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Bible Verses About Corrupt Leaders

Churchgists will provide you with all of the pertinent information you seek regarding scripture on removing leadership, Bible verses about corrupt leaders, corruption verses in the Bible, the biblical response to corruption, and much more.

There are more corrupt leaders in this world than we might like to admit. They include religious leaders, political leaders, business owners, law enforcement officials, and even family members (like your brother). The Bible tells us not to be deceived by these leaders because they tell people that they’re good when in reality they want nothing but to enrich themselves. Many times in the Bible, people questioned their leader’s motives, only to be attacked for it. If you’re questioning if your leader is corrupt, then we encourage you to read on for some Bible verses about corrupt leaders.

Bible Verses About Corrupt Leaders

Corrupt leaders can come in many forms, from the most powerful public officials to a figurehead at the head of a small organization. Bible verses about corrupt leaders often take the form of warnings to those who attempt to influence others through immoral means.

Corrupt leaders are some of the most dangerous people on earth. They will often do anything for power and money, even if it means hurting the community or nation they’re supposed to serve. The Bible has many reminders about how corrupt leaders are destructive, but it also tells stories of how God intervenes in these situations to change them.

The Bible provides a number of verses about corrupt leaders and their motives for leading. This can be used for a heart check for us as we observe politicians and read about them in the news.

Prayer For Corrupt Leaders

Here are seven important Bible verses relating to corruption.

Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”

We don’t have to look very far to find historical accounts where corruption brought down a nation. Just prior to the fall of Rome, there was so much corruption, that few even cared to hide it. It was even joked about. Is there any doubt that political, governmental, and corporate corruption are at an all-time high? There are so many loopholes in the tax laws that lawyers have no trouble finding them. Members of our Congress do all they can to avoid paying taxes, yet these are the same who want to raise taxes. According to the Congressional Budget Office, Social Security’s cash deficit is expected to reach $361 billion in 2025. Compare that to what it was in 2014 at “only” $74 billion in 2014 and there are cuts coming in 2017. Friends, that’s malfeasance if ever there were. Congress’ care of Social Security has been a violation of the public trust. Has our nation reached the point of no return? Is the economy really just a “house of cards” waiting to fall?

Ephesians 5:11 “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”

It’s not all Congress fault; it takes two parties to pay a bribe or receive a kickback. The Bible is absolutely clear about how Christians must react to such things when exposed to them (at work, private, wherever). We are to have “no part” or take no part in it, meaning not even a little, and tiny part. Having “no part” means avoiding the “works of darkness” altogether, and that means avoiding those who do them. In fact, we’re told to expose them, because whoever breaks man’s laws, also breaks God’s laws (Rom 13:1-5), and if you break God’s laws, in time, they’ll break you (and me) too. Even though we’re not saved by keeping the law (Eph 2:8-9), which we couldn’t keep even if we tried, we’re not to be arbitrarily breaking the law.

Isaiah 1:4 “Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly!”

If there is anything more evil than taking a human life, I don’t know what it would be. Imagine a nation which permits (and indeed in some cases, funds!) the slaughter of babies. That’s about 60 million babies dying since Row v Wade in 1973. How corrupt can you act? Is it any wonder that the children have grown up to be corrupt too? They’re only taking up their father and mother’s sins, even outdoing them in some cases. Isaiah 1:4 is where God rebukes the nation of Israel, but the same applies to any nation whose people are laden with sin. God is no respecter of persons or nations and what He did to Israel in His righteous judgment He can do to any nation. The consequences for Israel would be the same for any nation that is laden with iniquity; it will lead to God’s judgment; unless they repent.

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Genesis 6:5 “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

When Jesus was speaking about the end of the age, He mentioned that it will be like in the days of Noah and said, “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matt 24:37-39). Could you have imagined how hard doing business would have been in Noah’s day when all that they thought about was evil, continually, and every intention (business or otherwise0 was always with a wicked heart. Do you see similarities today? Everyone’s going about their business, just as in Noah’s day, when the flood of God’s judgment came sweeping them all away.

Hosea 9:9 “They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; he will remember their iniquity; he will punish their sins.”

The “days of Gibeah” are like those of today. When a “Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night. And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead” (Judges 4-6), so the days of Gibeah are like those we live in today with increasing violence in American cities and suburbs. The point Hosea makes is that God “will punish their sins” and no one will get away with anything on Judgment Day (Rev 20:12-15).

Ephesians 4:22 “Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.”

