Audio Download

“A false witness shall not be unpunished” Part 3

(Pro 19:21-29)

[Study Aired October 2, 2025]

Pro 19:21  There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
Pro 19:22  The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
Pro 19:23  The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Pro 19:24  A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Pro 19:25  Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
Pro 19:26  He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
Pro 19:27  Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
Pro 19:28  An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
Pro 19:29  Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

Christ is the true witness within God’s elect who causes us to stand (Eph 6:10-18, Php 2:12-13), and only Christ can be Christ, and so if we have this unction, this anointing of God, then we are witnesses of these things (Rev 11:3, Luk 24:48) as His power gives us victory over our flesh by little and little (Deu 7:22), making it possible to die daily and see the Lord increase as we decrease (Joh 3:30).

There is no part of these verses (Eph 6:10-18) that do not confirm the fact that we must be actively about our Father’s business, fulfilling His will, working out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Heb 5:7, Eph 5:30, Joh 4:32, 1Jn 4:17, Heb 13:10), knowing that “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”, and it is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom that will be obtained by our Father giving us the will to put on the whole armour of God so we can stand (Eph 6:11-18).

We’ve all been false witnesses as described in these verses in the book of John (1Jn 2:1-20), with words that confirm and remind us of what a false witness looks like in this world as well as a true witness, a disciple indeed of God (1Jn 2:1-29). These confirming verses declare God’s faithfulness toward the body of Christ, and they help set the stage for these last few proverbs that will look at in chapter 19.

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:[false witness] but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever [true witness].
1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; [false witness] whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: [true witness] but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
1Jn 2:20  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. [true witness]

[John contrasts the true witness of Christ within the elect with those who were false witnesses coming as angels of light but were yet in darkness (2Co 11:14), again more contrast of what is happening in the lives of the true witnesses and the false witnesses of this world, that must be burnt out of us (Php 3:13-21)]

1Jn 2:21  I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (conversely we read Joh 17:3, Joh 14:20)
1Jn 2:23  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father:(Joh 17:3) (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
1Jn 2:24  Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.(Joh 17:3)
1Jn 2:25  And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.(Joh 17:3)
1Jn 2:26  These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

Pro 19:21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

God made mankind to have many devices^H4284 in his heart, devices that deceive us into thinking that we have free moral agency when the truth of the matter is “nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand” whether that is light or darkness, peace or evil, the Lord is working it all according to the counsel of His own will, all the devices, the laws, and the vices that flesh is subject unto (Isa 63:17, Isa 45:7, Eph 1:11, Rom 8:28, Eph 1:12, Rom 8:18-21, Jas 4:12).

Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Jas 4:12  There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

“devices” H4284 machăshâbâh  machăshebeth makh-ash-aw-baw’, makh-ash-eh’-beth
From H2803; a contrivance, that is, (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice): – cunning (work), curious work, device (-sed), imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought.

Pro 19:22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

God’s love that is shed abroad in our heart (Rom 5:5-8) far exceeds the “kindness” and even sacrificial spirit (Rom 5:7) that He has given mankind to be able to express in this life and so the contrast is drawn with the “poor man” who represents those who are of a poor and contrite spirit formed by God’s love being shed abroad in us (Rom 8:9, Heb 12:6), against those who cannot help but lie to themselves thinking they are responsible for their many wonderful works, their kindnesses to others (Mat 7:22). We unknowingly lie to ourselves until the man of perdition is destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our heavens (2Th 2:8), to then be able to give Him all glory for whatever kindness we express in this life, as we go forward in that process dying daily (1Co 15:31, Act 14:22).

We are to be kind and do good unto all men, especially unto the household of faith, and it is only the elect who can truly see that any goodness that is expressed in our lives is from the Father and not of our own, even as Christ told us of himself (Joh 5:30, Mar 10:18).

Mar 10:18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Pro 19:23  The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

This is the whole duty of man, to fear God and work righteousness, “The fear of the LORD tendeth to life” (Isa 41:10 , Act 10:34-35, Ecc 12:13-14), so that we won’t “be visited with evil”. God’s desire has never changed toward His children, “that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ” (Eph 1:12).

