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I. NATURE OF THE PRACTICE.

1. Not a mere error or defect of judgment, but a habit, practice or system of perverting right and wrong.

2. Examples of "calling evil good, and good evil" (Psalm 10:3; Malachi 2:17; Malachi 3:15; Luke 16:15; 2 Peter 2:19). Putting bondage to sin for liberty, and counting Christian freedom to be servitude.

3. Examples of "putting darkness for light, and light for darkness." The traditions of men for doctrines of God. Oppositions of science, falsely so called, for truths of Holy Writ.

4. Examples of "putting bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter." "Pleasures of sin" counted sweet; the joy of the Lord despised. (Proverbs 9:17) "Stolen waters (i.e., sins) are sweet." (Proverbs 5:4.) "Her end is bitter as wormwood." (Proverbs 20:17.)

II. ORIGIN OF THE PRACTICE.

1. Satan the first on record who thus acted. (Genesis 3:1-5.) It is an old device.

2. As he did, so do his children and dupes (John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

3. Men perverted become perverters, "deceiving and being deceived."

4. The practice is easy, and seems to be a source of malicious pleasure to those who so do.

III. EFFECTS OF THE PRACTICE.

1. The practice is, to a mournful extent, successful, because of our weak and perverted fallen nature.

2. It discredits God's words and ways.

3. It distresses the righteous (Ezekiel 13:22).

4. It deceives the young and unstable.

5. It destroys both the perverters and the perverted.

IV. JUDGMENT ON THESE PERVERTERS. "Woe unto them" (Proverbs 17:15).

1. By these perversions the perverters become such as described in Ephesians 4:18, 19; 1 Timothy 4:2.

2. It is too true that men may come at length to say, "Evil, be thou my good."

3. They who have done the works of the devil in perverting and confusing right and wrong, will share the devil's judgment.

V. PRESERVATION FROM PERVERSION.

1. How to be kept from sharing with such perverters, and from being seduced or deceived by them; most important to know this.

2. See the example of Jesus in His temptation. Prayer and keeping close to Holy Scripture.

3. Copy His example.

4. Gospel "light," "good," "sweet," here set forth, showing the way of salvation by faith in Christ.

5. Pray that the Spirit may "guide you into all the truth," and "give you a right judgment in all things."

6. Hereafter good and evil, light and darkness, sweet and bitter, will be known, seen, and tasted, without the confusion and perversion which now prevail.

(Flavel Cook, B. A.)

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KJV: Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

WEB: Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!