You Who Work Iniquity

Greetings, a servant of God, by the grace of God, teaching the truth of God under the authority of Jesus Christ to any who are willing to receive it. (Mat 13:43).

The Holy Bible contains the truth of God by the word of God (Joh 17:17); therefore, God teaches and gives understanding, wisdom, and knowledge to all who pray and seek Him with all the heart (Deu 4:29-31; Jer 29:12,13; Psa 119:2).

Important Note: The biblical story of Israel begins with one man, Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel (Genesis 32:28) and extends through all twelve tribes descended from him, hence the term Israelites. For this reason, references to Israel in these studies are often expressed as "the tribes of Israel" when the broader covenant family descended from Jacob is in view.

Also, a helpful distinction is that Jews are Israelites, but not all Israelites are Jews. The Jewish people descend primarily from the tribe of Judah, one of Jacob's twelve sons. Readers are encouraged to examine the Scriptures carefully, tracing the development of God's covenant people from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through the prophets, the Christ, the apostles, and right into the book of Revelation (2:14; 7:4; 21:12).

Introduction

Few statements in Scripture are more sobering than the words Jesus the Christ speaks at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount:

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

These words are not spoken to atheists, idolaters, or those who openly reject God. They are spoken to people who call Him, "Lord, Lord," who profess faith, perform religious works, and believe themselves accepted before Him. Yet something so serious stands between them and the Kingdom of God that Christ declares, "I never knew you." The question therefore demands an answer:

What is iniquity?

Many assume that iniquity is merely another word for sin. Yet throughout Scripture, God frequently speaks of sin, transgression, and iniquity together, suggesting distinctions that deserve careful examination (Exo 34:7; Dan 9:5; Psa 32:5). If Jesus chose the specific phrase "work iniquity," then understanding that phrase becomes essential.

This study will trace the subject from the Law, the Prophets, the Psalms, the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the writings of the apostles. We will allow Scripture to define its own terms and reveal its own meaning. Along the way, we will discover that the warning concerning iniquity is not isolated to one verse but forms a consistent thread running throughout the Bible.

Particular attention will be given to the relationship between God's commandments, obedience, lawlessness, false teaching, and outward profession. Jesus taught that not one jot or one tittle would pass from the law until all be fulfilled (Matt 5:17-19). He then warned that many who profess His name would ultimately hear the words, "Depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:23).

The apostles continued this same warning. Paul reasoned from the Scriptures available in his day, the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings, and repeatedly warned believers concerning false teachings, another gospel, and departures from the truth (Acts 17:2,3; Gal 1:6-9). The message did not change. God's people were still called to walk in His ways and depart from iniquity.

The purpose of this study is not condemnation, but clarity. God desires repentance rather than destruction, truth rather than deception, and life rather than death. The warning must therefore be understood exactly as God intended. For if Christ's words are among the most severe in Scripture, they are also among the most important for every professing believer to hear.

Let us now search the Scriptures to discover what God means when He speaks of those who work iniquity.

The LORD Defines the Issue

Before Scripture explains iniquity, transgression, and sin, it first reveals the character of the One who judges them. When the LORD passed before Moses, He proclaimed His own name and attributes:

Exo 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

The foundation of all true judgment begins here. The LORD is not arbitrary, unjust, or unreasonable. He is merciful, gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Any understanding of iniquity must therefore begin with the character of God Himself. The proclamation continues:

Exo 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin...

This is the first great piece of good news. God is willing to forgive. Notice that the LORD distinguishes between iniquity, transgression, and sin. These words are not casually repeated. They are presented as distinct realities for which forgiveness is available. Whatever iniquity may prove to be, Scripture establishes from the outset that it is not beyond the mercy of God. The LORD does not delight in destruction. He delights in forgiveness, repentance, and restoration. Yet the verse does not end there.

Exod 34:7 ...and that will by no means clear the guilty...

The same God who forgives is also the God who judges. His mercy does not abolish His righteousness, nor does His patience erase accountability. This tension runs throughout the entire Bible. God extends mercy, calls men to repentance, and offers forgiveness. Yet He does not clear those who persist in rebellion while refusing His authority. Forgiveness is offered, but does not fall upon the unrepentant. This helps us understand the severity of Christ's warning:

Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

The tragedy is not that forgiveness was unavailable. Exodus 34 establishes that God forgives iniquity. The tragedy is that those standing before Christ never truly submitted themselves to the God they claimed to serve. They called Him "Lord," yet continued working iniquity.

