Proverbs 15:23-33

TEXT Proverbs 15:23-33

23.

A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth;

And a word in due season, how good is it!

24.

To the wise the way of life goeth upward,

That he may depart from Sheol beneath.

25.

Jehovah will root up the house of the proud;

But he will establish the border of the widow.

26.

Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah;

But pleasant words are pure.

27.

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house;

But he that hateth bribes shall live.

28.

The heart of the righteous studieth to answer;

But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

29.

Jehovah is far from the wicked;

But he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

30.

The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart;

And good things make the bones fat.

31.

The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life

Shall abide among the wise.

32.

He that refuseth correction despiseth his own soul;

But he that hearkeneth to reproof getteth understanding.

33.

The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom;

And before honor goeth humility.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 15:23-33

1.

What is meant by a word in due season (Proverbs 15:23)?

2.

Does upward in Proverbs 15:24 imply heaven or the better life here?

3.

Cite other passages besides Proverbs 15:25 condemning the proud.

4.

Cite other passages besides Proverbs 15:25 showing God's concern for the widow?

5.

What is meant by border in Proverbs 15:25?

6.

What would be some examples of evil devices (Proverbs 15:26)?

7.

Comment on pleasant words being pure (Proverbs 15:26).

8.

How does a greedy person trouble his house (Proverbs 15:27)?

9.

What connection is there between hating bribes and living (Proverbs 15:27)?

10.

Will a person remain righteous who speaks the first thing that comes into his or her mind (Proverbs 15:28)?

11.

What are some kinds of evil speech coming from the evil (Proverbs 15:28)?

12.

In what sense is Jehovah far from the wicked (Proverbs 15:29).

13.

Why does God hear the prayer of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29)?

14.

What is the light of the eyes (Proverbs 15:30)?

15.

What is meant by make the bones fat (Proverbs 15:30)?

16.

What is meant by the reproof of life (Proverbs 15:31)?

17.

Cite a Biblical character who refused correction (Proverbs 15:32).

18.

In the Bible who was humble before he was honored (Proverbs 15:33)?

PARAPHRASE OF 15:23-33

23.

Everyone enjoys giving good advice, and how wonderful it is to be able to way the right thing at the right time!

24.

The road of the godly leads upward, leaving hell behind.

25.

The Lord destroys the possessions of the proud but cares for the widows.

26.

The Lord hates the thoughts of the wicked but delights in kind words.

27.

Dishonest money brings grief to all the family, but hating bribes brings happiness.

28.

A good man thinks before he speaks; the evil man pours out his evil words without a thought.

29.

The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayers of the righteous.

30.

Pleasant sights and good reports give happiness and health.

31, 32.

If you profit from constructive criticism you will be elected to the wise men's hall of fame. But to reject criticism is to harm yourself and your own best interests.

33.

Humility and reverence for the Lord will make you both wise and honored.

COMMENTS ON 15:23-33

Proverbs 15:23. A person does not have joy from just any answer of his mouth but by a right answer or a good answer or a timely answer. The heart of the righteous studieth to answer (Proverbs 15:28). Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one (Colossians 4:6). Being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15). All that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers (Luke 2:47). A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in network of silver (Proverbs 25:11).

Proverbs 15:24. The wise choose the way that leads to life rather than destruction (Sheol): Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it (Matthew 7:13-14). Wisdom makes the decision now that will end right later: If thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43). Are you pressing on the upward way? Are you gaining new heights every day?

Proverbs 15:25. A double contrast: root up vs. establish and the proud vs. the widow (and maybe a third: house vs. border). For similar passages see Proverbs 12:7; Proverbs 14:11; Psalms 146:9. This is a great warning against arrogancy, self-sufficiency, and being independent in attitude. Concerning the border (or boundary) of the widow: In a country where property was defined by landmarksstones or some such objectsnothing was easier than to remove these altogether, or to alter their position. That this was a common form of fraud and oppression we gather from the stringency of the enactments against the offence (see Deuteronomy 19:14; Deuteronomy 27:17; and compare Job 24:2 and Proverbs 22:28). In the Babylonian and Assyrian inscriptions...there are many invoking curses, curious and multifarious, against the disturbers of boundaries (Pulpit Commentary).