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

The fear of the LORD is a gift from God that leads to a lifetime of abiding in the light of God’s word (1Jn 3:3) that satisfies our souls and keeps us from being visited with evil (3Jn 1:2, Joh 4:23-24, Jer 29:11).

1Jn 3:3  And every man that has this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

3Jn 1:2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. [If we must it’s because we will as His children (Php 2:13)]

Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil [“he shall not be visited with evil”], to give you an expected end.

Pro 19:24  A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Pro 19:24 The slothful man buries his hand into the dinner-bowl, Yet he does not bring it back to his mouth.”[CLV]
Pro 19:24  The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. [ASV]

The spiritually slothful man is the man of perdition who must be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our lives (2Th 2:3-12). We know that Judas is a type of the man of perdition (Mat 26:23) who is within all of mankind who are not able to see the dominion that sin has over us being blinded by the god of this world (2Co 4:4), especially regarding the spirit of self righteousness, that abounds at the end of the age (Mat 24:12), and can only be overcome through Christ alone.

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity (Eze 33:13, Pro 3:5-8) shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Pro 19:25  Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

The scorner within me needs to be smitten so that the singleness that is in Christ can again be understood (2Co 11:3). It is God’s word that is reproving us and rebuking us with all longsuffering (2Ti 4:2, 1Co 9:27, and faithful are the wounds of a friend who reproves us, that friend being Christ in each of us our hope of glory (Col 1:27))

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity^G572 [singleness] that is in Christ.

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Pro 19:26  He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

The prodigal son wasted his father’s inheritance and he represents the elect who, at their appointed time, chase away his mother, meaning we all must lose our first love, and cause shame and bring reproach unto God as the prodigal son did, and then by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our lives when we are at our lowest point, we begin to see the true purpose of all our trials and suffering in this life and how it is all to the glory of God, who will have all men to be saved in time (1Jn 2:2, 1Ti 2:4, 1Co 15:22). This story perfectly illustrates the false witness that we all are at first, that must be destroyed by the humbling experiences that the Lord gives us, to then renew us into something glorious in His service and purpose for all of mankind (Luk 15:13, 18-21).

Luk 15:13  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

Luk 15:18  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luk 15:19  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Luk 15:20  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Luk 15:21  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

Pro 19:27  Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

This proverb is another admonition unto the elect to “come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2Co 6:17). When we stop listening to the vain babbling of Babylon (2Pe 2:19), we are no longer going to err or be in bondage from those supposed words of knowledge, that by God’s grace we can now see through (Luk 8:10, Rom 11:25, Eph 4:14, Rom 11:32).

Luk 8:10  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Pro 19:28  An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

When someone is an ungodly witness they will not be able to bring forth fruit meet unto repentance as we see in these verses (Mat 3:8, Mat 7:18, Joh 15:16).

Mat 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. [Eph 2:10]

What they do bring forth is a hunger and thirst, “the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity”, to keep the man of perdition on the throne of their hearts, thinking they are the masters of their own destinies, in matters of sin and not sinning, exposing that they are yet a false witness, whose iniquity which is self-righteousness (Eze 33:13, Eze 33:18, Eze 18:26) is in full display keeping the beast on the throne of their hearts and not Christ who rightly belongs there (Mat 7:22).

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [strong delusion]
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Pro 19:29  Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

God has devised a means to deal with his banished [all the world] (2Sa 14:14), just as He did with the elect at first, who are the first to trust in God to his glory (Eph 1:12) as we receive the necessary “stripes for the back of fools” which will cause blueness (Pro 20:30) that symbolizes the healing that God’s chastening grace brings (Tit 2:12-13) to those who are blessed in this life to believe and suffer for his name sake (Php 1:29,  Php 3:7-9, Mat 10:22).

2Sa 14:14  For we must needs die (Tit 2:12-13, Joh 12:24), and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him (Rom 11:32).

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: