Neglect

The shirking of one's duties or responsibilities, whether to God or to other people. The consequences of such neglect are often serious.

The Israelites sometimes neglected their religious duties

They neglected to support the Levites

Deuteronomy 14:27 See also Deuteronomy 12:19; Nehemiah 13:10

And do not neglect the Levite within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance among you.

They neglected the temple

Nehemiah 13:11 See also 2 Chronicles 24:5; Malachi 1:6–14

So I rebuked the officials and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts,

Such neglect earned them the judgment of God

2 Chronicles 29:6–9

For our fathers were unfaithful and did evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned Him, turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and turned their backs on Him. They also shut the doors of the portico and extinguished the lamps. They did not burn incense or present burnt offerings in the Holy Place of the God of Israel. Therefore, the wrath of the LORD has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, horror, and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. For behold, this is why our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and daughters and wives are in captivity.

The Israelites sometimes neglected their social obligations

They neglected to ensure justice for the poor

Isaiah 5:7 See also Amos 2:6–8, Amos 4:1–3, Amos 5:7–15

For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the plant of His delight. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard a cry of distress.

Their leaders neglected their responsibilities

Isaiah 56:10–12 See also Ezekiel 34:1–6; Amos 6:1–7

Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber. Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain: “Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”

God punished their neglect

Zephaniah 1:12–13 See also Isaiah 32:9–15

And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’ Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

Neglect in the NT

Warnings against neglect

1 Timothy 4:14 See also Matthew 23:23 parallel Luke 11:42; Matthew 25:14–30 parallel Luke 19:12–26; Luke 12:35–48

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders.

Examples of neglect

The neglect of salvation

Hebrews 2:1–4

The neglect of public worship

Hebrews 10:25

Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Sodom's neglect of the poor

Ezekiel 16:49

Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy.

The neglect of widows

Acts 6:1–4

In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”