(Pro 28:17-28)

[Study Aired May 7, 2026]

The answer to the question posed in the title is found in (Jas 4:1-10) and the accompanying proverbs we will look at in this last section of chapter 28 explains how we rob ourselves of a rich and abundant life in Christ by wanting the riches of this life at all costs, losing sight of the true riches which are incomparable to that which God has set before those who love him, and who are called according to His purpose (Php 3:8 , 1Co 2:9 , Rom 8:28).

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,

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

As we go through these last proverbs of chapter 28 we’ll look at how they correlate with these commandments of Christ (Mat 5:44 , Luk 6:27 , Luk 6:35) that tell us to love our enemies. The world cannot reconcile these verses in their hearts, and a warring spirit, one that hates, is associated with one who is wanting and willing to do what it takes to get what we want. The result is war in our hearts, and whether we know it or not, this avarice is the breeding ground for the entire history of humanity’s warring ways.

Pro 28:17  A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

This proverb is true of everyone who has ever picked up a sword and thought that an eye for eye and a  tooth for a tooth was the way to go, whether you picked up a real physical sword or not (1Jn 3:15).

1Jn 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

But this is what Christ commands us today: (Mat 5:38-42). Everything that follows (Mat 5:38) tells us what we must actively be doing to demonstrate by our actions that we love our enemies (Mat 5:39-42). Violence does not have to be physical violence, it can a violent act of neglect, or seeking vengeance in some way when God tells us that this belongs to him (Rom 12:19).

Mat 5:38  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Mat 5:40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Mat 5:41  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Mat 5:42  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

“let no man stay him” is just another way of saying “let the dead bury the dead” (Luk 9:60). We don’t try to shelter the guilty, not within the body of Christ or without, but we bury our own dead in Christ in the prescribed manner God has ordained found in (Mat 18:1-20) along with our own dying daily examination of whether we be in the faith or not (Rom 14:4).

Luk 9:60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

The court measures itself (Rev 11:2), and as hard as it was for Cain to be a marked man, God did not shelter him from the punishment that was due for his actions of murder against his brother (Gen 4:12-14). The Corinthian fornicator was not sheltered from the punishment of being put out of the church, and neither was Paul or any of us exempt from being buffeted by “the messenger of Satan” as Paul was (1Co 5:5 , 2Co 12:7).

Rev 11:2  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not;[Luk 9:60] for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

Pro 28:18  Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

We are all perverse in our ways at first as we read in (Eph 2:1-3), and not able to walk “uprightly” in order to be saved. Only Christ can change our walk and wrestle our old man to the ground and leave us in a state for the rest of our lives (2Co 12:7-8) knowing that we can only be more than conquerors through Christ, as this story of Jacob typifies (Num 14:22 , Gen 32:24-25).

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

Num 14:22  Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

Gen 32:25  And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

It is a lifetime of overcoming that is required as we completely fall seven times (Pro 24:16) and by God’s grace get up and keep overcoming as we confess our iniquities to our merciful and forgiving Father who knows our frame and is cleansing us through Christ. This judgment and wrestling match that the elect have their whole lives (1Pe 4:17) is how our “life is preserved” (Lev 26:40 , Eph 4:22-26 , Lev 16:21 , Gen 32:30).

Gen 32:30  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Pro 28:19  He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

Howbeit in vain Christ said do they worship me (Mar 7:7), and that vanity spoken of in this verse, “but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough”, points to our labours in Babylon where there was no stay of bread and water (Isa 3:1), and we were in fact building our own houses, and bigger barns, as opposed to examining ourselves and being led unto true repentance which is what this statement is a shadow of, “He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread”.

The harvest comes after the hard work of tilling the land, which is symbol of examining ourselves, and being prepared in heart to receive the word of God that our Father will give increase to in our lives as He wills “plenty of bread”. It is when we labour for the meat that does not perish (Joh 6:27), that we do so without vanity, as a result of presenting our lives to him as a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1-2 , Joh 6:44). This is what will give us “plenty of bread” and enrich our lives in Him.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Pro 28:20  A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

The “faithful man” represents the elect in this age who are blessed with Christ’s wisdom (1Co 1:29-30). It is the Lord who makes us as such so that we can provide our portion or be a joint that supplies in love in due season that which the body needs to the edifying of itself in love (Luk 12:42-43 , Eph 4:16).

