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Commentary on Psalms 14 verses 1–3
If we apply our hearts as Solomon did (Ecc 7:25) to search out the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness, these verses will assist us in the search and will show us that sin is exceedingly sinful. Sin is the disease of mankind, and it appears here to be malignant and epidemic.
1.See how malignant it is (Psa 14:1) in two things: -
(1.)The contempt it puts upon the honour of God: for there is something of practical atheism at the bottom of all sin. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. We are sometimes tempted to think, "Surely there never was so much atheism and profaneness as there is in our days;" but we see the former days were no better; even in David's time there were those who had arrived at such a height of impiety as to deny the very being of a God and the first and self-evident principles of religion. Observe, [1.] The sinner here described. He is one that saith in his heart, There is no God; he is an atheist. "There is no Elohim, no Judge or governor of the world, no providence presiding over the affairs of men." They cannot doubt of the being of God, but will question his dominion. He says this in his heart; it is not his judgment, but his imagination. He cannot satisfy himself that there is none, but he wishes there were none, and pleases himself with the fancy that it is possible there may be none. He cannot be sure there is one, and therefore he is willing to think there is none. He dares not speak it out, lest he be confuted, and so undeceived, but he whispers it secretly in his heart, for the silencing of the clamours of his conscience and the emboldening of himself in his evil ways. [2.] The character of this sinner. He is a fool; he is simple and unwise, and this is an evidence of it; he is wicked and profane, and this is the cause of it. Note, Atheistical thoughts are very foolish wicked thoughts, and they are at the bottom of a great deal of the wickedness that is in this world. The word of God is a discerner of these thoughts, and puts a just brand on him that harbours them. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; for he thinks against the clearest light, against his own knowledge and convictions, and the common sentiments of all the wise and sober part of mankind. No man will say, There is no God till he is so hardened in sin that it has become his interest that there should be none to call him to an account.
(2.)The disgrace and debasement it puts upon the nature of man. Sinners are corrupt, quite degenerated from what man was in his innocent estate: They have become filthy (Psa 14:3), putrid. All their faculties are so disordered that they have become odious to their Maker and utterly incapable of answering the ends of their creation. They are corrupt indeed; for, [1.] They do no good, but are the unprofitable burdens of the earth; they do God no service, bring him no honour, nor do themselves any real kindness. [2.] They do a great deal of hurt. They have done abominable works, for such all sinful works are. Sin is an abomination to God; it is that abominable thing which he hates (Jer 44:4), and, sooner or later, it will be so to the sinner; it will be found to be hateful (Psa 36:2), an abomination of desolation, that is, making desolate, Mat 24:15. This follows upon their saying, There is no God; for those that profess they know God, but in works deny him, are abominable, and to every good work reprobate, Tit 1:16.
2.See how epidemic this disease is; it has infected the whole race of mankind. To prove this, God himself is here brought in for a witness, and he is an eye-witness, Psa 14:2, Psa 14:3. Observe, (1.) His enquiry: The Lord looked down from heaven, a place of prospect, which commands this lower world; thence, with an all-seeing eye, he took a view of all the children of men, and the question was, Whether there were any among them that did understand themselves aright, their duty and interests, and did seek God and set him before them. He that made this search was not only one that could find out a good man if he was to be found, though ever so obscure, but one that would be glad to find out one, and would be sure to take notice of him, as of Noah in the old world. (2.) The result of this enquiry, Psa 14:3. Upon search, upon his search, it appeared, They have all gone aside, the apostasy is universal, there is none that doeth good, no, not one, till the free and mighty grace of God has wrought a change. Whatever good is in any of the children of men, or is done by them, it is not of themselves; it is God's work in them. When God had made the world he looked upon his own work, and all was very good (Gen 1:31); but, some time after, he looked upon man's work, and, behold, all was very bad (Gen 6:5), every operation of the thought of man's heart was evil, only evil, and that continually. They have gone aside from the right of their duty, the way that leads to happiness, and have turned into the paths of the destroyer.
