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Malice

Malice is the deliberate desire to harm others, which Scripture condemns as incompatible with God's character and Christian love. Believers are called to reject malice and instead pursue justice, mercy, and reconciliation.

Overview

Malice represents a deep-seated desire to injure, harm, or take revenge against others. The Bible presents malice as a sin that corrupts the human heart and violates God's command to love our neighbors. Rather than harboring malicious thoughts, believers are instructed to confront wrongdoing honestly while maintaining integrity and seeking reconciliation.

Key Scriptures

"You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him" (Leviticus 19:17, ESV).

"The wicked conceive malice, and are pregnant with mischief, and bring forth lies" (Psalm 7:14, NASB).

"Whoever says to his father or his mother, 'Whatever you would have gained from me is given to God,' he need not honor his father" (Matthew 15:5, ESV) demonstrates how malice inverts God's design for relationships.

Application

Examine your heart honestly: do you harbor resentment or desire for revenge, and if so, confess it to God and seek to replace malice with genuine love and forgiveness for those who have wronged you.

Scripture References 40
Leviticus 19:17 Leviticus 19:18 Deuteronomy 27:17 Deuteronomy 27:18 Deuteronomy 32:32 Deuteronomy 32:33 2 Kings 6:21 2 Kings 6:22 Job 31:29 Job 31:30 Psalms 7:14 Psalms 7:15 Psalms 7:16 Psalms 10:7 Psalms 10:8 Psalms 10:9 Psalms 10:10 Psalms 22:7 Psalms 22:8 Psalms 35:15 Psalms 35:16 Psalms 35:19 Psalms 35:20 Psalms 35:21 Psalms 41:5 Psalms 41:6 Psalms 41:7 Psalms 41:8 Psalms 55:10 Psalms 55:11 Psalms 56:5 Psalms 56:6 Psalms 59:3 Psalms 59:4 Psalms 59:6 Psalms 59:7 Psalms 62:3 Psalms 62:4 Psalms 64:2 Psalms 64:3
Full Topical Reference List 74 total — Nave's Topical Bible

General references

2 Kings 6:21 2 Kings 6:22 Deuteronomy 27:17 Deuteronomy 27:18 Deuteronomy 32:32 Deuteronomy 32:33 Job 31:29 Job 31:30 Leviticus 19:17 Leviticus 19:18 Psalms 7:14 Psalms 7:15 Psalms 7:16 Psalms 10:7 Psalms 10:8 Psalms 10:9 Psalms 10:10 Psalms 22:7 Psalms 22:8 Psalms 35:15 Psalms 35:16 Psalms 35:19 Psalms 35:20 Psalms 35:21 Psalms 41:5 Psalms 41:6 Psalms 41:7 Psalms 41:8 Psalms 55:10 Psalms 55:11 Psalms 56:5 Psalms 56:6 Psalms 59:3 Psalms 59:4 Psalms 59:6 Psalms 59:7 Psalms 62:3 Psalms 62:4 Psalms 64:2 Psalms 64:3 Psalms 64:4 Psalms 64:5 Psalms 64:6 Psalms 69:10 Psalms 69:11 Psalms 69:12 Psalms 70:2 Psalms 70:3 Psalms 71:10 Psalms 71:11

Joab

1 Kings 2:28 1 Kings 2:29 1 Kings 2:30 1 Kings 2:31 1 Kings 2:32 1 Kings 2:33

Presidents, &c

Daniel 6:4 Daniel 6:5 Daniel 6:6 Daniel 6:7 Daniel 6:8 Daniel 6:9

Punishment of

Obadiah 1:10 Obadiah 1:11 Obadiah 1:12 Obadiah 1:13 Obadiah 1:14 Obadiah 1:15

Saints avoid

Psalms 35:12 Psalms 35:13 Psalms 35:14

Saul

1 Samuel 18:9 1 Samuel 18:10 1 Samuel 18:11
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