Proverbs 19:25

Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware.

Man chastising the wrong

I. Wrong may exist in very different characters. There are three characters mentioned in the passage.

1. “The scorner.” The scorner is a character made up of pride, irreverence, and cruelty. He mocks at sin; he scoffs at religion. He looks with a haughty contempt upon those opinions that agree not with his own.

2. “The simple.” The simple man is he who is more or less unsophisticated in mind, and untainted by crime. One who is inexperienced, unsuspicious, too confiding, and impressible.

3. “One that understandeth knowledge.” This is a character whom Solomon represents in other places as the just man, the wise man, the prudent man--expressions which with him mean personal religion. These three characters, therefore, may comprise the man against religion, the man without religion, and the man with religion. The “scorner” is thoroughly wrong. The “simple” is potentially wrong. He that “hath understanding” is occasionally wrong, or he would not require “reproof.” It is implied--

II. That wrong in all characters should be chastised. “Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware; and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.” It is not only the duty of rulers to punish crime, but it is the duty of every honest man to inflict chastisement upon wrong wherever it is seen. The withdrawal of patronage, separation from the offender’s society, social ostracism, the administration of reproof, and the expression of displeasure, are amongst the means by which an honest man, even in his private capacity, can chastise the wrong.

III. That the kind of chastisement should be according to character. “The scorner” is to be smitten. “Smite a scorner.” The man of “understanding” is to be reproved. Reproof to an inveterate scorner would be useless.

IV. That the effects of the chastisement will vary according to the character.

1. The chastisement inflicted upon the scorner will be rather a benefit to others than himself. “Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware.” Severity towards the incorrigible may act as a warning to others.

2. The chastisement inflicted on the man of understanding is of service to himself. He takes it in good part. Wrong exists everywhere around us. Evil meets us in almost every man we meet. It is for us to set ourselves in strong opposition to it wherever it appears. (David Thomas, D. D.)