Proverbs 15:26. Evil devices would include everything from the simplest plot to outsmart somebody to the most complex invention for the production of evil. Such inventers may be lauded, and such devisers may think themselves shrewd, but such is not God's view. God is against evil and everything and everybody multiplying it. Words that are pleasant (or pleasing) are pure and not evil.

Proverbs 15:27. One greedy of gain was violating the Tenth Commandment (Exodus 20:17). But instead of building up one's own house at the expense of others, sometimes one brings ruination to himself and his house, such as did Achan (Joshua 7:21; Joshua 7:24-25), Naboth (1 Kings 21:1-24), Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10), and Lot and others. Other Scriptures: Isaiah 5:8; Jeremiah 17:11; 1 Timothy 6:9-10. One who hates bribes is one who refuses to accept them (to enrich himself) or one who offers them (In hopes of profiting himself). There is far more of this in government than we realize.

Proverbs 15:28. Clarke: His tongue never runs before his wit; he never speaks rashly, and never unadvisedly; because he studiespondershis thoughts and his words. A wise person is slow to speak (James 1:19) so as to tell the exact truth and to say what should be said. The chief priests and elders deliberated in answering Jesus (they studied before answering), but it was not righteous (Matthew 21:23-27). The mouth of wicked poureth out evil things suggests that they speak with ease, giving no forethought to what they are about to say. And, oh, the wrong things that get said in this way!

Proverbs 15:29. Man's wickedness puts distance between himself and God (Isaiah 59:2). God hears the prayer of the righteous, but His face is against the wicked (Psalms 34:15-18; 1 Peter 3:12; Psalms 145:18-20). The godly person finds joy in walking with God, and when he needs special help, he can call upon Him. The ungodly relinquish all this to their sin.

Proverbs 15:30. The sunlight and other beautiful things that man sees bring joy to his heart, and the good news that he hears makes him feel good and results in good health. What one sees and hears, then, affects the way he feels, and the way he feels affects the functions of his body. People who trust instead of fret, who pray instead of worry, who thank God rather than complain, etc. are bound to have better health than those who do otherwise.

Proverbs 15:31. Proverbs 15:5 said that the person who regarded reproof would get wisdom. This verse says that such will abide among the wise. See Proverbs 15:10; Proverbs 15:12 also. An old proverb: Advice is for them that will take it. Stephen referred to his hearers-' ears as uncircumcised (Acts 7:51). The ear cannot always hear what is pleasing and commendatory, as much as we would like it that way. Praise may be pleasing, but reproof may be more profitable. All of us need both.

Proverbs 15:32. This verse treats both responses to reproof. One refusing correction may appear to be despising the one reproving him, but in reality he is despising his own best interests; he is hurting himself. The inclusion of so many sayings on correction indicates the amount of this that will come to us in life. Their purpose is to get us to accept it for our own betterment.

Proverbs 15:33. Compare with Proverbs 1:7. To learn true reverence for God is true wisdom. Wisdom would instruct us to this fear through parents, through the Scriptures, and through our religious leaders and religious associates. Honor does precede humility: it was so with Jesus (Philippians 2:7-11); it was so with the penitent publican (Luke 18:13-14); and we must be converted (humbled) before we become Christians (honor).

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 15:23-33

1.

What are some other verses besides Proverbs 15:23 on giving a right answer?

2.

What famous statement of Jesus tells us to choose the way that leads to life (Proverbs 15:24)?

3.

What was stated about borders or boundaries (Proverbs 15:25)?

4.

What all would be included under evil devices (Proverbs 15:26)?

5.

Who were some Bible characters who troubled their own house through greed (Proverbs 15:27)?

6.

In what area of life are bribes the most apt to occur (Proverbs 15:27)?

7.

What is the contrast in speech between the righteous and the wicked in Proverbs 15:28?

8.

In what sense is God far from the wicked (Proverbs 15:29)?

9.

What is said of both sight and hearing in Proverbs 15:30?

10.

Who accused his hearers of having uncircumcised ears (Proverbs 15:31)?

11.

Who is hurt the more when one refuses correctionthe reprover or the reproved (Proverbs 15:32)?

12.

Who in the Bible were humble before they were honored (Proverbs 15:33)?