Biblical Perspectives On Narcissism

Matthew 23:27-28
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. .

As we discussed here and here, the scribes and Pharisees are a particularly robust case study of narcissists. They were experts at putting on a righteous act – partly for show, and partly because they actually believed it (see here) – while in reality being rebellious in their hearts toward God.

This same trait of appearing godly outwardly, but being the opposite inwardly, will also be true of the narcissists that appear in the “last days”, as discussed here.

2 Timothy 3:5 – holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

.

The key to detecting this is to

watch what they do, and compare it to what they say, and
watch what they do in public vs. what they do in private.

Matthew 23:1-5
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.

. . Please see Putting “Biblical Perspectives On Narcissism” Into Perspective for an overview of what this blog is about

The First Will Be Last book cover - a biblical perspective on narcissism by D.C. Robertsson

Go Deeper: The First Will Be Last

What does the Bible say about narcissism, and how should a believer respond? This book walks through Scripture’s case studies, the key words the Bible uses, and practical counsel for those living or working with a narcissist.

Get the Book on Amazon

Learn More

Paperback, Kindle, and audiobook. For daily encouragement, see the 30-Day Journeys devotional series.

. 2 Timothy 3:1-7
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
.

Narcissism “feels” like it is on the increase, doesn’t it? The drive for some groups to absolutely dominate other groups or individuals, and the general Me-Ness of people seems to be dramatically on the rise. While not every characteristic listed here applies directly, two reasons indicate that this list is about narcissists / scoffers / those with insolent pride

First are the key words that these people are “lovers of self”, “boastful”, “arrogant”, “conceited”
Second are parallels to other descriptions in the Bible of narcissists / scoffers / those with insolent pride

. For one example

2 Timothy 3:7 – always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
is a parallel to

Proverbs 14:6 – A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, (see here and here and here and here for an explanation on how scoffers are narcissists)

For a second example

2 Timothy 3:5 – holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

is a parallel to
Matthew 23:27-28 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
.

Are we in the last days? It feels like it, and there are early warning signs – but other generations in various places have felt the same. At any rate, with the apparent rise of these people, we need to take Jesus’ admonition to heart

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16

(see here and here on how we know Pharisees were Narcissists) . Click here for an introduction on how to know God personally

Go Deeper: The First Will Be Last

Get the Book on Amazon

Learn More

Paperback, Kindle, and audiobook. For daily encouragement, see the 30-Day Journeys devotional series.

Biblical Perspectives On Narcissism

Recognizing It, Understanding It, Dealing With It …………………. DCRobertsson

Tag Archives: Matthew 23:27-28

Narcissistic Traits – Outwardly “Righteous”, Inwardly Rebellious

Go Deeper: The First Will Be Last

Narcissism Will Increase In “The Last Days”

Go Deeper: The First Will Be Last