When we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, we must put something else off, and that’s the old self. That old man and woman has passed away and now we are new creations in Jesus Christ (2nd Cor 5:17) with new desires to obey God and new passions to serve Him, but our former way of life (still is for many) was a life lived in corruption and deceitful desires. Now that the old man or woman is put away, the new is come to live within us.

Proverbs 28:15 “Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.”

This is a great proverb because that’s what it feels like when wicked rulers are governing the land and it seems to be what’s happening today in many cases. Proverb 14:34 says “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” and that’s what this nation and many other nations are before a holy and just God; a reproach. The late President Ronald Reagan once said that the most frightening words ever heard were, “We’re from the government and we’re here to help.” When the wicked are in power, it’s often a judgment of God, just like He did with ancient Israel. It’s like the nation gets the leadership they (and we) deserve and so He may be using evil rulers as part of His holy judgment against the nations.

Biblical Response To Corruption

When a nation exalts God, God will exalt that nation, and it’s obvious that He has the United States for hundreds of years, but has that ever changed. Today, we exalt ourselves as a nation before other nations and we’re often telling other nations what they ought to do, when we can’t even keep our own house in order. Pray for God to send repentance to this nation so that revival can begin in the churches and spread into their neighborhoods, into their cities, throughout the state, throughout the nation, and even spreading around the globe. It is God Who “removes kings and sets up kings,” (Dan 2:21) and the nations are nothing to Him, so let us pray for God to send His Spirit through this land so that many might be saved…before another judgment comes, not with water this time, but with fire and by then, repentance will be too late.

Scripture On Removing Leadership

We are to pray for all leaders while they are in positions of authority;

Romans 13:1-5 (NLT)1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NLT)1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
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However We Are Not Prohibited From Praying For The Removal Of Wicked Leaders

However we are not prohibited from praying for the removal of wicked leaders. I have learned through prayer, research, and scripture that we are also to pray for the removal of leaders and authorities who are working against God’s will for His people.

Proverbs 25:5 The Message (MSG) Remove impurities from the silver and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice;Remove the wicked from leadership and authority will be credible and God-honoring.

We as believers are accountable when we see evil and we are to speak out against it.

Proverbs 24:24-25 The Message (MSG) Whoever whitewashes the wicked gets a black mark in the history books,But whoever exposes the wicked will be thanked and rewarded.

Psalm 94:16 (NLT)16 Who will protect me from the wicked? Who will stand up for me against evildoers?

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT)16 There are six things the LORD hates— no, seven things he detests:17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent,18 a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong,19 a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.

Isaiah 5:20 (NLT)20 What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.

Ephesians 5:11-14 (NLT)11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them,14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

Matthew 18:15-17 (NLT)15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

​So How Do I Pray For Removal Of Wicked Leaders?

As you read through the Psalms you will find that many of them call for judgement on those the psalmist considered enemies. Those who persecuted them and others. At first blush you think how can a God who is love do the kinds of things the writers are asking Him to do? Why are these things even in the Bible?

Here are just two examples;

Psalm 109:6-15 (NLT)6 They say, “Get an evil person to turn against him. Send an accuser to bring him to trial.7 When his case comes up for judgment, let him be pronounced guilty. Count his prayers as sins.8 Let his years be few; let someone else take his position.9 May his children become fatherless, and his wife a widow.10 May his children wander as beggars and be driven from their ruined homes.11 May creditors seize his entire estate, and strangers take all he has earned.12 Let no one be kind to him; let no one pity his fatherless children.13 May all his offspring die. May his family name be blotted out in a single generation.14 May the LORD never forget the sins of his fathers; may his mother’s sins never be erased from the record.15 May the LORD always remember these sins, and may his name disappear from human memory.

Psalm 137:7-9 (NLT)7 O LORD, remember what the Edomites did on the day the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem. “Destroy it!” they yelled. “Level it to the ground!”8 O Babylon, you will be destroyed. Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us.9 Happy is the one who takes your babies and smashes them against the rocks!

Psalm 58 is an expression of dissatisfaction of national leadership

Psalm 58:1-11 (NLT)1 Justice—do you rulers know the meaning of the word? Do you judge the people fairly?2 No! You plot injustice in your hearts. You spread violence throughout the land.3 These wicked people are born sinners; even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.4 They spit venom like deadly snakes; they are like cobras that refuse to listen,5 ignoring the tunes of the snake charmers, no matter how skillfully they play.6 Break off their fangs, O God! Smash the jaws of these lions, O LORD!7 May they disappear like water into thirsty ground. Make their weapons useless in their hands.8 May they be like snails that dissolve into slime, like a stillborn child who will never see the sun.9 God will sweep them away, both young and old, faster than a pot heats over burning thorns.10 The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged. They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.11 Then at last everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for those who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.”

