Topical Encyclopedia Self-will, in the context of biblical teaching, is often understood as the inclination to prioritize one's own desires and decisions over the will of God. This trait is frequently depicted in Scripture as stemming from an evil or corrupt heart, which is in opposition to the divine nature and commands of God.The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings that illustrate the dangers and origins of self-will. In the Old Testament, the narrative of the Israelites repeatedly highlights their tendency to follow their own desires rather than God's commands. In Deuteronomy 29:19 , it is written, "When such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself, thinking, 'I will have peace even though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.' This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry." Here, the stubbornness of heart is equated with self-will, leading to destructive consequences. The prophet Jeremiah also speaks to the condition of the human heart, stating in Jeremiah 17:9 , "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" This verse underscores the inherent deceitfulness and wickedness of the human heart, which naturally inclines toward self-will and away from God's righteous path. In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the issue of self-will in His teachings. In Mark 7:21-23 , He explains, "For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man." This passage highlights that self-will, along with other sins, originates from within the human heart, which is naturally inclined toward evil. The Apostle Paul further elaborates on the struggle between self-will and the will of God in his epistles. In Romans 8:7 , he writes, "The mind of the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so." This hostility and inability to submit to God's law is a manifestation of self-will, which is rooted in the sinful nature of humanity. James, the brother of Jesus, also warns against self-will in his epistle. In James 4:13-16 , he admonishes, "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.' You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil." Here, James points out the arrogance and evil of making plans without seeking God's will, a clear indication of self-will. Throughout Scripture, self-will is consistently portrayed as a product of an evil heart, leading individuals away from the path of righteousness and into sin. The biblical narrative calls believers to surrender their self-will and align their hearts with the will of God, seeking His guidance and direction in all aspects of life. Nave's Topical Index Jeremiah 7:24But they listened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. Nave's Topical Index Library The Secret of Well-Being Introduction Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount "But if Ye have Bitter Envying," &C. Baptism unto Repentance The New Birth Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount The Voice of Job. Names Resources What is self-actualization? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about being self-conscious? | GotQuestions.org How should a Christian view self-esteem? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Self-Will and Stubbornness: Characteristic of the Wicked Self-Will and Stubbornness: David Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Going Backward and not Forward Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Hardening the Heart Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Hardening the Neck Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Rebelling Against God Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Refusing to Hearken to God Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Refusing to Hearken to Parents Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Refusing to Hearken to the Messengers of God Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Refusing to Receive Correction Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Refusing to Walk in the Ways of God Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Resisting the Holy Spirit Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Walking in the Counsels of an Evil Heart Self-Will and Stubbornness: Forbidden Self-Will and Stubbornness: God Knows Self-Will and Stubbornness: Heinousness of Self-Will and Stubbornness: Illustrated Self-Will and Stubbornness: Israelites Self-Will and Stubbornness: Josiah Self-Will and Stubbornness: Ministers should be Without Self-Will and Stubbornness: Ministers should Pray That Their People May be Forgiven For Self-Will and Stubbornness: Ministers should Warn Their People Against Self-Will and Stubbornness: Proceed From: An Evil Heart Self-Will and Stubbornness: Proceed From: Pride Self-Will and Stubbornness: Proceed From: Unbelief Self-Will and Stubbornness: Punishment For Self-Will and Stubbornness: Saul Self-Will and Stubbornness: Simeon and Levi Self-Will and Stubbornness: The Wicked Cease not From Self-Will and Stubbornness: Zedekiah Self-Will: Characteristic of Wicked People Self-Will: Exhibited in Going Backward and not Forward Self-Will: Exhibited in Hardening the Heart Self-Will: Exhibited in Hardening the Neck (Metaphorically) Self-Will: Exhibited in Heinousness of Self-Will: Exhibited in Rebelling Against God Self-Will: Exhibited in Refusing to Listen to (Obey) Parents Self-Will: Exhibited in Refusing to Listen to God Self-Will: Exhibited in Refusing to Listen to the Messengers of God Self-Will: Exhibited in Refusing to Receive Correction Self-Will: Exhibited in Refusing to Walk in the Ways of God Self-Will: Exhibited in Resisting the Holy Spirit Self-Will: Exhibited in Walking in the Counsels of an Evil Heart Self-Will: Proceeds From: An Evil Heart Self-Will: Proceeds From: Pride Self-Will: Proceeds From: Unbelief Self-Will: Servants should be Without Self-Will: Servants should Pray That the People May be Forgiven For Self-Will: Servants should Warn the People Against Self-Will: The Wicked do not Cease From Related Terms |
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