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What Does The Bible Say About Stubbornness?

Discover What does the bible say about stubbornness | Explore biblical insights and teachings on this characteristic.

Author:Suleman Shah
Reviewer:Han Ju
Nov 13, 2023
55.4K Shares
894.2K Views
People who believe should be careful not to be stubborn. Because they are determined, what does the bible say about stubbornness. It drives people astray and makes them fight. Because of this, fake teachers keep teaching the wrong things. We don't do what God wants because of it.
Bad things could happen in lifeif we don't listen to God. We should always trust that God knows what's best for us. Making your heart challenging is dangerous. Sometimes, your heart can get so hard that you don't feel any conviction.

Understanding Stubbornness In The Bible

In the Bible, being stubborn is often called a heart problem. Proverbs 29:1 says, "A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy." This shows how wrong this trait is. When someone doesn't want to listen to advice or be corrected, this verse shows how stubbornness can destroy them spiritually, emotionally, and even physically.

Pride And Rebellion

As we can see from the Bible, pride and refusing to follow God's instructions are two main things that make people stubborn. The stubbornness of the Israelites in the desert is a clear example from the Old Testament. Even though they had seen many wonders, they refused to follow God's instructions, leading to bad things. People can't see the heavenly road and grow spiritually when stubborn and proud.

Rejection Of Wisdom

The Bible also says it's essential to pay attention to good advice. "The way of fools seems right to them," says Proverbs 12:15. "But wise people listen to advice." Stubborn people often don't listen to the advice and knowledge of othersand insist on going their way. This can lead to poor choices and being cut off from the community.

Determination

In the Bible, pride is usually seen as bad, but drive and persistence are good qualities. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul's steadfast dedication to sharing the Gospel shows the good side of drive even when things got hard. To turn pride into a trait that fits with bible principles, one must direct it toward a good and holy goal.

Repentance

The Bible's main lesson is that people need to change their ways. The first step toward change is to become aware of your attitude and the bad things that happen because of it. King David prays in Psalm 51:10, "O God, make my heart pure and give me a strong spirit again." This verse shows how important it is to ask God to help you overcome your pride and develop a pure, unwavering heart.
A baby boy pointing and moving away from his father while having his arm held
A baby boy pointing and moving away from his father while having his arm held

The Root Of Stubbornness - Pride And Rebellion

The idea of pride and disobedience is at the root of stubbornness, a trait that often gets in the way of growth and sound change. Using stories and lessons from the Bible, this part will look at how pride and resistance are major factors in making people stubborn.

The Role Of Pride In Stubbornness

It's easy for pride, a sense of self-importance, or a swollen ego to keep people from seeing their flaws. It often makes people stubborn, not wanting to change or be corrected. "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall," says Proverbs 16:18. This verse stresses how damaging pride can be and suggests that it comes before a fall. When pride takes hold, it can make someone stubborn because they don't want to admit they're wrong or ask for help.

The Connection Between Rebellion And Stubbornness

Being stubborn is closely linked to rebelling against authority, whether it's human or divine. It means refusing to follow orders and being determined to do your own thing. People can be stubborn because they want to be independent or don't believe in a higher power. There are many examples in the Bible of people disobeying God's orders, which has serious consequences.

Overcoming Pride And Rebellion

The Bible tells us how to overcome pride and resistance, which can be very hard to deal with when we want to grow and change. "God fights against the proud but favors the humble," says James 4:6. People say humility is the best way to deal with pride. When we know our flaws and ask for help, we can let go of the stubbornness that comes from pride.
Father Talking to his Son
Father Talking to his Son

10 Bible Verses About Stubbornness

Being stubborn can stop us from growing as people, strain our relationships, and keep us from following God's plans. This blog post will look at some wise Bible verses about stubbornness and advice on how to get past this common problem.
Learn how trust, humility, and openness to God's direction can change your life. Get ready to accept a spirit that is more open and willing to learn as we go on our road to freedom from stubbornness.

Proverbs 29:1

"He who is often rebuked and hardens his neck will suddenly be destroyed, without remedy."
This verse warns against the dangers of stubbornness and refusing to listen to correction. It suggests that ignoring repetitive rebukes results in irreversible destruction and calamity.

Acts 7:51

"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, always resist the Holy Spirit."
Stephen accuses the religious leaders of being stubborn and resistant to the Holy Spirit's voice, reflecting the common theme of stubbornness throughout the Bible. This verse is an exemplary example for all believers to remain humble and open to God's guidance.

Proverbs 16:18

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
This verse suggests that stubbornness and pride often go hand in hand. It warns that refusing to be teachable or accepting accountability can lead to a downfall.

1 Samuel 15:23

"For rebellion is the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king."
This verse highlights the severity of stubbornness and disobedience in God's eyes. Rejecting God's words and will can lead to severe consequences and even forfeiture of blessings and opportunities.

Jeremiah 18:12

"But they say, 'That is in vain! We will follow our plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.'"
This verse describes self-willed people who follow their desires, ignoring the prophets' call to return to the Lord. It highlights how stubbornness can close our eyes to the truth and lead us astray.

Proverbs 21:29

"A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright thinks about his ways."
This verse compares the actions of the stubborn and the upright. While the stubborn have a bold and arrogant attitude, the good consider their steps carefully and are willing to change course when needed.

Proverbs 10:17

"Whoever heeds instruction is on the life path, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray."
This verse highlights the importance of being teachable and open to correction. The stubborn who reject instruction harm themselves and lead others astray as they serve as negative examples.

Proverbs 28:14

"Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity."
This verse emphasizes the blessings of fearing God and warns against hardening our hearts. Stubborn people who refuse to fear the Lord often experience negative consequences and calamity.

