Those who pursue sin and wickedness do not fear God.
Paul now shifts the quote to Psalm 36:1. Psalm 36:1–4 describes the makeup of a wicked person; wickedness begins by not fearing God. Speaking of the wicked, this psalm says “There is no fear of God before their eyes (v 18).” The Greek word translated fear in this psalm is “phobos,” which is the root of our English word “phobia.” It originally meant flight, as in the Greek poet Homer’s characters fleeing in fear. “Phobos” is usually translated fear but is also translated “awe,” “reverence,” and “intimidation.”
When we fear another person it might come from a number of motives or attitudes. We might have great respect for a person we fear, or we might loathe them. But in any case, the underlying concern that leads to fear is connected to an action the person we fear can take—an action that we wish to avoid.
For someone we love and respect, fear might take the form of desiring not to generate disappointment. We might be desperate to live up to the expectation of a parent we adore. For a person with great wisdom, we might fear not following his advice, realizing that shame might come if we don’t.
When we do not fear God, it means we are not concerned with what God thinks. We are also not concerned about following His advice and direction. We give it no value, and only value our own opinions. These attitudes toward God are at the very heart of wickedness.
Biblical Text
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Check out our other commentaries:
-
Acts 2:29-36 meaning
Peter tells the crowd that he and the other disciples are witnesses to Jesus’s resurrection. They have seen Him alive again. And now He has...... -
Revelation 2:12-13 meaning
Jesus, the one who has God’s word, greets the church in Pergamum and commends them on standing firm in their faith even as they live...... -
Deuteronomy 24:17-18 meaning
Moses warns Israel against perverting the justice due to the alien and the orphan, and forbids taking a widow’s garment in pledge....... -
Leviticus 23:23-25 meaning
God proclaims the fall feasts. The first of which is the Feast of Trumpets. Literally in Hebrew “The day of the shout.”...... -
Matthew 4:18-22 meaning
Jesus begins to recruit His disciples. As Jesus walks along the shore of Galilee He sees two sets of brothers who are fishermen: Simon and......
