the “mouth” of desire. • Replace cherishing with confession (1 John 1:9). • Cultivate new appetites—“taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8). • Guard the heart diligently (Proverbs 4:23); what stays in the heart shapes destiny. Job 20:13 shows that secretly savoring sin is never harmless. The sweetness is temporary, the poison inevitable, and only genuine repentance keeps us from that bitter end. |
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