He That Hateth a Gift Shall Live
He That Hateth a Gift Shall Live
Written on 19 July 2026.
Introduction
The Scriptures repeatedly warn about the danger of gifts when they are used to influence judgment, purchase favour, or obtain authority. While acts of kindness and generosity are found throughout the Bible, gifts that blind judgment, pervert justice, or purchase influence are consistently condemned.
From the law of Moses to the prophets, the historical books, the wisdom books, and the New Testament, the same principle appears repeatedly.
He That Hateth a Gift Shall Live
Proverbs 15:27
27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
The book of Proverbs contrasts greed with hating gifts. Rather than seeking advantage through receiving gifts, the man who hateth gifts is said to live.
Take No Gift
Exodus 23:8
8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
Deuteronomy 16:19
19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
These commandments explain why gifts are dangerous. They blind the wise and pervert righteous judgment.
A Gift Destroyeth the Heart
Ecclesiastes 7:7
7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
Ecclesiastes adds that a gift destroyeth the heart.
Samuel's Integrity
Samuel appealed to Israel that he had never accepted a bribe.
1 Samuel 12:3
3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
Samuel's integrity included refusing gifts that would blind his eyes.
Every One Loveth Gifts
Isaiah describes the corruption of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 1:23
23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
Micah likewise describes corrupt rulers.
Micah 3:11
11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
A Wicked Man Taketh a Gift
Proverbs 17:23
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Again the purpose of the gift is to pervert judgment.
A Gift in Secret
Proverbs 21:14
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
He That Receiveth Gifts
Proverbs 29:4
4 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
The contrast is between judgment establishing a kingdom and gifts overthrowing it.
Their Right Hand Is Full of Bribes
Psalm 26:9-10
9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:
10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
David associates bribes with bloody and wicked men.
Justify the Wicked for Reward
Isaiah 5:22-23
22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
Reward is connected with corrupt judgment.
They Take a Bribe
Amos 5:12
12 For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.
Again, bribery is associated with injustice toward the righteous and the poor.
Ehud's Present unto Eglon
Ehud was raised up by the LORD to deliver Israel.
Judges 3:15
15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.
The present gained access to Eglon. Afterwards Ehud returned alone.
Judges 3:20-22
20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
22 And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.
Balaam and the Wages of Unrighteousness
Balak attempted to persuade Balaam by honour and reward.
Numbers 22:17
17 For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
The New Testament later says:
2 Peter 2:15
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
Gehazi Receiveth Naaman's Gifts
Elisha refused Naaman's gifts, but Gehazi pursued him.
2 Kings 5:20
20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
Judgment immediately followed.
2 Kings 5:26-27
26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
Simon Magus Would Buy the Gift of God
Simon sought to purchase spiritual authority.
Acts 8:18-20
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Felix Hoped for Money
Felix delayed justice while hoping to receive money from Paul.
Acts 24:26
26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
Observation
The Scriptures repeatedly warn against gifts that influence judgment.
A gift blindeth the wise. A gift perverteth the words of the righteous. A gift destroyeth the heart. Princes love gifts. The wicked take gifts to pervert judgment. Bribes fill the hands of bloody men. Reward is used to justify the wicked. Bribes turn aside the poor from their right. Samuel refused gifts. Gehazi was judged for receiving gifts. Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness. Simon Magus attempted to purchase the gift of God with money. Felix hoped for money before releasing Paul.
The repeated testimony of Scripture is therefore:
Proverbs 15:27
27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.