1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Luk 12:42  And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Luk 12:43  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

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 28:21  To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

Christ is the one who has kept us thus far, and Christ is the one who will give us the power to endure until the end (Php 4:13), no one taking us out of the Father’s hand (Joh 10:28). If we contributed one iota to our salvation then perhaps we could “have respect of persons”. But God tells us in this proverb that glorying in men or the flesh of men is akin to this statement, “for for a piece of bread that man will transgress”. We do this at first when we are dragged to the body of Christ when we innately, because of our past making an idol of the beast (Rev 14:9-11), continue in this vein falling at the feet of John to worship him approach (Joh 6:44 , Rev 19:10 , Rev 22:9).

Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

Pro 28:22  He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

An evil eye is an eye that is not single (Mat 6:22) and tries to serve both God and mammon (Mat 6:24). By doing this spiritual poverty is certain to “come upon him”.

Mat 6:22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

Mat 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Seeking the kingdom of God first (Mat 6:33), and laying down our lives for each other is what will bless us with peace that passes all understanding (Php 4:7), whether we have a little or a lot (Php 4:12).

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Pro 28:23  He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

Everyone that Christ rebuked will benefit from His correction, as God’s elect are today (Heb 10:26 , Pro 27:6). The many examples of Christ rebuking in the bible is for our sakes as scripture tells us “that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God” (2Co 4:15).

Below are some of the examples of Christ rebuking, and never flattering flesh, including His own flesh of which He told someone right after he explained that we must be as humble as a child to enter into the kingdom of God, “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.”[in other words having a right perspective of what flesh is, including Christ’s flesh, is absolutely needful if we are going to “inherit eternal life”]

Christ rebuked the religious leaders (Mat 23:27-28), his disciples (Mat 16:23), again his disciples for a lack of faith (Mar 16:14), the sons of thunder were rebuked (Luk 9:55), he rebuked the crowd, the wicked and adulterous generation (Mat 12:39), He rebuked the corruption in worship (Mat 21:12-13), and the unrepentant cities mentioned in (Mat 11:20-24).

Pro 28:24  Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

Wherein have we robbed you Lord? That was the question in the book of Malachi (Mal 3:7-9).

Mal 3:7  Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
Mal 3:8  Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Mal 3:9  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.[the fig tree cursed Mar 11:14]

We have robbed God in tithe and offerings which represents the whole of our life (Rom 12:1). We naturally rob God of His glory when we don’t present our lives a living sacrifice and continue to conform to this world (Rom 12:2). And when we take glory unto ourselves by being found operating in our flesh, by our own righteousness, our companionship at that moment is with the devil who is called a destroyer, making us “the companion of a destroyer”(Rev 9:11).

Rev 9:11  And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon^G3, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon^G623.

G3 Abaddōn ab-ad-dohn’
Of Hebrew origin [H11]; a destroying angel: – Abaddon.
Total KJV occurrences: 1

G623Apolluōn ap-ol-loo’-ohn
Active participle of G622; a destroyer (that is, Satan): – Apollyon.
Total KJV occurrences: 1

It is our “father or his mother” we are robbing, who typify God the Father and Christ who is the head of the church, or we could say it is Christ and the church who we are robbing, when we don’t present our bodies a living sacrifice unto Him (Rom 12:1-2). The opposite effect of robbing Him is pronounced in these verses that proclaims that if we keep his commandments, his words, the Father and the Son will abide in us (Joh 14:20-23).

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Joh 14:21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Joh 14:22  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Pro 28:25  He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
Pro 28:26  He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

A proud heart is a heart that trusts in his own righteousness (Php 3:9). Pride comes before a fall, and what causes that fall is the inability to walk humbly with God and mankind (Mic 6:8 , Zec 4:6). God therefore humbles His children so that we can walk humbly with Him, no longer trusting in our hearts but yielded to His will (2Co 1:8-9 , Pro 3:5-6).