In singing this let us lament the corruption of our own nature, and see what need we have of the grace of God; and, since that which is born of the flesh is flesh, let us not marvel that we are told we must be born again.
What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. [Psalms 14:1-3] Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
It was right to show openly the magnitude of the disease that lingered with sinister purpose for all people before the advent of the Savior: as it was manifested to all, his sojourn on earth became straightforwardly necessary. As all have sinned, all lacked the glory of God, and now they are all justified by his grace.
What do they know? That God is an avenger. He is coming as judge of the living and the dead. They know that he is going to return to each one according to his works.… And what do they not know? That God looks down from heaven. What do they not know? That those who do evil displease him. What do they not know? They do not wish to know the ways of God.… And now there are wars, pestilence and volcanoes [earthquakes]. Many never come to their senses concerning their sins, and they are punished with threatening evils. What do they not know? The will of God, his good and celestial promises, his treasures, the delights of paradise, eternal life.
Everywhere they all have turned to tyranny. They no longer cling to the prophets. Come, King, appear, and they will fear your authority. All have turned from the ways of the prophets. Come, O Way, and lead back those who have wandered away.… Humankind was created right by God, … but they have turned away by choice to evil.… They have turned away from their right nature.… “There is no one who does good, no, not one.” From head to foot, from rich to poor, the whole world grows sick.
"All have gone out of the way, they have together become useless:" that is, the Jews have become as the Gentiles, who were spoken of above. "There is none that does good, no not up to one" [Psalm 14:3], must be interpreted as above. "Their throat is an open sepulchre." Either the voracity of the ever open palate is signified: or allegorically those who slay, and as it were devour those they have slain, into whom they instil the disorder of their own conversation. Like to which with the contrary meaning is that which was said to Peter, "Kill and eat;" [Acts 10:13] that he should convert the Gentiles to his own faith and good conversation. "With their tongues they have dealt craftily." Flattery is the companion of the greedy and of all bad men. "The poison of asps is under their lips." By "poison," he means deceit; and "of asps," because they will not hear the precepts of the law, as asps "will not hear the voice of the charmer;" which is said more clearly in another Psalm. "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:" this is, "the poison of asps." "Their feet are swift to shed blood." He here shows forth the habit of ill doing. "Destruction and unhappiness" are "in their ways." For all the ways of evil men are full of toil and misery. Hence the Lord cries out, "Come unto Me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart. For My yoke is easy and My burden light." [Matthew 11:28-30] "And the way of peace have they not known:" that way, namely, which the Lord, as I said, mentions, in the easy yoke and light burden. "There is no fear of God before their eyes." These do not say, "There is no God;" but yet they do not fear God.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 14:3 delivers a profound and unsparing divine assessment of humanity's universal moral condition, declaring that all have collectively deviated from God's righteous standard and become utterly corrupt. This verse emphatically asserts that no individual, by inherent nature or effort, performs true good in God's sight, thereby underscoring humanity's pervasive fallenness and its complete inability to achieve righteousness independently.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 14:3 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of universal human depravity with striking force. The most prominent is Repetition and Emphasis, particularly through the use of "all" (twice) and the concluding, absolute "no, not one." This serves to underscore the absolute and pervasive nature of humanity's fallen state, leaving no room for exceptions and highlighting the comprehensive scope of sin. The phrase "none that doeth good, no, not one" functions as a form of Hyperbole, not to suggest that humans are utterly incapable of any beneficial action whatsoever in a societal sense, but rather to emphasize the complete absence of inherent, God-pleasing righteousness and the inability to meet God's perfect standard through human effort alone. The term "filthy" acts as a vivid Metaphor, portraying moral corruption as something physically repulsive and putrid, appealing to the senses to convey the depth of spiritual decay and the offensive nature of sin to a holy God. Furthermore, the verse exhibits a strong form of Parallelism, where the clauses reinforce and elaborate on the same core idea of universal moral failure, building to the ultimate conclusion of humanity's utter lack of inherent goodness.