​This Psalm presents a pretty vivid picture of what’s happening in the United States today. 45 is corrupt selfish, greedy wicked and ruthless. He doesn’t appear to listen to advice and is never moved, either by appeal nor threat.

Psalms like these are called “imprecatory Psalms.” They are Psalms which ask God to curse, destroy, or remove an enemy of the writer. They are pleas for vengeance, justice, and equity for those unable to defend themselves.

While these are pleas for vengeance, justice, and equity the one praying doesn’t then go out and carry it out themselves. The Psalmist is expressing himself to God in need. He is saying, “God things are so bad here right now because of this, will you enact vengeance upon them because of their wickedness.”. In praying this way the outcome is left to God. The prayer entrusts the answer to God. This doesn’t mean God will answer at that moment. What it means is that the responsibility of setting things straight is put into the hands of the rightful authority, God.

When the psalmist prayed for God to shatter the teeth of his enemies, or even their his death, he was making the point that God is holy, righteous, and just, and He will ultimately judge the wicked for the evil they do. In praying this way we are giving up our up the idea how to handle our enemies and are relying on and trusting God to protect us. As Christians we know that it is unlikely that God will “shatter to teeth of or enemies or that He will cause bad things to happen to them or their families. But because we know that God is good and hates evil that His will is for good and love. Our imprecatory prayer then is that His will be done. We trust the judgement to God, knowing what He says is the end result of evil and those who do it.

In other words tell God how you really feel. If you want Him to remove 45 tell Him. He will not judge you for telling Him how you feel.

After much prayer and research, I’ve concluded that Christians can, and in fact, should pray for the removal of wicked leaders from positions of authority. We should pray that God will make them powerless, remove them from office, and prevent them from gaining access to power.

We can honor Jesus’ command to pray for our enemies and those we disagree with, and for their salvation,

Matthew 5:43-44 (NLT) 43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

And at the same time pray for their removal from office and positions of authority.

Proverbs 25:5 The Message (MSG) Remove impurities from the silver and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice; Remove the wicked from leadership and authority will be credible and God-honoring.

Biblical Response To Corruption

Corruption is a state of decay, pollution, or incorrectness. In the Bible, corruption is one of the effects of sin that resulted from the fall of man. In the beginning, God created a perfect paradise, free of sickness, pain, and death. But when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit, sin entered the world, spoiling its perfection. That sin also brought contamination and decay to Adam and Eve and to the human nature of every person born after that (Romans 5:12). Thus, corruption in the Bible is the state of moral contamination and spiritual decay expressed through disobedience toward God.

Corruption is closely related to spiritual death. God told Adam that, if he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he would “surely die” (Genesis 2:17). Adam didn’t die a physical death that day but a spiritual one that involved separation from God (Ephesians 2:1–3).

By the time of Noah, the corruption of mankind had been amplified: “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways” (Genesis 6:11–12).

The Bible describes sinful humanity as corrupt: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:1–3; see also Psalm 53:1–3; Isaiah 1:4).

In the Old Testament, corruption can refer to literal, physical decay (Job 17:14; Psalm 16:10), but, most often, corruption is used figuratively for moral corruption and depravity (Exodus 32:7; Hosea 9:9). The prophets boldly took a stand against moral decay among God’s people: “The sin of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of murder, and the city is full of corruption” (Ezekiel 9:9, NET).

What The Bible Says About Corrupt Leadership

The Bible teaches that the consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Living in a state of moral corruption brings about eternal separation from God: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36). This wrath will eventually result in God’s judgment of sinners and their final, irreversible separation from Him (Matthew 25:41; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9; Revelation 20:11–15).

The power of corruption is broken by the divine power of the gospel of Jesus Christ: “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:2–4).

When we come to know Jesus Christ, we embark on a personal relationship with Him. The more that relationship grows, the better we understand who Jesus is and what He’s done for us. We start to grasp what His divine power accomplished for us. One of Jesus’ promises to us is the empowering and purifying ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer (John 14:15–17; 16:7; Acts 1:4–5, 8). The Holy Spirit empowers us to obey God, reversing the curse of corruption and making us partakers of God’s divine nature.

The book of Galatians likens the process of spiritual development in the child of God to sowing and reaping: “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:8, ESV). As the Holy Spirit undoes the effects of corruption and decay, we reap the rewards of eternal life.

One glorious future day, the curse of corruption and decay will be lifted for all eternity: “For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay” (Romans 8:19–21, NLT; see also Revelation 22:3).

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