“And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.” — Judges 17:2
“For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” — 2 John 11
Love that is not governed by truth becomes a partner with sin. In Judges 17, Micah confesses theft, but instead of correction, his mother gives him a blessing. What should have been rebuked is rewarded. Her words made her a participant in his wrong.
In 2 John 11, the warning is clear: To support, approve, or encourage evil is to share in it.
Eli and His Sons — 1 Samuel 2–3
Eli knew his sons were wicked, stealing from sacrifices and committing immorality. He spoke softly, but restrained them not (1 Samuel 3:13). His failure to act made him partaker in their sin. Judgment fell not only on them — but on his house. Not stopping sin when you have authority is the same as supporting it.
Herod Antipas — Mark 6:17–28
Herod knew John the Baptist was a just man, yet he entertained sinful influence. When pressured, he gave the command for John’s execution. He did not start the evil, but he approved it. His participation made him guilty of the deed.
Lesson: You may not initiate sin, but if you endorse it, you become involved in it.
- Do I excuse what God condemns because of relationship?
- Do I bless what should be rebuked?
- Am I silent when I should stand?
There is no neutral ground: You are either restraining evil or reinforcing it.
To approve sin is to assist sin.
To encourage wrong is to share the consequence.
Sincere love does not protect the person from truth — it protects them by giving truth.