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse is a cornerstone for understanding the biblical doctrine of human sinfulness and depravity. It asserts that humanity, in its natural, unregenerate state, is fundamentally alienated from God, morally corrupt, and utterly incapable of achieving righteousness through its own efforts. This is not merely a statement about individual acts of sin, but about the pervasive condition of human nature after the Fall—a condition where every aspect of being (mind, will, emotions, body) is tainted by sin, rendering humanity unable to seek God or do what is truly good in His eyes. This profound truth highlights the absolute necessity of divine intervention for salvation and underscores that any genuine goodness found in humanity, in a spiritual sense, is a result of God's transforming grace, not inherent human merit. It lays the crucial groundwork for the Gospel message, which offers a divine solution to humanity's universal problem of sin.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 14:3 serves as a profound mirror, reflecting the unvarnished truth about the human condition apart from God's grace. It calls us to a posture of deep humility, dispelling any notion of self-righteousness or inherent moral superiority. Recognizing that "none that doeth good, no, not one" apart from God's work in us should cultivate a profound appreciation for the immeasurable gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, who alone is truly good and perfectly righteous. This understanding fosters a radical dependence on the Holy Spirit for transformation and empowerment to live a life pleasing to God. It also fuels our compassion and urgency for evangelism, as it clarifies humanity's desperate need for the Gospel—the good news that offers redemption and righteousness to all who believe, regardless of their past. Furthermore, it reminds us that true spiritual good is always God-initiated and God-enabled, leading us to give Him all the glory for any good we may accomplish.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does "none that doeth good" mean no one ever does anything good at all, like acts of kindness or charity?
Answer: No, this verse does not mean that individuals are incapable of performing any civil good, acts of kindness, or even actions that appear benevolent from a human perspective. Rather, it is a profound theological statement about humanity's inherent spiritual condition and its inability to produce perfect, God-pleasing righteousness that meets His holy standard. In the context of the Bible, "good" in this sense refers to actions and intentions that are perfectly aligned with God's will, motivated by pure love for Him, and untainted by sin. Apart from God's grace, human "goodness" is always flawed, self-serving in some measure, or insufficient to bridge the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity. The verse highlights a fundamental moral bankruptcy in relation to God's absolute holiness, not a complete absence of all positive human behavior.
How does this verse relate to the concept of "total depravity"?
Answer: Psalms 14:3 is a foundational Old Testament text supporting the doctrine of total depravity, a key tenet of Reformed theology. Total depravity does not mean that every human being is as evil as they could possibly be, or that they are incapable of performing any good deeds in a societal sense. Instead, it teaches that sin has corrupted every part of human nature—the mind, emotions, will, and body—making humanity utterly incapable of seeking God, understanding spiritual truth, or pleasing God on its own. Every faculty of human being is affected by sin, rendering humanity spiritually dead and unable to initiate salvation or produce genuine righteousness apart from God's sovereign grace. This verse, with its emphatic "none that doeth good, no, not one," powerfully articulates this comprehensive impact of sin on the human heart and will, echoing the sentiments found in Romans 3:10-18.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 14:3, with its stark and universal declaration of human depravity, serves as the essential backdrop against which the glory of the Gospel shines most brightly. If "none that doeth good, no, not one," then humanity is utterly lost and without hope in itself, desperately needing a divine solution. This is precisely where Jesus Christ enters the narrative as the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. He is the unique and singular individual who perfectly fulfilled the law, lived a sinless life, and truly "did good" in every sense, embodying perfect righteousness (Hebrews 4:15). His life of perfect obedience and His sacrificial death on the cross provide the only means by which humanity's inherent "filthiness" can be cleansed and its inability to "do good" overcome. Through faith in Christ, His perfect righteousness is imputed to believers (2 Corinthians 5:21), and the Holy Spirit regenerates the heart, empowering believers to genuinely "do good" as a fruit of their new nature (Galatians 5:22-23). Thus, this psalm's diagnosis of humanity's terminal condition points directly to Christ as the sole Physician and the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, demonstrating that salvation is entirely a work of God's grace, not human merit (Ephesians 2:8-9).