When Good Men Turn Wicked — Learning from the Fall of Jehu

Al Felder
Oct 25
3 min read

“But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity... in them shall he die.”

— Ezekiel 18:24, 26

The Tragedy of Spiritual Decline

Few things grieve the heart more than watching a faithful Christian lose their way. We read about such falls in Scripture, but the reality strikes hardest when it happens to someone close—a parent, sibling, friend, or fellow believer. Like the prophets who wept over Israel’s rebellion, we mourn when a once-devoted heart grows cold.

The Bible warns that “good men can turn wicked.” Spiritual strength today doesn’t guarantee faithfulness tomorrow. Jehu, a man anointed by God and empowered for great good, illustrates this sobering truth.

Jehu’s Zeal and His Fall

Jehu’s story begins with promise. God chose him to bring judgment on the wicked house of Ahab and Jezebel. Jehu carried out his mission with zeal, destroying Baal worship, ending Jezebel’s reign, and purging idolatry from Israel’s land.

God even praised his obedience: “Because thou hast done well... thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel” (2 Kings 10:30). Yet the very next verse reveals his downfall: “But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart” (2 Kings 10:31).

Jehu’s zeal did not last. Though he executed judgment on others, he failed to reform himself. He tore down idols but built his own forms of sin. His life reminds us that partial obedience is still disobedience—and that pride, deceit, and hypocrisy can quietly lead to ruin.

Warning Sign #1: Pride and Boastfulness

When Jehu met Jehonadab, he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord” (2 Kings 10:16). Those words exposed a dangerous pride. Rather than giving glory to God, Jehu wanted recognition for his achievements.

Jesus warned against such self-glory: “When thou doest alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee... that they may have glory of men” (Matthew 6:2). Pride may begin subtly—seeking acknowledgment for good deeds—but over time it shifts our focus from serving God to serving self.

True faithfulness demands humility. A proud heart cannot long remain obedient, for it values reputation above righteousness.

Warning Sign #2: Deceit and False Motives

Jehu’s zeal was soon corrupted by deceit. He gathered Baal worshipers by pretending to join them, declaring, “Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu shall serve him much” (2 Kings 10:18). His lie lured them to destruction.

Although his goal was to eliminate idolatry, his method was sinful. God does not bless dishonesty, even when it appears to serve a righteous cause. Paul condemned such thinking: “Let us do evil that good may come? Whose damnation is just” (Romans 3:8).

Christians must never adopt the world’s tactics to achieve spiritual goals. Truth is God’s weapon, not deceit. As Paul wrote, “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds” (Colossians 3:9).

Warning Sign #3: Reforming Others but Not Yourself

Jehu could condemn sin in others but ignored the idols in his own heart. The Bible says, “He departed not from the sins of Jeroboam... the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan” (2 Kings 10:29).

His downfall stemmed from his selective obedience. He was quick to destroy Baal worship but refused to give up his own idolatry. The same danger lurks today when believers are eager to criticize others’ failings while excusing their own.

James compares this attitude to a man looking in a mirror and immediately forgetting what he saw (James 1:23–24). The Word of God reveals our flaws, but only those who act on it remain faithful.

Paul instructs us to restore others “in a spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). A humble heart corrects others only after correcting itself.