through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;
having their conscience seared with a hot iron: Thayer defines "conscience" (suneidesin) as "the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending the one, condemning the other; conscience" (602). The Analytical Greek Lexicon contributes, "conscience, as an inward moral impression of one’s actions and principles or the inward faculty of moral judgement" (391). Thus, conscience is a sort of mental barometer measuring the rightness or wrongness of our actions based upon our current understanding. When we do what we understand is right, our conscience approves and we feel good. On the contrary, when we do what we believe is wrong, our conscience condemns us and we feel guilty. While our conscience is not an infallible guide, it is still paramount that we live according to its dictates (Acts 23:1; Romans 14:22-23). For if we characteristically and systematically violate our conscience, it will gradually become hardened and will no longer register protest when we do what we believe to be wrong. Just as the man who has lost the sense of touch in his hand is in critical danger when he rests it on a hot stove, so we are in grave spiritual danger when we have lost our tender and expressive conscience. We no longer have a measure of moral judgment; and, consequently, we will easily fall prey to all manner of sin.