Proverbs 28:9

28:9 The one who turns away his ear ¹  from hearing the law,

even his prayer ²  is an abomination. ³ 

Deuteronomy 25:16

25:16 For anyone who acts dishonestly in these ways is abhorrent ⁴  to the Lord your God.

Luke 12:48

12:48 But the one who did not know his master’s will ⁵  and did things worthy of punishment ⁶  will receive a light beating. ⁷  From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, ⁸  and from the one who has been entrusted with much, ⁹  even more will be asked. ¹⁰ 

¹ sn The expression “turn away the ear from hearing” uses a metonymy to mean that this individual will not listen – it indicates a deliberate refusal to follow the instruction of the law.

² sn It is hard to imagine how someone who willfully refuses to obey the law of God would pray according to the will of God. Such a person is more apt to pray for some physical thing or make demands on God. (Of course a prayer of repentance would be an exception and would not be an abomination to the Lord.)

³ sn C. H. Toy says, “If a man, on his part, is deaf to instruction, then God, on his part, is deaf to prayer” (Proverbs [ICC], 499). And W. McKane observes that one who fails to attend to God’s law is a wicked person, even if he is a man of prayer (Proverbs [OTL], 623).

⁴ tn The Hebrew term translated here “abhorrent” (תּוֹעֵבָה, to’evah) speaks of attitudes and/or behaviors so vile as to be reprehensible to a holy God. See note on the word “abhorrent” in Deut 7:25.

⁵ tn Grk “did not know”; the phrase “his master’s will” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the contemporary English reader.

⁶ tn Grk “blows.”

⁷ tn Grk “will receive few (blows).”

⁸ tn Grk “required from him”; but the words “from him” are redundant in English and have not been translated.

⁹ sn Entrusted with much. To be gifted with precious responsibility is something that requires faithfulness.

¹⁰ tn Grk “they will ask even more.”