2Co 1:8  For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
2Co 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

When we don’t bind His laws around our hearts we are going to bring strife upon others and not know the way to peace (Deu 11:18 , Pro 3:3 , Pro 6:21 , Pro 7:3 , Isa 59:8). When we trust God emphatically it is because we have been going through fiery trials (1Pe 4:12) which create zeal within us so that we can bind God’s laws continually upon our hearts.

Pro 3:3  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Pro 3:4  So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Pro 6:21  Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

Pro 7:3  Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

It is a fool who trusts in his own heart (Jer 17:9-10), and a wise man who sees the need to examine himself and die daily (1Co 15:31) so that we can walk wisely and be delivered from our flesh (Pro 3:5-10).

Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jer 17:10  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;(Jer 17:9) and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Pro 28:27  He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

We are to do good unto all men, but especially unto the household of faith (Gal 6:10), and this is the way of life we’ve been called unto (Luk 6:38 , Pro 19:17).

Luk 6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Pro 19:17  He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

If we forsake this way of life it will bring “many a curse” on us (1Jn 3:17), but if we present our bodies a living sacrifice and give our entire life to God as a living scapegoat sacrifice, we “shall not lack” and will be blessed for helping the poor in spirit who Christ says the elect are (Mat 5:3).

We are poor because we truly see the impoverished state that flesh is in, and the need for continual deliverance, as opposed to those who we once were, thinking, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev 3:17 , Joh 9:41).

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Pro 28:28  When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Another way of saying this part of the proverb, “but when they perish, the righteous increase”, is found in (Joh 3:30).

Joh 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease.

The wicked within us must be made manifest, and those giants in the land may cause us to hide ourselves, but not in a negative sense but rather in the Lord who will do battle against those giants in our land, those powers and principalities that He is far higher than (Eph 6:12 , Eph 1:19-21).

Every battle in history is just a reminder for God’s elect that the main battlefield we are always to be identifying is within us, “From whence come wars and fightings among you?”(Jas 4:1-7).

This is where the battles are taking place and why Christ tells us not to worry, because the battle is of the Lord and we will be more than conquerors through Him (1Sa 17:47 , Mat 24:6 , Rom 8:37).

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, [within the hearts and minds of His children]
Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

1Sa 17:47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

“God divided the light from the darkness”

(Pro 28:12-16)

[Study Aired April 30, 2026]

Many of the proverbs in God’s word have contrasting light and dark statements that act like contrasting colours in the natural world. The natural things do reveal spiritual truths as we read in (Rom 1:20). One can find webpages with examples of contrasting colours at work. For example, the effect of orange appearing more orange, and blue more vibrantly blue when they are set beside each other.

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Complementary colors – Wikipedia

The same principle is true with many of the proverbs that relay the positive and negative example of some particular subject in scripture to make both sides of the coin brighter in our heavens. God works continually through contrast that are both the same to him as we go from glory to glory (2Co 3:18) at the hand of the Master Potter who is dragging us to Christ (Joh 6:44), working out this process within us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure (Isa 45:7 , Psa 139:12 , Php 2:12-13). God does not do the evil, but he does facilitate such an evil experience at the hands of those who are being humbled in this life, which in time will be everyone (Eph 1:11 , Ecc 1:13).

Ecc 1:11 There is no remembrance of former generations, And also for those who shall come after us, A remembrance of them shall not continue With those who shall come afterward.”
Ecc 1:12 I myself, the Assembler, came to be king over Israel in Jerusalem.”
Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens:it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it. (CLV)

The old man and the new man within us are needful for the workmanship of His hands to be brought to see more clearly through this contrast that we are guilty of all, and chief of sinners, or as David was inspired to say, just as Saul of Tarsus did in their own words “you [Tony] are the man” (2Sa 12:7 , 1Ti 1:15). The only thing that is acceptable to God in us is Christ (Eph 1:6) who is the new creation (2Co 5:17).

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Christ is being formed within His body the church today (Col 1:24), and that’s why Paul was rejoicing because he was blessed to endure all that suffering he was going through in his day with the people of God, via the much tribulation (2Co 11:23-30), that must be a part of our lives if we are going to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection (Act 14:22 , Php 1:29 , 2Ti 2:12).

