THE PROFANITY OF ESAU

HEBREWS 12:1

A. ESAU
  1. What we know about his person:
    1. He was the oldest son of Isaac and Rebekah.
    2. He was, for some reason, his father's favored son.
    3. He was, by occupation, a hunter - Gen. 25:25-28
  2. The Bible calls him a profane person:
    1. The word "profane" means to be disrespectful; to disregard, and to treat with contempt things of a religious nature.
    2. Some Bible translations speak of Esau as a wicked person, one that has no desire for God or His word; who lives by the impulses of his own heart.
B. ESAU'S PROFANITY
  1. He was godless:
    1. Even though he had been brought up in a God-fearing home, the same as Jacob, yet we have no record of him ever using the name of God in prayer or otherwise -- he was godless.
    2. His two wives were idol worshippers, and there is no record of him winning them to the worship of the true God.
  2. He was disrespectful:
    1. As the first born to his parents, he was the heir to the birthright and its blessings.
    2. He manifested neither respect or interest in the birthright; he sold it for a mess of pottage - Gen. 25:32-34
    3. He lived by his own sinful impulses and had no respect for the future; he lived for today, tomorrow was discounted by him.
    4. He cared for things temporal only; O yes, he wanted the blessing of the birthright, but refused the responsibility connected with the birthright.
    5. We shall see that Esau's profanity did not die with him; he has many counter parts in the world today.
    6. That is what makes this sermon of great importance to us.
C. ESAU, A PROTOTYPE OF PROFANE PERSONS IN OUR DAY
  1. He typifies those who attempt to live without God:
    1. Ps. 52:7
    2. Jer. 10:16-24
  2. He manifested the same attitude toward all God-given privileges as millions do in our day:
    1. Luke 14:16-24
    2. John 5:40
  3. Profane persons, who have no regard for things sacred, live for the present only, as Esau did:
    1. Luke 17:26-30
    2. Jas. 5:1-9
    3. Jas. 4:13-17
    4. Dan. 5:1-4
  4. Being brought up in a Christian home is no assurance against infidelity:
    1. Esau was under the identical influence as Jacob was; was taught the same truths; yet he was godless.
    2. That shows that godliness is a personal attitude, and cannot be instilled in the heart of even the closest relative.
  5. Look into the history of God's people:
    1. The home of our first parents; they were God- fearing, yet Cain became the first murderer of the human race - Gen. 4:1-26
    2. We think of the family of Samuel as a God-fearing family, yet his sons were so wicked that the Lord had to destroy them - 1 Sam. 8:3, 5
    3. Think of the priest Eli and his sons; God had to destroy them because of their wickedness - 1 Sam. 2:12
  6. Profanity cannot be limited to profane words, but it includes a complete exclusion of God from one's life:
  7. Let us beware, dear friends, lest we shall become guilty of profanity, as Esau was:
    1. He excluded God out of his life.
    2. He disrespected his birthright, but sought the blessing of the birthright.
    3. He perished in sin.


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