Ezekiel 13:22
Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
The verse exposes ministers who sacrifice truth to gain favor with people. With lies they make the heart of the righteous sad, heal injury only slightly by declaring peace where there is no peace, and lead people to rest in a refuge of falsehood. They strengthen the hands of the wicked by promising him life so that he does not turn from his wicked way. In the end the character and harvest of such teaching is seen in the wretched, lost souls around them.
The verse also condemns people who, when their wrongs are reproved, join together and strengthen one another in unbelief and in rejecting divine messages. Those who encourage the sinner by telling him all is well with him come under divine curse, for God hates sin and will not be trifled with. False accusations and unjust treatment fulfill the saddening of the righteous whom God has not made sad, while siding with accusers against God's people encourages the wicked in wrongdoing instead of helping them turn from evil.
Encouraging unworthy persons to connect with the work and flattering them by keeping them in position when their works and influence injure the cause tells the sinner all is well and strengthens him to remain in his wicked way instead of turning from it. Reassuring a wrongdoer that all is well while he remains in wrongdoing strengthens him in sin and keeps him from turning back. Treating a Sabbath-breaker as a trusted church leader or counselor gives him reassurance and influence and preserves his blindness instead of warning him of his danger. Opposing the truth about the binding claims of the law of God and creating prejudice against it strengthens the hands of transgressors by increasing the prejudice already existing in many hearts.