What the Bible Says About Hanging Out With Sinners

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV / 203 helpful votes

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV / 187 helpful votes

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

Psalm 1:1 ESV / 162 helpful votes

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV / 148 helpful votes

Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals."

Mark 2:17 ESV / 134 helpful votes

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

Proverbs 13:20 ESV / 97 helpful votes

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Luke 15:2 ESV / 93 helpful votes

And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

Luke 15:7 ESV / 90 helpful votes

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Proverbs 22:24-25 ESV / 82 helpful votes

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

John 7:16-18 ESV / 78 helpful votes

So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

John 4:5-42 ESV / 73 helpful votes

So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) ...

1 Corinthians 9:22 ESV / 72 helpful votes

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

John 15:13 ESV / 62 helpful votes

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 ESV / 55 helpful votes

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

Romans 5:8 ESV / 51 helpful votes

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 16:17 ESV / 49 helpful votes

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

Luke 15:3-32 ESV / 46 helpful votes

So he told them this parable: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. ...

Ephesians 5:11 ESV / 45 helpful votes

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Psalm 26:4-5 ESV / 44 helpful votes

I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.

Psalm 1:1-4 ESV / 44 helpful votes

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

2 Thessalonians 3:14 ESV / 39 helpful votes

If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 ESV / 38 helpful votes

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

1 Corinthians 5:10 ESV / 38 helpful votes

Not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 ESV / 36 helpful votes

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. ...

Romans 6:23 ESV / 35 helpful votes

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 14:15 ESV / 34 helpful votes

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Proverbs 1:10 ESV / 34 helpful votes

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

John 4:34 ESV / 30 helpful votes

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Luke 5:32 ESV / 30 helpful votes

I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

1 Peter 3:8 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

John 5:30 ESV / 28 helpful votes

"I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Matthew 24:12 ESV / 28 helpful votes

And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 28 helpful votes

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Proverbs 16:29 ESV / 28 helpful votes

A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good.

1 Corinthians 5:9 ESV / 27 helpful votes

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—

Galatians 5:24 ESV / 26 helpful votes

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

1 John 4:1 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 25 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 3:16 ESV / 25 helpful votes

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Proverbs 27:17 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 12:26 ESV / 23 helpful votes

One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

1 John 3:16 ESV / 22 helpful votes

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

Hosea 6:6 ESV / 22 helpful votes

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Proverbs 28:7 ESV / 22 helpful votes

The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.

1 Corinthians 1:1-31 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— ...

John 2:13-22 ESV / 20 helpful votes

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade." His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." ...

Matthew 18:15-19 ESV / 20 helpful votes

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

1 Corinthians 5:6 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

Luke 1:37 ESV / 19 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God."

Mark 2:16 ESV / 18 helpful votes

And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

Proverbs 20:19 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

James 5:16 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Romans 3:23 ESV / 17 helpful votes

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

John 16:33 ESV / 16 helpful votes

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Matthew 5:29-30 ESV / 16 helpful votes

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

Proverbs 14:6-7 ESV / 16 helpful votes

A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

John 1:1 ESV / 15 helpful votes

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Matthew 7:23 ESV / 15 helpful votes

And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 14 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ...

John 2:19 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

Luke 23:46 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.

Luke 10:1-24 ESV / 13 helpful votes

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!' ...

Proverbs 22:24 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,

1 Corinthians 5:7 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

Psalm 1:1-6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

1 Peter 2:24 ESV / 11 helpful votes

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV / 11 helpful votes

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

John 7:28 ESV / 11 helpful votes

So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know.

John 1:15 ESV / 11 helpful votes

(John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")

Luke 15:1 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

Luke 9:51-56 ESV / 11 helpful votes

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. ...

1 John 3:4 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Acts 8:5 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

Luke 4:9 ESV / 10 helpful votes

And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,

Luke 2:19 ESV / 10 helpful votes

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Matthew 5:17 ESV / 10 helpful votes

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Proverbs 14:7 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 9 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:1-25 ESV / 9 helpful votes

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ...

1 Corinthians 5:2 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

Luke 10:29-37 ESV / 9 helpful votes

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. ...

Acts 13:46 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

John 19:25-27 ESV / 8 helpful votes

But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

John 19:12 ESV / 8 helpful votes

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar."

John 10:11 ESV / 8 helpful votes

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 5:19 ESV / 8 helpful votes

So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

Luke 12:49-50 ESV / 8 helpful votes

"I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!

Luke 7:1-10 ESV / 8 helpful votes

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue." ...

Luke 4:18-19 ESV / 8 helpful votes

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Mark 1:35 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Matthew 19:28 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Matthew 9:9-13 ESV / 8 helpful votes

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

Matthew 9:1-38 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? ...

Acts 1:8 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Luke 15:27 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.'

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What the Bible Says About Hanging Out With Sinners

Source: https://www.openbible.info/topics/keeping_company_with_sinners