Indifference

Indifference towards God

No desire to seek God

Romans 3:11 NASB 2020

There is no one who understands, There is no one who seeks out God;

See also Is 42:20; Je 5:21; Zep 1:6; Mt 13:15; Mt 24:12; Ac 28:27; Re 3:15–22

Refusal to heed God’s word

Jeremiah 37:2 NASB 2020

But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the Lord which He spoke through Jeremiah the prophet.

See also Ps 81:11; Je 6:10; Je 7:13; Je 25:3–7; Je 35:15; Eze 3:7; Zec 1:4; Zec 7:11–13

Refusal to respond to God’s discipline

Jeremiah 5:3 NASB 2020

Lord, do Your eyes not look for honesty? You have struck them, But they did not weaken; You have consumed them, But they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent.

See also Je 2:30; Je 7:27–28; Je 17:23; Je 32:33

Ignoring God is rebellion against him

Ezekiel 12:2 NASB 2020

“Son of man, you live in the midst of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house.

See also Je 2:19; Je 7:26; Je 36:24; Eze 20:8

People ignore God and his warnings at their peril

Jeremiah 12:11 NASB 2020

“It has been made a desolation; Desolate, it mourns before Me; The whole land has been made desolate, Because no one takes it to heart.

See also Ex 9:21; Ex 9:25; 2 Ch 33:10–11; Ne 9:30; Pr 1:24–27; Pr 13:18; Je 11:8; Je 36:31; Je 44:5–6; Mt 22:5–7

For those who ignore God’s salvation, there is no hope

Hebrews 2:3 NASB 2020

how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,

See also Je 7:24; Mt 12:30

Indifference to God’s declared intentions

Ezekiel 22:30 NASB 2020

I searched for a man among them who would build up a wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.

See also Nu 32:6–7; Jdg 5:15–17; Jdg 5:23; 2 Ch 24:5; Ps 22:11; Is 64:7; Je 48:10

Indifference of religious leaders condemned

Eze 34:2–4; Zec 11:16–17; Jn 10:12–13

Indifference towards the needs of others

Indifference arises from sin

Proverbs 29:7 NASB 2020

The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor; The wicked does not understand such concern.

See also Job 21:21; Is 32:6; Jas 2:15–16; Jas 5:1–6

Examples of indifference towards others

Ge 40:23 towards Joseph; 1 Sa 25:10–11 towards David

Towards Jesus Christ:

Matthew 26:40 NASB 2020

And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?

Towards Paul:

2 Ti 4:10; 2 Ti 4:16

Jesus Christ condemns indifference

Matthew 25:41–45 NASB 2020

“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’

See also Lk 10:30–32; Lk 16:19–21

Jesus Christ’s apparent indifference

Mk 4:38 Jesus Christ sometimes delayed responding to cries for help in order to draw out faith.

See also Mt 15:26; Lk 10:40; Jn 11:6