A Study of the Woes of Isaiah 5
“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:21).
Self-conceit is annoying but it is not often considered sinful; here, however, such a one is
placed on the same level as those who fall under the condemnation of God for the other
“what are considered to be” more serious sins mentioned in this chapter.
The conceited person has “excessive pride in himself” and actually places himself above God,
for he thinks he can outsmart God and get away with whatever seems right in his own eyes.
As one writer puts it, “…they think they can outwit Infinite Wisdom and countermine
Providence itself.” The self-conceited person is known, in street language, as a “know it all.”
So those who are “wise in their own eyes” have such an exalted opinion of themselves and
their own judgements that they lose the capability of learning and growing, no longer able
to give serious consideration to what their fellows have to say, much less what God has to
say through His Word.
This message, repeated in the New Testament, teaches us to be humble in our own eyes,
always relying on God to mold our thinking and consistently submitting to Him as our
Creator.