Pro 28:12  When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

Pro 28:12 When the righteous are glad there is great felicity everywhere, Yet when the wicked rise humanity must lie low.”[CLV]

Pro 28:12  When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. [ASV]

Christ is our righteousness and if we are granted to endure to the end of this life to be those saviours that come up on Mount Zion (Oba 1:21) there will be great rejoicing from the saints at that time. In (Job 38:4-7) we read a typical statement of the great rejoicing of the morning stars that sang together. What they were rejoicing over is found in the context of the words which are typical of the body of Christ who are also measured and supported upon “the corner stone thereof” which represents Christ (Eph 2:20 , 1Pe 2:6). Again Paul was rejoicing as we rejoice knowing that Christ is being formed within the church (Col 1:24).

Job 38:4  Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Job 38:5  Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Job 38:6  Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
Job 38:7  When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you,(Heb 11:26) and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

The wicked have risen in the lives of God’s elect and are being destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming within (2Th 2:2-8). Now we are hidden in the Lord, being judged first (1Pe 4:17), as God’s workmanship that is hidden from the world (1Co 2:7 , 1Pe 3:4).

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

1Pe 3:4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Outwardly evil men and seducers are waxing worse and worse at the end of this age (2Ti 3:13) and that is also a typical statement that Christ made reminding us that the outward wars and rumours of wars and breakdown of society (Mar 13:7 , 2Ti 3:1-9) are types and shadows of what has come to be realized is within us and needs to be destroyed by Christ. This is the first and perhaps most obvious contrasting proverb we’re looking at, where we learn that it is within us that light will come out of darkness as the Lord mercifully judges us and leads us unto repentance in this age (Tit 2:12-13 , Heb 12:6). This concept stems back to our title where the first use of the word light and darkness are used in the bible in (Gen 1:4), revealing the means by which God would work with His workmanship until the very end when He is all in all, and there is no more darkness (1Co 12:6 , 1Co 15:28 , Eph 1:23)

1Co 12:6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

What must be destroyed by the brightness of His coming into our heavens:

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Ti 3:8  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2Ti 3:9  But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

Pro 28:13  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Covering our sins is the same as despising God’s goodness that leads us unto repentance “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper” (Rom 2:4). We will not prosper spiritually with such a hardened heart, and therefore this section of the proverb is contrasted with the miracle that must occur in our lives as God give the increase by softening our hearts and making them contrite and broken (Isa 66:2 , Psa 51:17). It it with that heart alone that we can confess our faults from our heart and be shown mercy from our heavenly Father “but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy“. Again we see contrast here that is simply showing God’s elect that no one comes out of Egypt which typifies the bondage of sin except by the strong hand of our Lord, the fit man who takes us through our wilderness experience of evil (Joh 8:32-36 , Lev 16:21).

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Psa 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33  They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

“but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy“

Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Pro 28:14  Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

If we are as He is in this life (1Jn 4:17) then we are going to be blessed to have this Godly fear working within us so that we may be heard, in that we fear God as Christ did in the days of his flesh (Heb 5:7 , Eph 5:30).

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

If we don’t continue to hear him (Joh 8:31 , Mat 24:13) are hearts will be hardened, and this is the litmus test as to who it is that has God’s spirit within them or not (1Jn 4:3-6).

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Without Christ’s spirit working within us it is impossible to not have our hearts hardened as the love of many will wax cold because of iniquity abounding at the end of this age (Mat 24:12-13), due to the fact that God is not saving everyone in this age but a few who have been blessed to have their eyes and ears opened, and kept open, in order to hear Christ’s parables that reveal the kingdom of God within us (Mat 22:14 , Luk 17:21). The obvious contrast here is that you will either be given a heart that fears God until the end of this age, or  you won’t, saying my Lord delays his coming (Mat 24:48-50)!

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

Pro 28:15  As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

There is no direct contrast with this proverb that is simply showing us in type and shadow how wicked Satan is, who is likened unto “a roaring lion” or a “ranging bear“. The “wicked ruler” is the god of this world (2Co 4:3-4) who has kept the world in spiritual poverty from the garden of Eden “a wicked ruler over the poor people“.

