--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When men drive God's word from them he…" description: "\"“When men drive God's word from them he justly permits their delusions, and answers them according to the multitude of their idols.”\" — Matthew Henry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/matthew-henry-903_god-word_when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-j_25647.jpg" --- # When men drive God's word from them he justly permits… ![“When men drive God's word from them he justly permits their delusions, and answers them according to the multitude of their idols.” quote by Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/matthew-henry-903_god-word_when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-j_25647.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/matthew-henry-903_god-word_when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-j_25647.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/matthew-henry-903_god-word_when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-j_25647.jpg) > ““When men drive God's word from them he justly permits their delusions, and answers them according to the multitude of their idols.”” [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When people reject divine guidance, they are left to their own false beliefs, which then shape their reality and responses. **In simple terms:** Rejecting God leads to self‑created delusions. Key Takeaway Faith guides perception; without it, illusion rules. Themes faith perception delusion idolatry authority Mood contemplative cautionary serious Type aphoristic theological didactic When to use this quote - personal crisis of faith - societal moral decline - conflict between religion and secularism - spiritual counseling - theological debate Key Concepts divine guidance human imagination idol worship consequences of unbelief Practical Applications - pastoral counseling - religious education Questions to Reflect On - How does belief shape our interpretation of events? - What happens when we replace divine authority with personal idols? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“If they drive God from earth, we shall shelter him underground - Dmitri Karamazov”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/if-they-drive-god-from-earth-we-shall-shelter-him-underground-dmitri/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“If you drive God out the world then you create a howling wilderness.” (Copyright: www.changinglives.au.com )”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hitchens/if-you-drive-god-out-the-world-then-you-create-a-howling-wilderness/) [Peter Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hitchens/) > [“If they drive God from the earth, we shall shelter Him underground. 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Anders > [Knowledge of God's Word is a bulwark against deception, temptation, accusation, even persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/knowledge-of-god-s-word-is-a-bulwark-against-deception-temptation/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) > [It turns out that the God whose word will stand forever does not exist to insure our fantasies that we will not have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/it-turns-out-that-the-god-whose-word-will-stand-forever-does-not/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [“If your expectation of God’s Word in your life has been small, I ask you to consider giving it far more credit. Second Timothy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/if-your-expectation-of-god-s-word-in-your-life-has-been-small-i-ask/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [“The Spirit inspired the Word and therefore He goes where the Word goes. The more of God's Word you know and love, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-spirit-inspired-the-word-and-therefore-he-goes-where-the-word/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) ## More by Matthew Henry > [Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/our-duty-as-christians-is-always-to-keep-heaven-in-our-eye-and-earth/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Christ is our temple, in whom by faith all believers meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/christ-is-our-temple-in-whom-by-faith-all-believers-meet/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Those that truly love God will make it their constant care and endeavour to keep his commandments, particularly those that relate to his worship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-truly-love-god-will-make-it-their-constant-care-and/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [In order to the attaining of all useful knowledge this is most necessary, that we fear God; we are not qualified to profit by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/in-order-to-the-attaining-of-all-useful-knowledge-this-is-most/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Christ died. He left a will in which He gave His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/christ-died-he-left-a-will-in-which-he-gave-his-soul-to-his-father/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“God's word will stand, and we shall get nothing by disputing it, or delaying to submit to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/god-s-word-will-stand-and-we-shall-get-nothing-by-disputing-it-or/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [We must believe that He is able to do what He will, wise to do what is best, and good, according to His promise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/we-must-believe-that-he-is-able-to-do-what-he-will-wise-to-do-what-is/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“When God gives law to us, we must give honour to him; when he speaks, we must bow our heads and worship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/when-god-gives-law-to-us-we-must-give-honour-to-him-when-he-speaks-we/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“The first that dies is a martyr, and dies for his religion; and of such it may more truly be said than of soldiers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/the-first-that-dies-is-a-martyr-and-dies-for-his-religion-and-of-such/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [They that pray in the family do well; they that pray and read the Scriptures do better; but they that pray, and read, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/they-that-pray-in-the-family-do-well-they-that-pray-and-read-the/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Let