Self-Flattery Exposed: Jonathan Edwards’s Wake-Up Call
We live in an age awash with empty compliments, from social media “likes” to the instant reassurance of affirmations that often ring hollow. Yet Jonathan Edwards, preaching in colonial New England, confronted the same dangerous impulse two centuries ago. In his sermon “The Vain Self-Flatteries of the Sinner,” Edwards digs into Psalm 36:2 to expose how sinners deceive themselves with subtle self-praise until the bitter fruit of their sin finally turns “hateful” in their own experience. His timeless warning still cuts to the heart of our culture’s obsession with feel-good flattery over genuine holiness.
Historical and Biblical Foundation
Edwards anchors his message in Psalm 36:2:
“For he flattereth himself in his own eyes,
until his iniquity be found to be hateful.”
Here, “flattereth” translates the Hebrew שַׁ֫חֵד־עַצְמוֹ (shaḥed-`atsmo), suggesting a bribe or self-deception—giving oneself false assurance to cover over guilt. Edwards notes that Israel’s people, though hearing the Law’s terrifying threats, “put far away the evil day” by building on these self-woven pillows of false hope.
He broadens our view with Proverbs 23:32:
“At the last it bites like a serpent
and stings like an adder.”
The righteous imagery of the serpent’s bite underscores that self-indulgent sin seems “sweet” at first but turns venomous, delivering its sting when least expected.
The Threefold Unmasking of Self-Flattery
Edwards unpacks the text in three moves:
- Subject Defined
The “wicked man” is not a mythic villain but anyone clinging to sin, assuming God’s wrath can be evaded. - Action Exposed
He “flattereth himself in his own eyes,” which means concocting a personal narrative of safety, as if God’s judgments were mere tales. - Duration and Discovery
This self-flattery lasts “until his iniquity be found to be hateful,” meaning the sinner loves sin until its true ugliness is revealed by its painful consequences.
In classic Edwardsian fashion, the cause (self-deception) and its effect (hateful realization) become interchangeable—showing that sin’s façade inevitably collapses into remorse and regret.
Why This Matters Today
- Self-Help Culture vs. Self-Flattery
Modern advice often tells us to speak only positive truths to ourselves. Edwards reminds us that not all “positivity” is virtuous; unchecked self-assurance can harden the heart against genuine repentance. - Social Media Mirrors
We curate highlight reels, inviting external praise that echoes our internal flatteries. Yet the moment life’s trials “sting like an adder,” we’re left unprepared for true comfort. - Nature of True Assurance
Genuine confidence rests not on self-praise but on Christ’s atoning work. When our hope is grounded in the gospel, we’re guarded against the delusion that we can out-flatter an infinitely holy God.
Practical Takeaways
- Examine Your Pillows
What “self-flatteries” are you resting on achievements, appearance, or temporary pleasures? Name them and prayerfully bring them before God. - Regular Confession
Adopt David’s posture: acknowledge sin’s deceit before it deceives you fully. A brief daily confession can nip the serpent’s bite in the bud. - Cultivate Gospel Remembrance
Meditate on verses like Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Let this truth be the lens through which all other affirmations are tested.
Conclusion: From Flattery to Faithfulness
Jonathan Edwards’s stark sermon, though preached in 1742, remains a mirror to our vanity, revealing the deadly cost of self-flattery. Yet he doesn’t leave us trembling in fear; he points us to a hope beyond self-deception, the steadfast love of Christ, whose grace is sweeter than any lie sin offers and whose balm heals the sting of our folly. Let us exchange our foolish flatteries for the firm foundation of the gospel and walk in the freedom of true self-understanding under God’s loving gaze.