2Co 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
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.

He is like a “roaring lion” that wanders around, roaming, and searching and seeking who can destroy, all according to the counsel of God’s own will (Eph 1:11). He is likened unto a “roaring lion” seeking whom he may destroy (1Pe 5:6-8), which is why we must always be on our guard, ever vigilant (2Co 2:10-11). The positive use of a lion is the Lion of the tribe of Judah who is destroying all the false doctrines within us, giving us victory over the lies of the devil. The positive use of a bear in scripture is also in connection with the destruction of false doctrines that are in this story being likened unto children that were destroyed by a bear (2Ki 2:24)

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

2Co 2:10  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; [“Humble yourselves“]
2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

2Ki 2:24  And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

Pro 28:16  The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

When we are wanting and lacking in understanding we can feel oppressed and be oppressive due to the lack of good judgment, wisdom, and insight, that are all qualities that God is forming within the body of Christ. “The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor“.(1Co 10:11 , 1Ki 12:1-14).

1Ki 12:8  But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
1Ki 12:9  And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
1Ki 12:10  And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
1Ki 12:11  And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
1Ki 12:12  So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
1Ki 12:13  And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him;
1Ki 12:14  And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2Pe 3:18). Solomon in the positive view of his life typifies Christ, and his son and those who He put in charge are a good example of someone lacking understanding, reflecting this covetous me first attitude that has been dominating so many rulers throughout the ages “but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days “.

Next week will continue to look at how God is dividing the light from darkness within us, and how this process is being revealed in His word, and in particular via the proverbs we are studying.

“The Righteous are Bold as a Lion”

(Pro 28:1-11)

[Study Aired April 23, 2026]

Pro 28:1  The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Pro 28:2  For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
Pro 28:3  A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
Pro 28:4  They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
Pro 28:5  Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
Pro 28:6  Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Pro 28:7  Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
Pro 28:8  He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
Pro 28:9  He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Pro 28:10  Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
Pro 28:11  The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

In this section of (Pro 28:1-11), we’re shown a clear contrast between two ways of living. The righteous are “bold as a lion,” walking in integrity and understanding, while those who pursue wickedness or unjust gain ultimately bring harm—to others and to themselves, taking on a mindset of fearing men and not God, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth”.

Wealth, when pursued without righteousness, is shown to be unstable and even destructive as it draws us away from our Father. Putting our confidence in those things which are temporal is what will destroy our confidence in God, but if we are granted to look to, and believe and work toward attaining those things which are not temporal, and not seen (Heb 11:27), it will be by the grace and faith of Christ that this is accomplished (2Co 4:17-18, Eph 2:8).

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (Mar 10:29-31)
2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:(Mat 6:33) for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

In (1Ti 6:6-13), where we’re reminded that “godliness with contentment is great gain,” and we are admonished that “they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare.” Paul adds that “the love of money is the root of all evil,” and urges us to “flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” This aligns perfectly with what Jesus teaches in (Mat 6:33), “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Together, these passages remind us that the issue is not simply wealth, but what we are pursuing first. Are we chasing gain, or are we seeking God’s righteousness above all? This brings us to a most instructive parable that the world gives no regard to as far as what its spiritual meaning is, found in (Mar 10:17-27).

Mar 10:20  And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Mar 10:21  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.(Mat 16:25)
Mar 10:22  And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. (Php 3:9)
Mar 10:23  And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:24  And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches (Php 3:9) to enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:25  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,[the narrow way] than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mar 10:26  And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
Mar 10:27  And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

This really is where ‘the rubber meets the road’, as we say, and it was written for our admonition to remind us that this narrow way that leads to life can only be found with Christ’s righteousness, which happens as a result of our being miraculously dragged to Him in this age, so we can lose our life (Php 3:9, Joh 6:44, Mat 16:25).

Right after describing this parable to His disciples, Peter then says this, “Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee”. This journey God’s elect are on separates us from the rich young ruler, and brings us to eventually see the need to give our whole lives a living sacrifice to our Creator (Rom 12:1-2), going in a direction that He has ordained for the bride of Christ (Rev 14:4, Rev 19:7, Rom 8:14-16, 2Co 3:17). And what was Christ’s answer to Peter who represents us? (Mar 10:29-31). This answer of Christ is why the redeemed of  the Lord (Psa 107:2) ought to “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice”(Php 4:4).

