Proverbs 17:1
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:1. SACRIFICES, literally _killings_, _i.e._, slain beasts, not necessarily animals killed for sacrifice.... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:1. SACRIFICES, literally _killings_, _i.e._, slain beasts, not necessarily animals killed for sacrifice.... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:2. A SON THAT CAUSETH SHAME, rather, a _degenerate son_. (_Delitzsch and Zöckler_). _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:2_ THE FOOLISH SON AND THE WISE SERVANT I. HIGH SOCIAL POSITION IS NOT NECESSARILY THE OUTCOME OF MENTAL ABILITY OR MORAL WORTH. Many a man is born heir... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:3_ THE TRIER OF HEARTS We have here an analogy implied between men’s hearts and gold and silver. I. BOTH HAVE AN INTRINSIC WORTH. Gold and silver have not only an artificial value, but they have qualities in themselves which render them of especial worth. So the he... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:4. A LIAR. literally, _a lie, falsehood_. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:4_ THE EVIL SPEAKER AND THE LISTENER I. THAT WHICH MEN GIVE HEED TO REVEALS THEIR CHARACTER. If a man will listen to another whom he knows to be false—if he permits him to be continually pourin... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:5_ A DOUBLE REVELATION I. REVEALING CRIME. _He who mocketh the poor reveals his own character_. If we find one brother of a family mocking another brother, we feel that his conduct is a revelation of the state of his heart. We feel that such a man must be destitute o... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:6_ FATHERS AND CHILDREN Two things are implied in this proberb:—First, that the fathers are good men. An aged man who is not a godly man cannot in any sense reflect any glory upon his descendants. Secondly, that the children are also godly and true, otherwise they a... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:7. EXCELLENT SPEECH, literally “a lip of excess or prominence, an assuming, imperious style of speech” (_Zöckler_). A PRINCE, rather, _a noble_, a man of lofty disposition. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:7_ A TWOFOLD INCONGRUITY I. TRUTH FROM THE MOUTH OF A GODLESS M... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:8. A GIFT. Some expositors understand this in the sense of a bribe. Delitzsch translates the whole verse—“The gift of bribery appears a jewel to its receiver, whithersoever he turneth himself he acteth prudently,” _i.e._, “it determines and impels him to apply all his u... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:9. REPEATETH A MATTER. Most expositors understand this repetition to refer to a revival of a past wrong, but Miller translates “He who falls back into an act,” _i.e._, transgresses again after forgiveness. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:9_ HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS AND HOW... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:10_ CORRECTION MUST BE ADAPTED TO THE CHARACTER OF THE OFFENDER I. SOME MEN CAN BE INFLUENCED BY MORAL MEANS. A man whose moral nature is developed can be brought to a sense of error by an appeal to his own sense of right and wrong. Although he has fallen into sin h... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:11. Many commentators translate the first clause “_Rebellion_,” or “_a rebel_” seeketh only after evil, _i.e._, brings retribution upon himself. PROVERBS 17:12. Miller translates the latter clause “but not a fool his folly.” (See his comment.) _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:14. MEDDLED WITH, rather “_pours forth_.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:14_ THE BEGINNING OF STRIFE I. THIS MORAL PESTILENCE IS OF GREAT ANTIQUITY. It began with the angels who “kept not their first estate” (Jude 1:6), and from that far-distant period until now the... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:15_ I. A PRESENT INVERSION OF MORAL ORDER. There is an established law, by which things spiritual are governed as well as things material According to this law, punishment ought to come to the unrighteous and the righteous should be justified; that is, they should be... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:16_ NEGLECTED OPPORTUNITIES I. ONE OF THE USES WHICH OUGHT TO BE MADE OF WEALTH. Men ought to use it to “get wisdom.” It is obvious that a wealthy man has more opportunities of gaining knowledge than a poor man has, and an increase of knowledge ought to make a man wi... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:17. “FRIEND and BROTHER are related the one as the climax of the other. The friend is developed into a brother by adversity.” (_Lange’s Commentary_). _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:17_, _and of CHAP_. Proverbs 18:24 TRUE FRIENDSHIP I. A TRUE FRIEND LOVES UNDER ALL C... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:20. A FROWARD HEART, rather _a false heart_.... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:22. A BROKEN SPIRIT. Miller renders “_an upraiding spirit_,” _i.e._, spirit which cavils at God’s providential dealings. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:22_ THE MERRY HEART I. THE MIND ACTS UPON THE BODY. It is a fact which no observant man would deny, that there is a... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:23. A GIFT, _i.e._, _a bribe_, JUDGMENT. _i.e., justice_. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:23_ BRIBERY I. ITS NATURE. An act of bribery may be committed without any monetary transaction taking place. It is not necessary that gold should pass from hand to hand to make a... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:24. Many explain this verse to mean that the wise find wisdom everywhere while the fool seeks it everywhere but in the right place. Delitzsch and others understand the proverb to mean that wisdom is the aim of the man of understanding while the fool has no definite aim... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:26. ALSO, rather, _even_. It emphasizes the verb immediately following, viz., _to punish_, _i.e._, to inflict a pecuniary fine. Zockler renders the verse. “_Also to punish the righteous is not good, to smile the noble contrary to justice_,” and explains the meaning thus,... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 17:27. EXCELLENT, rather a _cool_ spirit. The homiletic teaching of Proverbs 17:1 is the same as that of chap. Proverbs 15:17. (See pages 421, 422.) _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 17:27_ TWO BADGES OF A WISE MAN I. RETICENCE OF SPEECH. This subject has been dwelt on befor... [ Continue Reading ]