Disrespect

The attitude of heart that leads people to treat God and others in ways that demonstrate a lack of esteem.

Causes of disrespect for God and Jesus Christ

Disrespect caused by a wrong view of God and Jesus Christ

Romans 1:21–23 See also Luke 23:8–11

For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Disrespect caused by disobedience to God

Nehemiah 9:26 See also 2 Chronicles 24:17–20; 2 Timothy 3:1–5

But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.

Disrespect caused by Satan

Acts 5:3 See also Matthew 8:28–29 parallels Mark 5:1–7, Luke 8:26–28

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?

Causes of disrespect for others

Disrespect for others caused by a wrong view of people

Matthew 19:13–14 parallels Mark 10:13–14, Luke 18:15–16 The lack of respect for the children arose from the erroneous belief that they were not important enough for Jesus Christ to bother with. See also Luke 10:25–37 Those who passed by failed to heed God's command to love their neighbours as themselves; James 2:1–4

Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Disrespect for others caused by seeking power and wealth

Ecclesiastes 4:1 See also James 5:1–6

Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.

Disrespect for others caused by envy

Micah 2:1–2 See also Genesis 37:3–4

Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.

Disrespect for others caused by pride and contempt

Psalm 31:18 See also Matthew 27:27–31 parallel Mark 15:16–20

May lying lips be silenced — lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous, full of pride and contempt.

Disrespect shown in speech

James 3:9 See also Matthew 27:39–44 parallels Mark 15:29–32, Luke 23:35–39; 1 Timothy 6:3–5

With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.

The development of disrespect

Disrespect can grow insidiously

1 Kings 11:4 See also Jeremiah 2:1–11MRK Jeremiah 11:15–17 parallels Matthew 21:12–13, Luke 19:45–46, John 2:13–17

For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been.

Disrespect can spread infectiously

Deuteronomy 1:27–28 See also Esther 1:16–18; Mark 15:9–15 parallels Matthew 27:17–26, Luke 23:13–25; Romans 2:24

You grumbled in your tents and said, “Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be annihilated. Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’”

Disrespect can end fatally

Leviticus 10:1–2 See also Exodus 32:25–28; Deuteronomy 21:18–21; Jeremiah 25:4–11

Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.