Mar 10:29  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
Mar 10:30  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Mar 10:31  But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

Pro 28:1  The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

This faintness of heart, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth”, is a curse from God that comes upon us when we are not doing the right thing in His service (Lev 26:36).

Lev 26:36  And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies;[the enemy of unbelief within us] and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.

It is possible to have Godly fear and boldness at the same time, which comes as a result of the Lion of the tribe of Judah abiding in us (Col 1:27, Rev 5:5), and when we labour for the meat that does not perish (Joh 6:27) our hearts are strengthened by that bread of life (Psa 104:15).

Joh 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Psa 104:15  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.

When we don’t neglect so great a salvation by crying out to God, as Christ did with fear (Heb 2:3, Heb 5:7, Eph 5:30), those prayers will avail much and cause us to not faint and lose heart (Luk 18:1). If we seek God with all our heart he will be found (Jer 29:13, Heb 11:6), and the strength will be given to stand our spiritual ground, which is on His Word (Eph 6:13), not fleeing under any circumstance. “The wicked flee” but the righteousness of Christ makes us “bold as a lion”(Rev 2:10, Rev 5:5)

Luk 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Pro 28:2  For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

Our bodies are likened unto the land, and the many princes represents power that yet rules over our bodies causing us to transgress. It is only with spiritual understanding that comes from Christ that we will be able to have lives that will be prolonged, as we’re given dominion over those powers and principalities that are likened unto princes (Eph 6:12). The “man of understanding” represents Christ in us and when we honour our olam Father Christ, and the church Jerusalem above, our days shall be prolonged by being in that blessed and holy first resurrection, which is what this first commandment of promise is all about (Eph 6:1-3, Rev 20:6).

Eph 6:1  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Eph 6:2  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Eph 6:3  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Pro 28:3  A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

This statement, “A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food”, is true both physically and spiritually. It’s the gentle consistent rain of God’s word, meat given in due season, that benefits the body of Christ, not a driving or sweeping rain that would make things worse, which is symbolic of the Nicolaitan spirit that wants to rule over the laity with its damaging rain that promises liberty but does not deliver (2Pe 2:18-19).

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

In Babylon there is a Nicolaitan spirit which rules over the laity with false doctrines, and those false doctrines are like “a sweeping rain which leaveth no food”. We were definitely poor in Babylon, with no stay of bread and water (Isa 3:1) and though our intentions were good, because of our blindness at that time we were the poor man who was oppressing the poor with a myriad of false doctrines that as we read is likened unto “a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.”

Pro 28:4  They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

This proverb is showing us that our response to evil reveals where we stand. If we drift from what is right, or leave our first estate as it is described in Jude (Jud 1:6), we would start to tolerate and even approve wrong doing as the blinded church of Corinth did, both physically and spiritually (1Co 5:1-3).

1Co 5:1  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife
1Co 5:2  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1Co 5:3  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

It is by standing on the word of God that we can contend with that spirit that was in the Corinthian church of Paul’s day. It was the physical event of fornication that revealed the spiritual fornication that was in the hearts of the Corinthians who were tolerating not just a little leaven, but a lot in their midst (1Co 5:4-7).

1Co 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Co 5:6  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1Co 5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Pro 28:5  Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

Our labours are not in vain in the Lord, and it is in the seeking of Him that we will “understand all” (Php 3:14-16, 1Jn 1:7-9). We won’t understand judgement if our actions are evil and we are relying on our own righteousness to deliver us in this life (Php 3:8-9).

