The term "irreverent" refers to a lack of respect or reverence, particularly towards God, sacred things, or religious practices. In the context of the Bible, irreverence is often associated with attitudes or actions that fail to honor God appropriately, and it is frequently condemned as sinful behavior.

Biblical Instances and Teachings

1. Old Testament Examples:
· Nadab and Abihu: In Leviticus 10:1-2, Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. Their irreverence resulted in their immediate death by divine fire. This incident underscores the seriousness with which God views irreverence in worship.
· Uzzah: In 2 Samuel 6:6-7, Uzzah touched the Ark of the Covenant to steady it, an act of irreverence that led to his death. This event highlights the holiness of God and the importance of approaching Him with the utmost respect.

2. New Testament Teachings:
· Jesus' Rebuke of Irreverence: In Matthew 21:12-13, Jesus cleanses the temple, driving out those who were buying and selling. He declares, "It is written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a den of robbers." This act demonstrates Jesus' intolerance for irreverence in the house of God.
· Paul's Warnings: In 1 Corinthians 11:27-30, Paul warns the Corinthian church about partaking in the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner, which is an act of irreverence. He states that those who do so are guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

3. Attitudes and Consequences:
· Pride and Arrogance: Irreverence often stems from pride and arrogance, as seen in the behavior of the Pharisees, whom Jesus frequently rebuked for their hypocritical and irreverent attitudes (Matthew 23:13-36).
· Consequences of Irreverence: The Bible consistently shows that irreverence leads to divine judgment. Proverbs 14:2 states, "He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the devious in his ways despises Him." This verse highlights the contrast between reverence and irreverence, with the latter leading to spiritual peril.

4. Reverence as a Virtue:
· Fear of the Lord: Reverence is closely tied to the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). This fear is not about being afraid but about having a deep respect and awe for God's majesty and holiness.
· Worship and Conduct: Believers are called to worship God "in spirit and truth" (John 4:24), which requires a heart of reverence. Hebrews 12:28-29 exhorts Christians to "offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."

Conclusion: The Bible presents irreverence as a serious offense against God, emphasizing the need for believers to approach Him with the utmost respect and honor. Through various examples and teachings, Scripture calls for a heart of reverence, recognizing God's holiness and authority in all aspects of life.(a.) Showing a lack of respect for authority or for what is sacred; as, irreverent humor.765. asebes -- ungodly, impious
... ungodly man. From a (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of sebomai;
irreverent, ie (by extension) impious or wicked -- ungodly (man). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/765.htm - 7k

764. asebeo -- to be impious, ie to be ungodly
... ie to be ungodly. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: asebeo Phonetic Spelling:
(as-eb-eh'-o) Short Definition: I am impious, irreverent, do impiously ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/764.htm - 6k

Reverence in Worship.
... Such a constant abode in God's house would make common minds only familiar with
holy things, and irreverent; but where God's grace is present in the heart, the ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon i reverence in worship.htm

The Shaking of the Heavens and the Earth (Preached at the Chapel ...
... Once for all, I deny that this age is an irreverent one. I say that an
irreverent age is an age like the Middle Age, in which men ...
/.../kingsley/the water of life and other sermons/sermon vi the shaking of.htm

The Shaking of the Heavens and the Earth.
... With increased knowledge has come"not increased doubt: that I deny utterly.
I deny, once and for all, that this age is an irreverent age. ...
/.../kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon viii the shaking of.htm

Where the Reproach of Failure Lies.
... It is irreverent to hold back some of God's truth. For so men get wrong
impressions of God. It is unfair as well as irreverent. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/where the reproach of failure.htm

The Ark of the House of Obed-Edom
... But again swift death overtakes Uzzah with his irreverent hand. ... There were no idols,
no irreverent curiosity, no rash presumption in his house. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the ark of the house.htm

Sensual and Spiritual Excitement.
... clear. It almost appears like a profane and irreverent juxtaposition to contrast
fulness of the Spirit with fulness of wine. Moreover ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/ix sensual and spiritual excitement.htm

Religious Zeal.
... pavements. There would not be a service slovenly, unmusical, irreverent,
or if not irreverent, at least unworthy of the glory of God. ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lxv religious zeal.htm

Thankful Service.
... There was nothing in the Temple or its worship to suggest that God prefers the ugly,
white-washed building, and the slovenly, irreverent, service which some ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon lix thankful service.htm

Letter viii. To Demophilus, Therapeutes. About Minding Ones Own ...
... when we see reason maltreated by anger and passion, and cast out of the sovereignty
given by God; and when we raise in our own selves an irreverent and unjust ...
/.../letters of dionysius the areopagite/letter viii to demophilus therapeutes.htm

The Letter of the Synod, Relative to Its Decisions: and the ...
... Let us therefore embrace that doctrine which the Almighty has presented to us: let
us return to our beloved brethren from whom an irreverent servant of the ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of scholasticus/chapter ix the letter of the.htm

Irreverent (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Showing a lack of respect for authority or for
what is sacred; as, irreverent humor. ...Irreverent (1 Occurrence). ...
/i/irreverent.htm - 6k

Profane (69 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Unclean; impure; polluted; unholy. 3. (a.) Treating sacred things with contempt,
disrespect, irreverence, or undue familiarity; irreverent; impious. ...
/p/profane.htm - 30k

Blasphemy (15 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) An indignity offered to God in words, writing, or signs; impiously irreverent
words or signs addressed to, or used in reference to, God; speaking evil ...
/b/blasphemy.htm - 20k

Ungodly (41 Occurrences)
... beliya`al (2 Samuel 22:5), "worthless"; in the New Testament asebes (Romans 5:6),
eg indicating that the persons so called are both irreverent and impious ...
/u/ungodly.htm - 18k

Lust (42 Occurrences)
... sense. Some old translations are not accepted now, the word being used in
connections which at present seem almost irreverent. Shades ...
/l/lust.htm - 24k

Wink (2 Occurrences)
... The use of "winked" in this connection would in our day, of course, be considered
in bad taste, if not actually irreverent, but it is an excellent example of ...
/w/wink.htm - 9k

Irrevocable (1 Occurrence)

/i/irrevocable.htm - 6k

Impious (19 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Irreligious; irreverent; ungodly; profane; wanting
in reverence for the Supreme Being; as, an impious deed; impious language. ...
/i/impious.htm - 11k

Irreverence (1 Occurrence)

/i/irreverence.htm - 7k

Profanation (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) The act of violating sacred things, or of treating them with contempt or
irreverence; irreverent or too familiar treatment or use of what is sacred ...
/p/profanation.htm - 7k

What is sacrilege? What does it mean to be sacrilegious? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about impiety? What does it mean to be impious? | GotQuestions.org

What is blasphemy? What does it mean to blaspheme? | GotQuestions.org

Irreverent: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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