What other scriptures address the dangers of accepting bribes or corruption? Seeing God’s Heart in Exodus 23:8 “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.” Why Bribes Are So Dangerous • They blind good judgment • They pervert justice and truth • They harden hearts against the vulnerable • They replace trust in God with trust in money or power The Law: Foundational Warnings • Deuteronomy 10:17 — God “shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.” • Deuteronomy 16:19 — “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.” • Deuteronomy 27:25 — “Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.” • Leviticus 19:15 — “You must not pervert justice… you are to judge your neighbor fairly.” Wisdom Books: Practical Insight • Psalm 15:5 — The one who “does not… accept a bribe against the innocent… will never be shaken.” • Psalm 26:10 — The wicked have “right hands… full of bribes.” • Proverbs 15:27 — “He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.” • Proverbs 17:23 — “A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.” • Proverbs 29:4 — “By justice a king gives stability to the land, but a man who exacts tribute demolishes it.” The Prophets: Thunder Against Corruption • Isaiah 1:23 — “Your rulers… all love bribes… They do not defend the fatherless.” • Isaiah 5:23 — They “acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of justice.” • Isaiah 33:15 — The righteous “rejects gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe.” • Jeremiah 22:17 — Hearts “set on… dishonest gain… extortion and oppression.” • Ezekiel 22:12 — “In you they accept bribes to shed blood… you extort your neighbors by greed.” • Amos 5:12 — “You afflict the righteous and take bribes; you deprive the poor of justice at the gates.” • Micah 3:11 — Leaders “judge for a bribe… yet they lean upon the LORD” with a false security. • Micah 7:3 — “The judge accepts a bribe… thus they weave injustice together.” New Testament Echoes • Matthew 28:12-15 — Religious leaders bribe the soldiers to hide Christ’s resurrection. • Acts 24:26 — Governor Felix often called for Paul, “hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe.” • 1 Timothy 3:3, 8 — Overseers and deacons must be “free of the love of money… not greedy for money.” • Titus 1:7 — An overseer must be “not greedy for money.” • 1 Peter 5:2 — Shepherd God’s flock “not out of greed.” • James 2:9 — Showing partiality is sin; money must not skew judgment. Putting It Into Practice • Let God’s character—impartial, just, holy—shape every decision. • Reject “small” favors that cloud objectivity; corruption always starts small. • Value integrity above material gain; eternal rewards far outweigh temporary profit. • Promote transparent systems where accountability is normal and expected. • Pray for leaders, employers, judges, and pastors to remain untouchable by bribery, guarding the witness of Christ before a watching world. |
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