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Php 3:16  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Pro 28:6  Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Being poor in spirit (Mat 5:3), whether your wealthy by the world’s standards or if you don’t have a lot in this life, is infinitely more valuable than a rich person who is perverse in his ways (Php 4:11-12). It is those who have the Kingdom of God within them (Luk 17:20-21) who have the true riches, that is to say the life of Christ within us (Col 1:27, Rom 8:9), which gives us the ability to “walketh in his uprightness”. The rich person who is “perverse in his ways” represents our time when we were the rich young ruler, confident in our Babylonian doctrines and confidence in our own flesh, our own righteousness (Joh 1:17, Luk 16:16, our last proverb Pro 28:11), which is where we all start until were given the power to come out of her my people and live by the faith of Christ (Gal 2:20).

Mat 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Php 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Pro 28:7  Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotousH2151 men shameth his father.
Pro 28:8  He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
Pro 28:9  He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Pro 28:10  Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

Keeping the law of Christ is a blessing (Psa 119:2), and the one who does not keep the law is considered riotous^H2151 in this proverb and is contrasted with the law-abiding “wise son”. The riotous man is described as a prodigal son, someone who is squandering his father’s inheritance in Babylon, which we all do at first. The parable of the prodigal is not about us being on the physical skids as a result of poor money choices, but rather about taking God’s fair jewels of my gold and of my silver [the inheritance from his father Luk 15:12] and wrapping it around the idols of our hearts which is what the prodigal son does, and we do when we are in Babylon (Eze 16:17). Consequently if God is working with us in this age, we are brought to our wits’ end and come to see by God’s grace that we are spiritually starving to death (Luk 15:11-32).

Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

Riotous H2151 zâlal zaw-lal’
A primitive root (compare H2107); to shake (as in the wind), that is, to quake; figuratively to be loose morally, worthless or prodigal: – blow down, glutton, riotous (eater), vile.
Total KJV occurrences: 9

The “usury and unjust gain [that] increaseth our substance” represents our labour of building our own house that is all done in vain, and “he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor” means that even that which we think we have will be taken and given to those who were blessed to have the Lord build their spiritual house in this age (Psa 127:1, Mat 25:29).

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Mat 25:29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

The verse, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination”, is telling us that not everyone that says “Lord, Lord…” will be heard of God (Mat 7:21, Luk 6:46). If we turn from hearing the law of God we will reap what we sow, but as Paul said, ‘I am persuaded better things of the body of Christ (Heb 6:9) who God is causing to have a broken and contrite heart so that He looks to us and our prayers are heard, in that we fear Him’ (Isa 66:2, Rom 9:22-23, Heb 5:7, Eph 5:30, 1Jn 4:17).

Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

We all caused the righteous to go astray in an evil way when we were in Babylon, and consequently fell into our own pit of self-righteousness, thinking that we were right before God in our spiritually hedged state. It is only when that insidious spirit of self-righteousness is exposed from the pit of our being that we will cry out by the grace of God and be amongst the upright that “shall have good things in possession”, with the “good” being the life of Christ now abiding in us, who said ‘there is none good but one’ (Mar 10:18, Luk 17:10).

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

Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Pro 28:11  The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

This last proverb we will look at is an admonition to not let knowledge puff us up and become conceited, as if we had attain anything of our own selves, “The rich man is wise in his own conceit”. This high-mindedness that we must avoid at all costs, is addressed in the book of Romans, (Rom 11:18-21), and “the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out” is symbollic of the poor and contrite spirit of our Lord who became poor for us (2Co 8:9) and with God’s spirit within us searches out all that conceit within us, or any root of bitterness (1Co 2:10, Pro 20:27), and destroys it so that it cannot gain victory over our lives in Him (Rom 8:37).

Rom 11:18  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

2Co 8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich (1Jn 4:17).

1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Pro 20:27  The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.(Rom 2:4)

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Christ is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5), who, if He is dwelling within us, will cleanse this temple that we are (1Co 3:16), driving out everything that does not belong there our whole life (Joh 2:15) so that we can continue to worship our Father in spirit and truth (Joh 4:23), coming boldly before “the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16, Eph 1:16).

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend”

  (Pro 27:17-27)

[Study Aired April 16, 2026]

Pro 27:17  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Pro 27:18  Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
Pro 27:19  As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
Pro 27:20  Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Pro 27:21  As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
Pro 27:22  Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
Pro 27:23  Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
Pro 27:24  For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
Pro 27:25  The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
Pro 27:26  The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
Pro 27:27  And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

Our title, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend”, taken from verse 17 of this chapter,  is a powerful metaphor that reminds us that growth is never meant to be a solitary journey (Heb 10:25). This proverb from last week’s study (Pro 27:9) confirms that it is Christ in us who makes it possible for us to be a joint that supplies in love (Eph 4:16, Col 1:27, Rom 5:5, Rom 8:30-34).

