the lamp of the wicked will fail. Pharaoh had a plan to keep his slaves. 1 The Lord can change the king's mind. Proverbs 6:20 My son, observe the commandment of your father, And do not forsake the teaching of your mother; 21 Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck. b. 27. He covets greedily all day long: The reference is likely to the lazy man of the previous proverb. Download the free PDF chapter worksheet: For personal or group Bible study. Here we see that evil is natural to the wicked, for it is in their nature.” (Bridges). a. He has suddenly gotten off the straight and narrow path and is wandering. What do you love, death or life? Religious ceremonies do not cover over a wicked life, and God may regard those religious ceremonies as an abomination. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. 3 To do what is right and just b. is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.. 4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—. Note, 1. a. Proverbs 19:2 It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge. When holiness is pretended, but wickedness intended, that especially is an abomination. But God’s wisdom does not hurt us. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 21. The believer, perceiving that the Lord rules every heart as he sees fit, like the husbandman who turns the water through his grounds as he pleases, seeks to have his own heart, and the hearts of others, directed in his faith, fear, and love. Proverbs 24:5-6), has many applications, not least to spiritual warfare.” (Kidner), ii. John Trapp Complete Commentary. Chapter 21. i. “God’s inscrutable mastery extends to the king, the most powerful of human beings, and to the heart, their most free member. The horse is prepared for the day of battle: In the days these proverbs were written, the effective use of the horse in the war could be overwhelming against the enemy. The wise path is worth it. Better to dwell in the wilderness, He sees it and wisely considers it. Like the rivers of water; Proverbs 21:5 tells us that “the plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to want.” Wise planning requires making decisions for the long-term, as seen for example in the cycle of agricultural asset management. Proverbs 21 Commentary, this commentary represents 40 years of Sutcliffe's exegetical comments and Hebrew and Greek analysis. His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes: The evil that marks the wicked is expressed in their inability to get along with a neighbor. a. A wicked man hardens his face, 21:1 The a king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it wherever he will. Of all wanderers in the ways of sin, those are in the most dangerous condition who turn aside into the ways of darkness. a. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. 4:32; Eccl. Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice: Animal sacrifice was a way to walk in right relationship with God – what might be called our vertical relationship. He cares about our bodies. Read a Chapter of Proverbs and memorize the assigned verse. But doubtless care is to be used in the exercise of charity. Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary (concise), Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete), California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Their inward corruption is expressed through their desires. 21 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases. Men plan what they are going to do and even take steps to fulfill them. The questions contain minimal human commentary, but instead urge students to study to understand Scripture. Browse Sermons on Proverbs 21. The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, Treasures by a lying tongue: “As do seducers, sycophants, flatterers, corrupt judges, that say with shame, ‘Give ye’; mercenary pleaders, that sell both their tongues and silence, and help their clients’ causes.” (Trapp). Proverbs 21:4, KJV: "An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin." * 2 All your ways may be straight in your own eyes,. Click on the different category headings to find out more. This is the path of wisdom, God’s path for those who will listen and surrender to Him. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: God said, to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). 23 He that guardeth his mouth and his tongue, Keepeth his soul from troubles. Because they refuse to do justice: It isn’t only what the wicked do; it is also what they do not do. See here, 1. Commentaries on Proverbs. a. In our spiritual warfare we must arm ourselves with the whole armour of God; but our strength must be in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Wisdom or understanding or counsel: These are three similar terms used to express wisdom and right knowledge. In the same way, the Lord can change the thoughts of a king.. 2 Everybody thinks that he always does right things. But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. There are a number of helpful commentaries on Proverbs, and the following are five of the best. i. “Yahweh’s power of discernment goes beyond unmasking those who fool others; he even finds out those who have fooled themselves.” (Garrett). The person who loves pleasure lacks this discipline and self-denial and often ends up a poor man. i. CHAPTER 21. Proverbs 21:5. Whoever guards his mouth and tongue A bribe behind the back, strong wrath: Again, the secret nature of the gift or bribe is indicated. He understood, but now he doubts. He guardeth his mouth who does not speak when he does better to be silent; and he guardeth his tongue who says no more than is right and fitting. Proverbs 21. “The truth that wisdom may succeed where brute force fails (cf. i. a. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. i. He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty. Thus Jacob pacified Esau; Abigail, David; Hezekiah, the Assyrian that came up against him. Proverbs 21:1. Read Proverbs 21 commentary using John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. 