Tag: A Scorner

A Scorner

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 14:6 A scorner seeks wisdom, and finds it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understands. 

‘A scorner seeks wisdom.’ Rebels seek wisdom but don’t find it because they reject God, the source of wisdom (1:7; 9:10).

‘Finds it not’ – Three examples of not finding truth: the Jews in Christ’s ministry (Matt. 13:15); the Jews in Paul’s ministry (Acts 13:41) and the Athenians (2Cor. 1:23; 2:8).

‘But knowledge is easy unto him that understands.’ Knowledge is hard for the one who rebels and won’t believe the truth when he hears it, but it is easy for him to understand who is open to truth and will believe what he hears (Matt. 13:10-17).

A Scorner – Part 2

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Proverbs 9:7-9 He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 

Three examples of rebuking and being hated: Joseph (Gen. 37:2, 18-28). The prophet (2Chr. 25:16). John the Baptist (Matt. 14:1-10).

‘Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.’ We can rebuke or warn a fellow Christian, depending on how far and for how long such an individual has backslidden. Christ warns that He will spew such a person from His mouth because they are lukewarm (Rev. 3:15-17) and most people do not want to ‘hear the truth’ about their sinful state, that’s why they choose it and keep on living in that state – they reject the knowledge of the Truth and will thus be rejected (Hos. 4:6; Heb. 10:26).

Three examples of rebuking and being loved: Nathan (2Sam. 12:1-31). Two disciples (Luke 24:25-29). Peter (John 21:17; Gal. 2:11-14).

‘Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.’ To instruct – reading (or quoting), not preaching – from God’s Word will remind us of how we must live and act and keep us on the straight and narrow (Matt. 7:13-14) therefore Scripture commands us to be renewed in the spirit of our minds by His Word (Eph. 4:23-24; Rom. 12:1-2).

A Scorner – Part 1

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 9:7-9 He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 

‘Scorner’ [Hebrew: luwts] to make mouths at; to scoff; to mock (Ps. 1:1; Pro. 1:22; 3:34; 9:7). Anyone that rejects, jokes or makes light of the Word of God.

‘Wicked’ [Hebrew: rasha‛] lawlessness (Isa. 57:20-21). All classes of the wicked are like the troubled sea that cannot be still and constantly stirs up the mire and dirt of sin and corruption. They have no peace (Isa. 57:20-21), no calmness of soul or spirit; their passions and appetites keep them in continual turmoil seeking something satisfying; the wealth, business, pleasure, pride, pomp, flattery, and unrest of the world only keep them dissatisfied; and strong undercurrents of malice, jealousy, lust, revenge, strife, and ambitions to outdo others keep them at war with God and fellowmen. The guilt of a past life and the burning memories of wrongdoing agitate the sinner day and night to cover up his evil, but he cannot escape the fear of hell and future reaping.

‘Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee.’ This scripture is a great warning to all Christians not to rebuke those who reject the Word of God, because it will end in them making a mockery of you and the Scripture and they will not heed your rebuke, because ONLY the Holy Spirit can convict others of sin (John 16:7-11). Matthew 7:6 confirms this truth and gives the result if you persist in this warning: “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast you your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn again and rend you.” Do not force truth upon rebels who reject it, or give holy things to faultfinders, mote hunters, or evil speakers. To rebuke a sinner (Matt. 7:1-6; Rom. 2:1-11) means you condemn and judge them for what they chose and it leads to condemnation instead of conviction (Rom. 8:1).

To be continued…