Presumptuous Sins

Mike Johnson

Psalm 19:13 says, “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression.”

What is a presumptuous sin?  A presumptuous sin is a sin that is committed with arrogance and grows out of self-reliance and pride.  A person who commits this sin knows he is doing wrong and does not care. He is unconcerned if anyone else knows, although sometimes a person may commit sins secretly with a prideful attitude.

Consider two Old Testament passages. Numbers 15:30-31 says, “But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the Lord, and he shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.”  Deuteronomy 17:12-13 says, “Now the man who acts presumptuously and will not heed the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear and fear, and no longer act presumptuously.”

Presumptuous sins can be especially dangerous because arrogance and pride can be such obstacles in the way of true repentance.  Not only must we be concerned about secret sins, but also, with God’s help, we need to avoid an attitude, which can result in presumptuous sins.