22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof. “Kidner summarizes the verse to say that a bold front is no substitute for sound principles.” (Ross). The violence of the wicked will destroy them: The wicked often love violence and use it for their gain. a. i. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Sometimes we despair when we see the stubbornness and hardness of man’s heart against God and His will, but the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord and He can guide it wherever He wishes. i. Proverbs 21:21, ESV: "Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor." They are full of sin themselves, and what they do is sinful.” (Clarke), ii. As for the upright, he establishes his way: The upright man or woman does not face the same self-made obstacles the wicked man faces. He is known to be proud and haughty, thinking himself better than others and even better than God. With his desire, that lazy man covets greedily, and he does it all day long – yet the desire is unfulfilled because he does not work towards it. Pilate asked Christ, What is truth? The one that we love we will eat the fruit of. “See the conduct of the priest and Levite to the man who fell among thieves; and let every man learn from this, that he who shuts his ear against the cry of the poor, shall have the ear of God shut against his cry. He not only does evil – he craves evil. 20:24. 26. A man who wanders from the way of understanding: There are two paths or ways a man or woman can walk. The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord: God holds and can guide the human heart. b. Such behavior is presented as having no benefit; thus, to justify such folly is senseless. A haughty look, a proud heart: Often a proud heart is displayed through a haughty look. “This figure indicates that the product of the wicked is sin.” (Ross), iii. There is no shortage of either among humanity. Even the hearts of men are in God's hand, … Pro 21:1. We justify things according to our hearts – “It was in my heart” or “I must follow my heart” or “In my heart, I know” – but God weighs the hearts of men and women, knowing that the heart itself doesn’t justify anything. This should build our faith that God can guide and change hearts. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. The wife in Proverbs 31 is not in the kitchen scrubbing dishes and biting her tongue! The path we walk on – and remain on – matters everything. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, They hope to find great treasures with little work and put their trust in fleetingfantasy instead of in God. i. i. He acts with arrogant pride: The proud and haughty man will be known by his actions. A haughty look, a proud heart, 4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. a. a. a. “Use the means, but do not idolize them. Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. There is no wisdom or understanding Those who put their trust in them will fall. But a good man asks, What does God require of me? The lazy are defective in action; the hasty, in thought.” (Waltke). i. Nobody will be ill in heaven (Revelation … But he was unable to run away from his conscience, which tortured him.” (Bridges). Proverbs 21:1. Anybody's words are spirit; Jesus is not the only one whose words are spirit . But these greedy constant coverings come to nothing he makes nothing of them. We may request cookies to be set on your device. And brings down the trusted stronghold. Proverbs 5:21, ESV: "For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths." Matthew Henry :: Commentary on Proverbs 21 ← Back to Matthew Henry's Bio & Resources. What it is to make religion our business; it is to follow after righteousness and mercy, not to content ourselves with easy performances, but to do our duty with the utmost care and pains, as those that are pressing forward and in fear of coming short. A simple man or woman can learn wisdom when they see the scoffer is punished. It seems to be a metaphor from a traveller that sets his face against the wind and weather, and holds on his journey, though he be taking long strides towards destruction.” (Trapp), ii. When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise: There are degrees of fools and their foolishness. 21. Proverbs 5:20 "And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?" 23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. The soul of the wicked desires evil: When a wicked man or woman does evil, it is because their soul…desires it. Next » Chapter 22. “We often give the credit of a victory to man, when they who consider the circumstances see that it came from God.” (Clarke), ii. The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. A haughty look, a proud heart: Often a proud heart is displayed through a haughty look. He does not know the satisfaction of earned achievement. That gives pleasure to the Lord more than sacrifice. He coveteth greedily all day long.] Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. The proverbs are brief aphorisms that summarize or apply either a specific Mosaic law or else a principle undergirding the Mosaic law as a whole. Ver. i. Hardens his face: “He thinks to make good one lie by another; to outface the truth, to overbear it with a bold countenance. Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. iii. Proverbs pulls together the most important 513 of the over 3,000 proverbs pondered by Solomon (1 Kin. b. “A man had better abide abroad, sub dio, under the sun exposed to wind and weather, yea, to crowd into a corner, and to live in a little ease, than to cohabit in a convenient house with a contentious woman, that is ever brawling and brangling.” (Trapp). b. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. But a foolish man squanders it. i. They look upon everyone else with no favor in their eyes. b. Bruce K. Waltke — The Book of Proverbs: Chapters 1-15; The Book of Proverbs: Chapters 15-31 (New International Commentary on the Old Testament, 2004, 2005). 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