From the beginning, the LORD revealed Himself as abundant in truth. To know God is therefore to know His truth (John 17:17), His ways (Deu 10:12), and His commandments (Rev 22:14). The warning of Matthew 7 is not directed at those who stumbled and repented, but at those who maintained an outward profession while persisting in a course contrary to the will of God.

Before we can understand why the Christ condemns workers of iniquity, we must first understand the God who offers forgiveness for iniquity. The study therefore begins where the LORD Himself begins: with mercy, truth, forgiveness, and righteousness.

Walking Contrary to the Will of God

After proclaiming His willingness to forgive iniquity, transgression, and sin (Exo 34:7), the LORD later reveals what must happen when His people have departed from His ways:

Lev 26:40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers... and that also they have walked contrary unto me...

This passage is important because it connects iniquity with a particular manner of life. The people are not only confessing wrongdoing; they are confessing that they have walked contrary to God. Their iniquity manifested itself in a course of conduct opposed to the will and ways of the LORD. This raises an obvious question:

How does a person walk contrary to God?

Since God's character, will, and expectations are revealed through His word, commandments, statutes, and judgments, walking contrary to God is ultimately walking contrary to what He has spoken. Iniquity is therefore more than a momentary failure. It is a departure from God's path. The psalmist provides the opposite picture:

Ps 119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

This verse is remarkably instructive. Notice the direct relationship between walking in God's ways and the absence of iniquity. The psalmist does not say they never face temptation or never require mercy. Rather, the defining direction of their lives is God's way.

Together, these passages reveal a clear contrast:

Walking contrary to God is associated with iniquity (Lev 26:40).

Walking in God's ways is associated with doing no iniquity (Ps 119:3).

Scripture therefore presents iniquity as more than an isolated act of sin. It is a crooked course that departs from God's revealed ways. This also explains why confession is required. The LORD does not merely call for the acknowledgment of mistakes; He calls for the acknowledgment of a wrong direction and a return to His path. This distinction becomes crucial when we arrive at Christ's warning:

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

The issue is not that God refuses to forgive iniquity. Exodus 34 established that He does. The issue is whether a person continues walking contrary to God or turns and walks in His ways. The warning is not directed at those who confess and forsake their iniquity, but at those who continue to work it while claiming to belong to Him.

They Rejected His Statutes and Despised His Sabbaths

After calling His people to confess their iniquity and acknowledge that they had walked contrary unto Him (Lev 26:40), the LORD explains why judgment had fallen upon them:

Lev 26:43 ...because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.

This verse helps move the study beyond the general idea of wrongdoing and closer to God's own definition of iniquity. The LORD does not merely say that His people committed sins. He identifies a deeper problem: they had developed a disposition against His ways. They despised His judgments and abhorred His statutes. The context is important. Only a few verses earlier, the LORD repeatedly mentions His Sabbaths:

Lev 26:2 You shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. And later:

Lev 26:34-35 Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths...

The Sabbaths were not separate from God's statutes. They were among the statutes and signs He had given to identify His covenant people (Exo 31:13,17). Therefore, when the LORD speaks of the tribes of Israel abhorring His statutes, the rejection includes the very things He had specifically commanded and set apart as holy. This helps us understand the contrast presented elsewhere in Scripture:

Ps 119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

The opposite of iniquity is not merely avoiding wrongdoing. The opposite of iniquity is walking in God's ways. Conversely, iniquity is revealed when a person walks contrary to God's ways, rejects His judgments, or despises His statutes.

The progression in Leviticus is therefore revealing:

They walked contrary to God (Lev 26:40).

They confessed their iniquity (Lev 26:40).

The LORD explains that they had despised His judgments and abhorred His statutes (Lev 26:43).

Scripture is beginning to define iniquity as something more than an isolated act of sin. Iniquity involves a crooked course that departs from God's revealed will. It manifests itself in a rejection of His authority and ultimately in a rejection of the path He has commanded His people to walk. This prepares us for Christ's warning:

Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

The God who proclaimed forgiveness for iniquity (Exod 34:7) is the same God who warned against despising His statutes. The issue is not whether forgiveness is available. The issue is whether a person is willing to walk in God's ways or continue in a course contrary to them.

Leviticus 26:43 therefore adds another important piece to the biblical picture. Iniquity is not merely doing wrong; it is persisting in a way that rejects God's judgments, disregards His statutes, and walks contrary to the path He has revealed.

