A lack of faith and obedience to God, which is seen especially in the lives of unbelievers. However, Scripture makes clear that believers can occasionally lapse into faithlessness towards God.
Faithlessness among the ungodly
In their character and lifestyle
Psalm 101:3–5, Psalm 119:158 See also Psalm 10:4, Psalm 14:1; John 16:8–9; 2 Thessalonians 3:2; Titus 1:15–16
I will set no worthless thing before my eyes. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know nothing of evil. Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.
I look on the faithless with loathing because they do not keep Your word.
Examples of faithless men
1 Samuel 25:2–3 Nabal; Esther 3:5–6 Haman; Matthew 2:16 Herod the Great; Acts 19:23–27 Demetrius
The faithless appear to prosper
Jeremiah 12:1 See also Job 21:7; Psalm 73:3–5, Psalm 73:12; Malachi 3:15
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
Faithlessness results in judgment
Proverbs 14:14; John 3:36 See also Psalm 73:17–18, Psalm 73:27; Malachi 4:1; Mark 16:16; John 8:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:12; Revelation 21:8
The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
Faithlessness among the Jews
Their failure to trust God for deliverance
Isaiah 31:1 See also Isaiah 22:8–11, Isaiah 30:1–2, Isaiah 30:12–13
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.
Their rejection of the gospel
John 12:37–38 See also Isaiah 53:1; John 3:11–12, John 5:37–40, John 8:45, John 10:25–26
Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
Specific examples
Matthew 13:58 parallel Mark 6:5–6 the people of Nazareth; Matthew 19:21–22 parallels Mark 10:21–22, Luke 18:22–23 the rich young ruler; Acts 28:24 Many Jews reject Paul's ministry in Rome; 1 Timothy 1:13 Paul's own persecution of the church arose from unbelief in Jesus Christ.
Israel's estrangement from God
Matthew 21:43 See also Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:41 parallel Mark 12:9; Romans 9:32–33
Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
The acceptance of the Gentiles
Romans 11:17–21 The Jews' rejection of the gospel opens the way for Gentiles to be incorporated into the people of God, represented here as branches grafted onto a cultivated olive tree.
Israel's faithlessness is partial and temporary
Romans 11:5 Though the people as a whole have rejected Jesus Christ, a faithful remnant remains; Romans 11:11–12, Romans 11:23–27 God's purpose for the faithful of Israel is their ultimate salvation.
Faithlessness among believers
Lack of faith is rebuked
Matthew 14:30–31 See also Matthew 6:30–32 parallel Luke 12:28–30 worrying about food and clothing; Matthew 8:24–26 parallels Mark 4:38–40, Luke 8:23–25 Fear during a storm at sea; Matthew 17:17–20 parallels Mark 9:17–19, Luke 9:40–42 inability to cast out a demon
But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
Causes of faithlessness
Matthew 16:8–10 failure to learn from the lessons of the past; Luke 24:25 failure to accept teaching that has been given
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.