Posted by Jeff Short on October 14, 2016 · 1 Comment
My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
– Proverbs 6:20
This verse begins a new address that goes through verse 35, the end of the chapter. The exhortation culminates in the warning against the evil woman. This address focuses on the life of the mind and fighting the battle there. To keep and to forsake not are familiar admonitions to the son to take pains to understand and guard the father’s commandment and the mother’s law. We see the importance of both father and mother instructing their children in the way of wisdom and the role of the early home life in preparing them for life outside the home.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on October 13, 2016 · 1 Comment
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
– Proverbs 6:19
False witness refers to deception but it is distinct from just lying. A false witness lies in order to condemn someone. It is a false accusation or report that gives evidence of guilt against someone. False witness was prohibited by the law (Exodus 20:16; 23:1) and punishable (Deuteronomy 19:16-20). Of course, this is in the range of the evil man with a forward mouth (Proverbs 6:12).
The list concludes with declaring the sowing of discord to be an abomination and this was also a mark of the evil man (Proverbs 6:14). Discord is strife or contention. Sowing discord refers to causing such strife where none existed, or where there’s no reason for contention. This sort is quick to enflame a contention (Proverbs 26:20-21), or keep one going.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on October 12, 2016 · 1 Comment
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
– Proverbs 6:18
Devising wicked imaginations is to plan evil schemes. The evil man does this continually (Proverbs 6:14). The heart is often put for the mind and the will. It is deceitful (Proverbs 12:20) and brings forth all manner of sin (Mark 7:21-22). Being swift to run means quickly or easily going to mischief, or to cause calamity. This is another mark of the evil man (Proverbs 6:13). It speaks of a bent toward this and even a zeal in that direction. Again, God hates these things.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on October 11, 2016 · 1 Comment
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
– Proverbs 6:17
A proud, or high, look speaks of having high thoughts of oneself. The evil man winks with eyes (Proverbs 6:13), with thoughts of superiority. Pride is antithetical to wisdom-engendered humility and God hates it. A lying tongue is a deception or fraud. The evil man has a froward, or a perverse, mouth (Proverbs 6:12). Such speech is used to cheat and beguile people into sin and to exonerate oneself unjustly. Hands shedding innocent blood refers directly to murder, though there is guilt enough in complicity to murder indirectly. Jesus said that hating your brother without cause also violated the law commanding us to not kill (Matthew 5:21-22). The evil man also employs his fingers to the hurt of others (Proverbs 6:13).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on October 10, 2016 · 1 Comment
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
– Proverbs 6:16
Verses 16-19 roundly condemn the wicked man from the previous section. Each sin enumerated corresponds to his description in verses 12-15. Solomon uses a particular arrangement for this list. The form is to list a number of things and plus one. This form is used elsewhere in Proverbs (Proverbs 30:15, 18, 21) and other books (Job 5:19; Ecclesiastes 11:2; etc.). This framework is used to show the last item as being the best or worst of the group. The plus one formula also shows the list is not exhaustive. In this case, these are not the only things God hates.
Yahweh hates the first six things. The seventh is an abomination, or abhorrent. The expressions of these sins means that God is completely separate from these sins and therefore they have no place in the wisdom that is from above. This also points to the fact that those who walk in these will not stand before God, but meet with his judgment against them.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on October 9, 2016 · 1 Comment
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
– Proverbs 6:15
The word for calamity refers to coming under a weight or burden and so refers to destruction or ruin. Being broken refers to being crushed liked a clay pot is smashed to pieces when struck. Both are said to be sudden. Suddenly refers to a moment in time and indicates a surprise. The wicked man progresses along and does not think his destruction is around the corner. Both are pictures of irreparable damage. The verse means they shall come to their end without remedy or healing.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on October 8, 2016 · 1 Comment
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
– Proverbs 6:14
Frowardness is perversity and occupies the mind of the wicked man. All his thoughts are affected by it. To devise is to plan or design. Mischief is evil or adversity to others. So he continually plots and contrives evil to other, whether to gain advantage or simply to work destruction. Discord is strife and contention. This he sows as a man liberally scatters seed in a field. In the perversity of his mind, he would rather people be at odds than in harmony. The implication also is that he sows discord to his own advantage in some way.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on October 7, 2016 · Leave a Comment
He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
– Proverbs 6:13
This verse refers to different physical gestures employed by the wicked man. The precise meaning or description of each gesture is not important, but rather that they are used to deceive. Such gestures are a part of his salesmanship, whether he is extorting or coercing. The previous verse referenced his forward mouth and the next his devised mischief. The whole picture of the wicked man is one who continually seeks to lead others astray and take advantage of them one or another.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on October 6, 2016 · 1 Comment
A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a forward mouth.
– Proverbs 6:12
Verses 12-15 warn against the third folly, the worthless and wicked man. A naughty person is literally a man of Belial. Such a term always involved wickedness, worthlessness, and destructiveness. Belial came to be a term for Satan and a man or son of Belial was any who had such qualities. Wicked has the thought of trouble or a trouble-maker. Froward means perverse or crooked. Such a man’s talk is bent away from wisdom and God’s law. He is not doing or proposing anything of value or good, but rather trouble and vanity.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
« Previous Page — Next Page »
Proverbs 6:20
Posted by Jeff Short on October 14, 2016 · 1 Comment
My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
This verse begins a new address that goes through verse 35, the end of the chapter. The exhortation culminates in the warning against the evil woman. This address focuses on the life of the mind and fighting the battle there. To keep and to forsake not are familiar admonitions to the son to take pains to understand and guard the father’s commandment and the mother’s law. We see the importance of both father and mother instructing their children in the way of wisdom and the role of the early home life in preparing them for life outside the home.– Proverbs 6:20
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Share this:
Filed under 6, Proverbs, Short Comments · Tagged with Commentary, Father, Law, Mother, Proverbs