Tuesday, July 15 || BRIBE CORRUPTS THE HEART!

Honey Drops for Every Soul
Jul 15
2 min read

Read : Ezekiel 22: 12-16

“Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.” - Exodus 23: 8

Bribery was prevalent even during the Old Testament days. In Judges 16:5, we read that the rulers of the Philistines approached Delilah and promised to give her eleven hundred shekels – about 13 kilograms of silver as bribe in order to find out the secret of Samson’s strength! Even during the time of Jesus, we read that the chief priests bribed Judas. Matthew 26:15 says, “Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him (Jesus) over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.” We read of another incident of bribe in Matthew 28:12-15, when the chief priests heard from the guards that the stone which was at the entrance of the tomb of Jesus was rolled and that Jesus had risen from the dead, they gave them a large sum of money to mask the truth. They instigated the guards to spread a false news that while they were asleep during the night, the disciples of Jesus had stolen away His body! In another instance, when Paul was a prisoner, King Felix sought bribe from Paul so that he would release him from the prison.

Dear friends, all these instances are written as warnings to us because the Lord hates bribery.  Proverbs 17:23 says, “A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice.”  Psalm 24 says that only a man who has clean hands and a pure heart would stand in His presence.  And Deuteronomy says, “Cursed be a man who accepts bribe.”  So let us never partake in giving or accepting bribe on any condition.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, how dreadful it is to read the judgment that You would pronounce on those who take and accept bribes. Let me never yield to this sin even when tempted. Give me Your grace to have clean hands and pure heart. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.