Proverbs 13:18

"Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored."
This verse suggests that stubbornness leads to adverse outcomes such as poverty and disgrace, while humility and teachability lead to success and honor.

Ephesians 4:18-19

"They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. They have become callous and given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every impurity."
This passage highlights the consequences of stubbornness in denying God's truth and moral standards. Hardness of heart can lead to moral corruption and estrangement from God's life-giving presence.
Frustrated Toddler With Red Sweat Shirt
Frustrated Toddler With Red Sweat Shirt

Consequences Of Stubbornness - What Does The Bible Say About Stubbornness

The Bible shows that being stubborn has terrible results. The Bible warns over and over again against being stubborn, stressing the bad things that can happen when people ignore God's advice and knowledge.

The Severe Consequences Of Rejecting God's Guidance

The Bible contains examples of people or whole groups who refused to listen to God's advice and orders and suffered terrible effects. One of the most well-known cases is how the Israelites got lost in the desert. Even though they saw God provide miraculously and give clear directions, they refused to follow Him. This caused them to move aimlessly and suffer for years (Numbers 14:22–23).

The Urgency Of Heeding Divine Wisdom

Proverbs 1:24–27 sends a vital lesson about what happens when you don't listen to wisdom: "But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I, in turn, will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you." This text warns against stubbornly not listening to God's knowledge and direction.

The Hardening Of Hearts

What the Bible also says about pride is that it makes hearts hard. This book tells the story of Pharaoh, whose heart hardened more and more as he refused to obey God's orders to free the Israelites (Exodus 7:13). This hardening of the heart can make it impossible to hear God's word and reject His love and kindness. If your heart is closed, you might not be able to hear God's direction and might even disobey Him more.
A Baby having a tantrum
A Baby having a tantrum

Breaking The Shackles Of Stubbornness Through Repentance

Stubborn people, which come from pride and revolt, often get stuck in patterns of refusal and resistance. The Bible stresses how powerful repentance is as a way to break free from the chains of stubbornness.

Recognizing The Need For Change

Repentance starts with a significant realization: realizing your behavior needs to change. It is a turning point when people admit their mistakes, sins, and pride and say they are genuinely sorry.
In the Bible, this realization is often paired with the understanding that someone is separate from God because they are stubborn. That's what Isaiah 59:2 means: "But your sins have separated you from your God; they have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear."

Seeking God's Intervention

Repentance is not something you do by yourself; you need to ask God to help you and guide you. This feeling is summed up in Psalm 51:10: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." This verse requests God to clean up and change the heart. That's because it recognizes that repentance is a relationship between a person and God.

The Power Of A Contrite Heart

A heart that is genuinely sorry for what it did and humble is what repentance is all about. When you read Psalm 51:17, it says, "My sacrifice to you, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you will not despise." With this kind of heart, people are ready to change, fix things, and be changed.

What Does The Bible Say About Stubbornness - FAQs

What Is The Sin Of Stubbornness?

The sin of stubbornness is resisting God's guidance and persisting in disobedience.

What Does The Bible Say About Stubbornness Situations?

The Bible warns against stubbornness in situations that lead to rebellion against God's commands.

What Is The Root Of Stubbornness?

The root of stubbornness often lies in pride and rebellion against divine authority.

How Do You Overcome Stubbornness In The Bible?

Stubbornness can be overcome in the Bible through repentance, humility, and seeking God's guidance and forgiveness.

Conclusion

What does the Bible say about stubbornness, it provides a comprehensive understanding of its causes and consequences. While stubbornness rooted in pride and rebellion can lead to destruction, the Bible also teaches us that it is possible to redirect this trait toward determination, surrender, and perseverance in alignment with God's will. The stories of biblical figures like Peter remind us that transformation is attainable through repentance and submission to God.
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Suleman Shah

Suleman Shah

Author
Suleman Shah is a researcher and freelance writer. As a researcher, he has worked with MNS University of Agriculture, Multan (Pakistan) and Texas A & M University (USA). He regularly writes science articles and blogs for science news website immersse.com and open access publishers OA Publishing London and Scientific Times. He loves to keep himself updated on scientific developments and convert these developments into everyday language to update the readers about the developments in the scientific era. His primary research focus is Plant sciences, and he contributed to this field by publishing his research in scientific journals and presenting his work at many Conferences. Shah graduated from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (Pakistan) and started his professional carrier with Jaffer Agro Services and later with the Agriculture Department of the Government of Pakistan. His research interest compelled and attracted him to proceed with his carrier in Plant sciences research. So, he started his Ph.D. in Soil Science at MNS University of Agriculture Multan (Pakistan). Later, he started working as a visiting scholar with Texas A&M University (USA). Shah’s experience with big Open Excess publishers like Springers, Frontiers, MDPI, etc., testified to his belief in Open Access as a barrier-removing mechanism between researchers and the readers of their research. Shah believes that Open Access is revolutionizing the publication process and benefitting research in all fields.
Han Ju

Han Ju

Reviewer
Hello! I'm Han Ju, the heart behind World Wide Journals. My life is a unique tapestry woven from the threads of news, spirituality, and science, enriched by melodies from my guitar. Raised amidst tales of the ancient and the arcane, I developed a keen eye for the stories that truly matter. Through my work, I seek to bridge the seen with the unseen, marrying the rigor of science with the depth of spirituality. Each article at World Wide Journals is a piece of this ongoing quest, blending analysis with personal reflection. Whether exploring quantum frontiers or strumming chords under the stars, my aim is to inspire and provoke thought, inviting you into a world where every discovery is a note in the grand symphony of existence. Welcome aboard this journey of insight and exploration, where curiosity leads and music guides.
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