What does "hiding it under his tongue" suggest about secret sins? The Picture in Job 20:12 “Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue.” (Job 20:12) • Zophar describes a man savoring wickedness the way someone savors a tasty morsel. • The tongue is where taste buds are; hiding something there means keeping it close, relishing it, and making sure no one else sees. What “Hiding It Under the Tongue” Tells Us about Secret Sin • Private enjoyment—sin is treated like a delicacy to be tasted repeatedly. • Deliberate concealment—moving the morsel under the tongue keeps it from view; secret sin operates the same way, intentionally shielded from exposure. • Short-lived pleasure—food under the tongue satisfies for a moment, but soon must be swallowed; sin’s sweetness is brief (Hebrews 11:25). • Internal corruption—what is hidden eventually goes down into the stomach; secret sin seeps into the heart and affects the whole person (Matthew 15:18-19). The Heart Attitudes Behind Secret Sin • Self-deception—thinking hidden sin is safe (Psalm 90:8; Luke 8:17). • Pride—believing one can manage sin privately without consequences (Obadiah 1:3). • Idolatry—loving the pleasure of sin more than the pleasure of God (2 Timothy 3:4). Inevitable Exposure and Judgment • “For the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.” (Psalm 64:6) – God searches those depths. • “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.” (Luke 12:2) • Zophar’s warning continues: the sweetness “turns to the venom of cobras within him” (Job 20:14). Secret sin brings bitterness and judgment. The Path to Freedom • Confession—“He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13) • Cleansing—“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) • Walking in light—“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.” (1 John 1:7) Takeaway Secret sin may seem sweet when tucked “under the tongue,” but Scripture exposes its fleeting pleasure, corrosive effect, and certain revelation. The remedy is open confession, repentance, and a life lived transparently before God and His people. |
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