Sin Is a Hoodwink

        Medieval Venetian society was extremely class-conscious, but masks allowed people to transcend social boundaries. Nobles could mingle with commoners, and people could behave more freely—flirting, gambling, or speaking openly—without fear of damaging their reputation.

        In a way, masks give people permission to live outside the rules for a while.

Modern day sin does the same thing. Several expressions describe its deception.

        Hoodwink is a 16th Century term that soon came to be used figuratively for veiling the truth. It further means to deceive by false appearance. At some point it took on the meaning of being a hoodwink, depicting a nun wearing her habit and winking coyly figuratively veiling the truth.

        To “snooker someone” means to trick or deceive them, or to put them in a difficult or unfavorable situation. In light of that definition every time we sin we have been snookered by sin. Sin depends on a beautiful disguise in order to snooker us. Envision sin snickering after snookering us.

        The devil masquerades as an angel of light offering blessings and benefits. This metaphor illustrates how sin can appear attractive and righteous, yet its true nature is destructive. The deceptive nature of sin is such that it can lead individuals to rationalize or justify their actions, blinding them to the truth.

        Notice the progressive nature of temptation leading to sin: “But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1: 14, 15).

        Read that again. 

        This verse highlights the insidious nature of sin, which can harden hearts and lead individuals away from the truth of God.

        1 Corinthians 10:13 

        Believers are to “encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13). For that reason it is important that we keep good company. It is childish but true “a rotten apple can spoil the whole barrel.”

 Sin often represents itself as harmless or even desirable, but its intent is to encourage acts of disobedience to our loving heavenly Father. 

        Biblically we are told God provides a means of avoiding temptation’s appeal. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).