no man go beyond or defraud his brother, for, though it be hidden from man, it will be found that God is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/let-no-man-go-beyond-or-defraud-his-brother-for-though-it-be-hidden/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Those who are unconcerned in the affairs of their brethren, and take no care, when they have opportunity, to prevent their hurt in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-who-are-unconcerned-in-the-affairs-of-their-brethren-and-take/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Some people do not like to hear much of repentance; but I think it is so necessary that if I should die in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/some-people-do-not-like-to-hear-much-of-repentance-but-i-think-it-is/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Love is the root; obedience is the fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/love-is-the-root-obedience-is-the-fruit/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Unbelief shall be left inexcusable, and convicted of a wilful obstinacy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/unbelief-shall-be-left-inexcusable-and-convicted-of-a-wilful-obstinacy/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) [Explore all 332 Matthew Henry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) ## More God Word quotes > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) > [“The Spirit inspired the Word and therefore He goes where the Word goes. The more of God's Word you know and love, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-spirit-inspired-the-word-and-therefore-he-goes-where-the-word/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“If your expectation of God’s Word in your life has been small, I ask you to consider giving it far more credit. Second Timothy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/if-your-expectation-of-god-s-word-in-your-life-has-been-small-i-ask/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [It turns out that the God whose word will stand forever does not exist to insure our fantasies that we will not have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/it-turns-out-that-the-god-whose-word-will-stand-forever-does-not/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [Knowledge of God's Word is a bulwark against deception, temptation, accusation, even persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/knowledge-of-god-s-word-is-a-bulwark-against-deception-temptation/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) > [“The Importance of Israel's Past (1–8) I Will Teach You (1–3) Truths in parables (1–2a) Things hidden from old (2–3) You Will Teach Others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-e-anders/the-importance-of-israel-s-past-1-8-i-will-teach-you-1-3-truths-in/) Max E. Anders > [“God's word will stand, and we shall get nothing by disputing it, or delaying to submit to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/god-s-word-will-stand-and-we-shall-get-nothing-by-disputing-it-or/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“We seek a metaphor for holy words that will return them to us once again as an ayfz hayim, a tree of life (Prov.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/we-seek-a-metaphor-for-holy-words-that-will-return-them-to-us-once/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) > [“God’s Word changes the way you think, feel, and live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/god-s-word-changes-the-way-you-think-feel-and-live/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [“Yet no-one can say that God has not a Word, for it would follow that God is most foolish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/yet-no-one-can-say-that-god-has-not-a-word-for-it-would-follow-that/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [“This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise,in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God I trust;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-i-know-that-god-is-for-me-in-god-whose-word-i-praise-in-the-lord/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Be Prepared For Life's Emergencies. Always Arm Yourself With God's Word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/be-prepared-for-life-s-emergencies-always-arm-yourself-with-god-s-word/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [From the beginning of my Reformation I have asked God to send me neither dreams, nor visions, nor angels, but to give me the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/from-the-beginning-of-my-reformation-i-have-asked-god-to-send-me/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The Word, then, the Christ, is the cause both of our ancient beginning, for lie was in God, and of our well-being. 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White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) Browse all 390 God Word quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When men drive God's word from them he justly permits their delusions, and answers them according to the multitude of their idols.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Henry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-justly-permits-their-delusions/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God Word" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-justly-permits-their-delusions/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/matthew-henry-903_god-word_when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-j_25647.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/matthew-henry-903_god-word_when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-j_25647.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/matthew-henry-903_god-word_when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-j_25647.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When men drive God's word from them he justly permits their delusions, and answers them according to the…” — Matthew Henry", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Matthew Henry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When men drive God's word from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-justly-permits-their-delusions/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-justly-permits-their-delusions/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```