Presumptuous Sin and Despising God's Word

As the Scriptures continue to define iniquity, an important distinction appears in the book of Numbers. Earlier in the chapter, God provides sacrifices for sins committed through ignorance (Num 15:22-29). Then He addresses a very different matter:

Num 15:30 But the soul that does ought presumptuously... the same reproaches the LORD...

The issue is no longer ignorance or weakness. The person acts presumptuously. He knows God's will but proceeds as though God's authority does not matter. The sin is committed with a lifted hand, in open defiance rather than humble submission. The LORD then explains why this behaviour is so serious:

Num 15:31 Because he has despised the word of the LORD, and has broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.

This verse is especially important because it keeps iniquity directly connected to the despising of God's word and the breaking of His commandments. In Leviticus 26, iniquity was associated with walking contrary to God and abhorring His statutes (Lev 26:40,43). Here, the pattern becomes even clearer. The presumptuous person knows God's word, knows God's commandments, and nevertheless chooses his own way. As a result:

"His iniquity shall be upon him."

The progression is significant:

God's word is known.

God's commandment is known.

Both are despised and broken.

The person persists in his own way.

His iniquity remains upon him.

This helps us understand why Scripture often treats iniquity as something deeper than a momentary lapse or isolated act of sin. It is not merely failure. It is a disposition that resists God's authority while preferring one's own will. The contrast is striking when placed beside the testimony of the psalmist:

Ps 119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

The righteous seek God's way. The presumptuous seek their own. One submits to God's word; the other despises it. One walks in God's commandments; the other knowingly departs from them. This distinction becomes vital when we arrive at Christ's warning:

Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

The warning is not directed toward those who sinned and repented. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly declares His willingness to forgive iniquity when it is confessed and forsaken (Exod 34:7; Lev 26:40). The danger lies in persistently walking contrary to God's revealed will while maintaining a profession of faith.

Numbers 15 therefore adds another important piece to the biblical picture. Iniquity is closely associated with despising the word of the LORD, breaking His commandments, disregarding His statutes, and presumptuously preferring one's own way over God's. Such a course leaves a person bearing the very thing God stands ready to forgive:

"His iniquity shall be upon him."

Idolatry: A Great Iniquity

As the Scriptures continue to define iniquity, Moses brings us to one of its most serious forms: idolatry. In the second commandment, the LORD declares:

Deu 5:8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image...

The command speaks of idols made or found in a place of worship. It addresses the fundamental question of worship and allegiance. Who or what will occupy the place that belongs to God alone? The LORD continues:

Deu 5:9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them...

Idolatry is therefore worship in the presence of an idol or image. It is giving devotion, service, honour, trust, or worship to something other than the LORD. It is a profound departure from God's ways because it replaces the Creator with something created. Notice that the LORD immediately connects idolatry with iniquity:

Deu 5:9 ...visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

This is significant. The LORD does not simply call idolatry a mistake. He identifies it as iniquity. It is a crooked departure from truth because it exchanges God's rightful place for something else. This should sound familiar.

Earlier, we saw that iniquity involved walking contrary to God (Lev 26:40), despising His statutes (Lev 26:43), and presumptuously rejecting His word while breaking His commandments (Num 15:30-31). Idolatry combines all of these elements. A person cannot embrace idols without first departing from the authority, worship, and righteous ways of the living God. The apostles later reaffirm this principle. Paul explains the root of idolatry's corruption:

Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator...

Here the apostle describes the very essence of idolatry. Truth is exchanged for a lie. Worship is redirected from the Creator to the creation. What began in the Old Testament as a prohibition against idols is revealed to be a much deeper corruption of the heart. Paul therefore identifies idolatry as a perversion of truth itself. Likewise, when warning believers, he writes:

1 Cor 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

The warning is directed to professing believers, demonstrating that idolatry remains a danger wherever devotion to God is displaced by something else. The apostle John closes his first epistle with an equally direct warning:

1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

The warning appears abruptly because the danger is ever present. Anything that takes the place of God in the heart becomes an idol. This broadens the application considerably. Idolatry may involve literal images, but it can also involve anything elevated above God. Wealth, power, status, pleasure, tradition, false religion, human reasoning, or even cherished doctrines can become idols when they are allowed to replace God's truth and authority.

Deuteronomy 5 therefore adds another important element to the biblical picture of iniquity. Iniquity is not merely breaking a commandment. It is often the corruption of worship itself. It is the exchange of the Creator for something created, the truth of God for something preferred, and the ways of God for a path of one's own choosing.

This helps explain why idolatry is presented throughout Scripture as one of the gravest forms of iniquity. It is not merely a departure from one commandment. It is a departure from the God who gave all the commandments.