Overview
The Bible addresses self-condemnation across 37 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Matthew, Mark and 1 Kings. Closely related themes include Unfaithfulness, Jesus, The Christ, Capital and Labor and Husbandman. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David and Jesus.
Key Bible verses about self-condemnation
Old Testament
1 Kings
If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house: and an oath: Heb. and he require an oath of him
Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
New Testament
Matthew
Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one and killed another, and stoned another.
Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Mark
And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others;3303 beating some, and killing some.
Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying They will reverence my son.
But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.
And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
Luke
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
People in the Bible and self-condemnation
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying self-condemnation for yourself
- Begin with 2 Samuel 24:17, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Matthew, Mark and 1 Kings each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of David and Jesus and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Unfaithfulness, Jesus, The Christ, Capital and Labor and Husbandman.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about self-condemnation?
The Bible addresses self-condemnation across 37 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Matthew, Mark and 1 Kings. Closely related themes include Unfaithfulness, Jesus, The Christ, Capital and Labor and Husbandman. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David and Jesus.
How many Bible verses are about self-condemnation?
The Bible references self-condemnation in 37 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention self-condemnation?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is 2 Samuel 24:17: “And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.”
Which people in the Bible are associated with self-condemnation?
David and Jesus.
Preach & teach
Outline a sermon or build a study series on self-condemnation.
Preach a series on Self-Condemnation →