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Thomas Watson

God sees through these fig leaves!

Thomas Watson • April, 28 2009 • Audio
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Choice Puritan Devotional

In Thomas Watson's sermon "God sees through these fig leaves," the main theological topic addressed is the omniscience of God, particularly as it pertains to human sin and hypocrisy. Watson argues that while individuals may seek to conceal their sins from others and even from God, divine omniscience guarantees that all actions, especially those performed in secret, are fully known to God. He cites Jeremiah 16:17 and Jeremiah 29:23 to illustrate God's thorough awareness of human behavior, reinforcing the idea that even hidden sins will be judged. The practical significance of this doctrine is that an awareness of God’s all-seeing eye should lead believers towards greater sincerity and away from hypocrisy, encouraging them to align their outward actions with their inward hearts, as reflected in 1 Samuel 16:7.

Key Quotes

“The hypocrite thinks to disguise and juggle with God, but God will unmask him.”

“Will we sin when our judge looks on?”

“Man looks at the outward appearance. But the Lord looks at the heart.”

“The consideration of God's omniscience would be preventive of much sin.”

What does the Bible say about God's omniscience?

The Bible teaches that God possesses infinite knowledge, seeing all actions and thoughts, as highlighted in Jeremiah 16:17.

The scripture reveals God's omniscience in multiple passages, emphasizing that nothing is hidden from Him. Jeremiah 16:17 states, 'My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.' This illustrates the folly of hypocrisy, where people attempt to hide their sins from God, believing He cannot see through the facade. However, God's understanding is described as infinite, giving Him unparalleled insight into men's hearts and actions.

The notion of God's omniscience serves as a profound deterrent against sin for believers. When we acknowledge that God sees every secret act, it compels us to live a life of sincerity and integrity. The awareness of God's presence encourages us to avoid behaviors we would not want Him to witness. As reflected in 1 Samuel 16:7, 'But the Lord looks at the heart,' it becomes evident that God judges not merely external actions but the intentions and motivations behind them.

Jeremiah 16:17, 1 Samuel 16:7

How do we know God will judge our secret sins?

God's promise to judge secret sins is affirmed in Jeremiah 29:23, illustrating His awareness and authority to hold us accountable.

The assurance of God's judgment over secret sins is firmly rooted in scripture, specifically in Jeremiah 29:23: 'For they have done outrageous things. I know it and am a witness to it, declares the Lord.' This verse underscores God's active role as a witness to all actions, including those concealed in secrecy. The concept of God's judgment is not merely a future event but a present reality that serves as a warning against the deception of hypocrisy.

As believers, understanding that God keeps a record of every sin should instill a sense of accountability within us. The metaphor of God having a 'debt book' where every sin is recorded emphasizes His meticulous nature regarding our actions. This divine oversight serves both to encourage righteousness and to deter from the inclination towards secret sins, as one cannot escape the omniscient eye of God. His judgment will eventually bring every act, whether hidden or in the open, into account, thereby holding us responsible for our choices.

Jeremiah 29:23

Why is sincerity important for Christians?

Sincerity is crucial for Christians as it reflects true worship and aligns with God’s view of the heart, as emphasized in 1 Samuel 16:7.

Sincerity is a foundational virtue for Christians, as it represents honesty before God and aligns with the reality of His omniscience. In 1 Samuel 16:7, we read, 'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.' This scripture emphasizes that God values authenticity and sincerity over mere outward compliance with religious actions.

When believers live sincerely, they demonstrate a genuine relationship with God that is not based on pretense or hypocrisy. Understanding that God sees beyond our fig leaves, as demonstrated in the sermon, urges Christians to cultivate an inner disposition that matches their outward behavior. Instead of disguising our failings, we are called to approach God with humility and transparency, trusting in His grace to transform our hearts. Ultimately, being sincere leads to deeper communion with God and a more authentic witness to others about His truth and love.

1 Samuel 16:7

Sermon Transcript

Auto-generated transcript • May contain errors

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God sees through these fig leaves by Thomas Watson. My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes. Jeremiah 16 verse 17. If God is a God of infinite knowledge, then see the folly of hypocrisy. Hypocrites carry it fair with men, but care not how bad their hearts are. They live in secret sin. They say, How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge? What does God know? Can He judge through thick darkness? God has forgotten. He hides His face. He will never see it.

But his understanding is infinite. He has a window to look into men's hearts. He has a key to open the heart. Your father who sees in secret. God sees in secret. As a merchant enters debts in his book, so God has his debt book in which he enters every sin. The hypocrite thinks to disguise and juggle with God, but God will unmask him. God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing. For they have done outrageous things. I know it and am a witness to it, declares the Lord." Jeremiah 29 verse 23.

The hypocrite hopes he shall color over his sin and make it look very good. Absalom masks over his treason with the pretense of a religious vow. Judas cloaks his covetousness with the pretense of charity to the poor. Jehu makes religion a cloak for his selfish design. But God sees through these fig leaves. He who has an eye to see will find a hand to punish.

Since God is infinite in knowledge, we should always feel as under His omniscient eye. I have set the Lord always before me. The consideration of God's omniscience would be preventive of much sin. The eye of man will restrain from sin, And will not God's eyes much more? Will he even assault the queen right here in the place Before my very eyes? The king roared. Esther 7 verse 8 Will we sin when our judge looks on? Would men speak so vainly If they considered God overheard them? What care would people have of their words if they remembered that God heard and his pen was writing everything down in heaven? Would they commit immorality if they believed God was a spectator of their wickedness and would punish them in hell for it? Would they defraud in their dealings and use false weights If they knew God saw them, and for making their weights lighter would make their damnation heavier?

Is God omniscient and his eye chiefly upon the heart? Then be sincere, be what you seem. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance. But the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16 verse 7. Men judge the heart by the actions. God judges the actions by the heart.

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