Recognize and Beware of 5 Signs of Wicked People

Counselors, pastors, and church workers church often struggle to distinguish wicked people from ordinary sinners, people whose lives are messy, imperfect, and full of weakness and sin.

I think one reason we do not ‘see’ wickedness is that we find it hard to believe these vile individuals really exist. We cannot imagine someone deceiving us without feeling, hurting others without remorse, devising lies to destroy another person’s reputation, or pretending to be obedient while actually having no fear of God.

What is the difference between a wicked person and an ordinary sinner?

According to KBBI, a wicked person is someone who believes in God, but does not practice His commands, and even lives in sin.

Psalm 36:1-4 reveals: "Sin speaks in the depths of the wicked person’s heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes, for he flatters himself until his guilt is found out and hated. The words of his mouth are evil and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots evil on his bed; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he does not reject what is evil."

The Bible declares that among God’s children there are wolves in sheep’s clothing (Jeremiah 23:14; Titus 1:10; Revelation 2:2). It is true that the human heart inclines toward sin (Romans 3:23), and that includes wickedness (Genesis 8:21; James 1:4). We all fall short of God’s moral perfection. Even so, sinners generally do not gladly follow their evil desires, nor do they feel better when they do so.

Here are five indicators that can help you see whether you are dealing with a wicked person rather than an ordinary sinner. The two require very different approaches.

1. Wicked people are experts at creating confusion and strife

They twist facts, mislead, lie, refuse responsibility, deny reality, invent stories, and withhold information (Psalm 5:8, 10:7, 58:3, 109:2–5, 140:2; Proverbs 6:13,14; 6:18,19; 12:13; 16:20; 16:27, 28; 30:14; Job 15:35; Jeremiah 18:18; Nehemiah 6:8; Micah 2:1; Matthew 12:34-35; Acts 6:11–13; 2 Peter 3:16).

“He writes this way in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” – 2 Peter 3:16

2. Wicked people are eloquent and use flattery to deceive others

If you look at the fruit of their lives, or follow up on their words, you will find no evidence of spiritual growth or change. It is all deceit (Psalm 50:19, 52:2,3, 57:4, 59:7, 101:7; Proverbs 12:5, 26:23–26, 26:28; Job 20:12; Jeremiah 12:6; Matthew 26:59; Acts 6:11–13; Romans 16:17-18; 2 Corinthians 11:13,14; 2 Timothy 3:2–5; 3:13; Titus 1:10,16).

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the teaching you have learned. Avoid them! For such people do not serve Christ our Lord, but their own appetites. And by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the innocent.” – Romans 16:17-18

3. Wicked people crave control, and their highest authority is themselves

They reject feedback, accountability, and make up their own rules for life. They use Scripture for personal gain, but ignore and dismiss verses that require self-examination and repentance (Romans 2:8; Psalm 10; 36:1–4; 50:16–22; 54:5,6; 73:6–9; Proverbs 21:24; Jude 1:8–16).

"Therefore pride is their necklace, and violence covers them like a garment. Because of their fatness, their iniquity bulges out; their hearts overflow with evil imaginations. They scoff and speak with malice; in arrogance they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth." – Psalm 73:6-9

4. Wicked people take advantage of the sympathy of well-meaning people

Wicked people demand compassion, but will not give it. They ask for warmth, forgiveness, and intimacy from those they have hurt without any empathy for the pain they have caused. With no intention of making amends or rebuilding broken trust (Proverbs 21:10; 1 Peter 2:16; Jude 1:4).

“For certain people have slipped in among you unnoticed, those who long ago were designated for condemnation. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” – Jude 1:4

5. Wicked people have no compassion and feel no guilt

They do not struggle against sin or evil, they enjoy it, while disguising themselves as someone of noble character (Proverbs 2:14–15; 10:23; 12:10; 21:27,29; Isaiah 32:6; Romans 1:30; 2 Corinthians 11:13–15)

“They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.” – Romans 1:30-31

If you are dealing with people with the character described above, it is very important to confront them early. You must call evil what it is. The longer you try to reason with them or show mercy, the more you become a pawn in their game.

Wicked people want you to think that:

1. Their cruel actions have no serious or painful consequences

When they say, “Forgive me,” they expect you, pastors, counselors, church workers church, leaders, mentors, friends, to act as their amnesty attorney against the people they have hurt. They believe generosity gives them immunity from the consequences of their sin They believe grace forgiveness entitles them to full reconciliation, and they will pressure you or their victims to comply.

The Bible warns us, “Though the wicked is shown favor, he does not learn righteousness; in a land of uprightness he deals corruptly and does not see the majesty of the LORD.” – Isaiah 26:10

Furthermore, the Bible states that words cannot awaken wicked people, but painful consequences might. Jesus did not awaken the Pharisees with His words; likewise, God’s counsel did not affect Cain (Genesis 4)

In addition, the Bible shows that when someone truly regrets what they have done, they will seek to make right the wrongs done to those they have hurt (see Zacchaeus’s actions after repenting of his greed in Luke 19).

Tim Keller writes, “If you have ever been the victim of a wrongdoing, if you have ever suffered violence, and the offender (or even the judge) says, ‘I’m sorry, can we just consider this finished?’ you would surely say, ‘No, that is not just.’ Your refusal has nothing to do with bitterness or revenge. If you have been abused, you know that saying sorry is not enough. Something must be done, a price must be paid to make things right.”

Let us not conspire with evil by turning away from the victim. Telling them to forgive, forget, and trust the offender without evidence of changed behavior from that person. Proverbs 25:19 states, “Trusting a traitor in a time of trouble is like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot.” That is foolish.

Wicked people also want you to think that:

2. If I talk like a follower of the gospel, I will be seen that way, even if my actions and words do not align

Remember, even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13–15). Wicked people know more about the doctrines of truth than you or I do, but their hearts are crooked. Why? Because although they know the truth, they do not believe it or live according to it.

God’s Word sharply rebukes people whose actions do not match their words (1 John 3:17-18; Jeremiah 7:8,10; James 1:22, 26).

“If anyone has the world’s goods and sees a brother in need yet closes his heart against him, how can God’s love remain in him? Little children, let us love not in word or speech, but in deed and in truth.” – 1 John 3:17-18

If week after week you hear only words without any change in someone’s actions, you have reason to question that person’s relationship with God.

Part of our maturity as spiritual leaders is being trained to distinguish good from evil. Why does this matter? Because evil usually pretends to be good, and without wisdom, we can easily be deceived (Hebrews 5:14).

When we confront evil, it is likely that wicked people will stop seeking your guidance, because darkness hates the light (John 3:20); wicked people reject rebuke (Proverbs 9:7-8). But that is better than making a wicked person believe that you are on their side. That “he is not that bad.” That “he is truly sorry.” Or that “he is trying to change,” when in reality he is not.

The prophet Daniel said, “The wicked shall act wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand.” (Daniel 12:10).

This raises the question: do you think wicked people can truly change?

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