What are the three branches of evil from which all others spring up? “Appetite and passion, the love of the world, and presumptuous sins, were the great branches of evil out of which every species of crime, violence, and corruption grew.”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 280.

A presumptuous sin is one that a person deliberately chooses, something wrong that he or she is determined to do. An example is given of premeditated murder: “He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die” (Exodus 21:12–14).

A presumptuous sin occurs when a person knows and understands the will of God but purposely decides to do something else. “The work of Satan is to interpose his sophistry, his lying statements, to lead men to believe a lie rather than the words of God, which are the truth. It is thus that he leads men into presumptuous sins. Satan is ever at work to keep out of our minds the doctrine of the cross of Christ; for this is the counter-influence through which sin is to be vanquished and man be brought back to his allegiance to the law of God.”—The Review and Herald, Sept. 29, 1891.

One example of presumption occurred shortly after the Israelites had been denied immediate access to the promised land because of their restless murmuring and complaining. Their rebellious spirit resulted in them having to wander in the wilderness for 40 more years.

“One of the people, angry at being excluded from Canaan, and determined to show his defiance of God’s law, ventured upon the open transgression of the fourth commandment by going out to gather sticks upon the Sabbath. During the sojourn in the wilderness the kindling of fires upon the seventh day had been strictly prohibited. The prohibition was not to extend to the land of Canaan, where the severity of the climate would often render fires a necessity; but in the wilderness, fire was not needed for warmth. The act of this man was a willful and deliberate violation of the fourth commandment—a sin, not of thoughtlessness or ignorance, but of presumption.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 409. [Emphasis added.]

“It is the grossest presumption for mortal man to venture upon a compromise with the Almighty in order to secure his own petty, temporal interests. It is as ruthless a violation of the law to occasionally use the Sabbath for secular business as to entirely reject it; for it is making the Lord’s commandments a matter of convenience. ‘I the Lord thy God am a jealous God,’ is thundered from Sinai. No partial obedience, no divided interest, is accepted by Him who declares that the iniquities of the fathers shall be visited upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate Him, and that He will show mercy unto thousands of them that love Him and keep His commandments. It is not a small matter to rob a neighbor, and great is the stigma attached to one who is found guilty of such an act; yet he who would scorn to defraud his fellow man will without shame rob his heavenly Father of the time that He has blessed and set apart for a special purpose.”—Testimonies, vol. 4, pp. 249, 250.

Another way to sin presump-tuously is to disregard the reproofs, based on the word of God, of His faithful messengers. “If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the Lord thy God shall choose; and thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and inquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment: and thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the Lord shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee: according to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left. And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously” (Deuteronomy 17:8–13). [Emphasis added].

The Hebrew word translated as “presumptuously” in verse 12 above literally refers to pride, insolence, or arrogance. We read in Numbers chapter 16 of the presumptuous rebellion of Korah, resulting in the death of 14,000 people. We are warned that “the experience of the Israelites in their travels has been recorded for the benefit of those upon whom the ends of the world are come. Our dangers are not less than those of the Hebrews, but greater. The people of God at the present day will be tempted to indulge envy, jealousy and murmuring, as did ancient Israel. There will ever be a spirit to rise up against the reproof of sins and wrongs. But the voice of reproof should not be hushed because of this. Those whom God has set apart as ministers of righteousness have solemn responsibilities laid upon them to reprove the sins of the people. Paul commanded Titus, ‘These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.’ There are ever those who will despise the one who dares to reprove sin. But when required, reproof must be given. Paul directs Titus to rebuke a certain class sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. And how shall the reproof be given? Let the apostle answer: ‘With all long-suffering and doctrine.’ The one at fault must be shown that his course is not in harmony with the word of God. But never should the wrongs of God’s people be passed by indifferently. Those who faithfully discharge their unpleasant duties under a sense of their accountability to God, will receive His blessing.”—The Signs of the Times, September 16, 1880.

Presumptuous people are self-willed, daring to do what God has said not to do.

“The Bible specially teaches us to beware of lightly bringing accusation against those whom God has called to act as His ambassadors. The apostle Peter, describing a class who are abandoned sinners, says, ‘Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord’ (2 Peter 2:10, 11). And Paul, in his instruction for those who are placed over the church, says, ‘Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses’ (1 Timothy 5:19). He who has placed upon men the heavy responsibility of leaders and teachers of His people will hold the people accountable for the manner in which they treat His servants. We are to honor those whom God has honored. The judgment visited upon Miriam should be a rebuke to all who yield to jealousy, and murmur against those upon whom God lays the burden of His work.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 386.

As a people waiting for the coming of Jesus, what are we required to do? “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:23, 24). How can we provoke one another unto good works if we do not fellowship together? So, the next verse tells us, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (verse 25). And the following verses tell us what type of sin this helps us prevent: “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (verses 26, 27).

Dear young people, do not neglect the opportunity to hear God’s word and to strengthen one another up the narrow path by faith. Listen intently to the sermons and studies given by faithful ministers, realizing that they apply to you just as much as to the older ones. In an age infamous for rebellion and presumption, stand fast for the truth, and you will be blessed. We’ll talk more about this subject in the next Youth Messenger magazine. Until then, may the Lord grant you faith in Christ and courage to do what is right by His tremendous power!

—To be continued.