God’s word of course is likened unto a sharp two-edged sword (Heb 4:12), and both breastplates and swords can be made of iron, and so we’re reminded of the constant need in these verses as the body of Christ to be sure that we are clothed with the spiritual armour that God grants us in this life (Rom 8:29-32) in order to do battle against the powers and principalities that we constantly war against (Eph 6:12). This is how we can be an effective joint that “maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph 6:10-18, 1Th 5:1-11).

Pro 27:17  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Iron is being likened unto God’s word in this opening proverb, and we know God sends His word to bring healing (Psa 107:20, Joh 20:21, Joh 3:17), especially to God’s elect in this age (1Ti 4:10). It is because of our belief in that word (Joh 6:68, Joh 6:28) that we can grow and overcome and endure the reproach that comes upon us for trusting in the living God who is the saviour of all men.

1Ti 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God (Eph 1:12), who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe (specially of those who are doing the work of God in this age Joh 6:28-29).

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Two examples of God’s word being sent to bring spiritual healing: “Iron sharpening iron”

1- Nathan Confronts David — “Iron sharpening iron”

2Sa 12:13  And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.(Eph 2:8, Psa 32:2)

2- Paul Confronts Peter — “Iron sharpening iron”

Gal 2:11  But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

Pro 27:18  Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

Keeping the fig tree is just another way of saying “Occupy till I come”(Luk 19:13), the fig tree representing the body of Christ as does the vineyard that we occupy. Our labours our not in vain in the Lord (1Co 15:58) and we are reminded through Christ directly that “he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured”(Mat 24:42-47).

Luk 19:13  And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.(Heb 11:6)

Mat 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. [Christ is the goodman in our temple (1Co 3:16, Col 1:27) and we are being told to not neglect so great a salvation by stirring up the spirit of God within us, and Christ will then be that goodman who will be the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 2:3, Heb 12:2, Php 2:12-13)]
Mat 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mat 24:45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Mat 24:46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Mat 24:47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. (Luk 9:23, Joh 6:44, Mat 19:27-30)

We are not just passively sitting around or mentally not involved as we wait for the Lord’s return but rather we are by God’s grace fearfully (Mat 10:28) taking on all these needful qualities in our life (Heb 11:7, Heb 5:7, Mat 18:8-9, Rom 13:11) that will make it possible for us to be scarcely saved as it says in (1Pe 4:18).

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith (1Jn 5:4).

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Mat 18:8  Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
Mat 18:9  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. (Heb 11:26)

Rom 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Pro 27:19  As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

When we understand our own heart we will get insight into the heart of others is what this proverb is saying, and that is true for both the negative and positive things that come forth from our hearts (Jas 3:10-18, 1Co 3:1-6).

Jas 3:14  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

What we know about the heart of man is that it is deceitful and desperately wicked above all things (greatest enemy we have is seen in the mirror every morning Jer 17:9). That’s who the beast on the throne who is empowered by the devil is (Rev 13:4), and he must be destroyed by the brightness of Christ coming into our lives daily (2Th 2:3-8) so that we can go from glory to glory (2Co 3:18) ripping this veil of flesh daily, keeping under ourselves (Heb 10:20, 1Co 10:16), as we die daily, to ultimately see Christ face to face one day (2Co 3:13, 1Co 13:12). For now we see through a glass darkly making the way very narrow for those few who are called to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection (Mat 7:14).

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The reflection that we see of ourselves in the water is being paralleled with the heart of “man to man”. We are beasts that have to be shown we are such, and we cannot become that new creation without acknowledging that truth (Ecc 3:18), and so we must be judged our entire life in order to endure to the end and be saved (1Pe 4:17, Act 14:22)

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith (Gal 2:20, 1Jn 5:4), and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Pro 27:20  Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

This proverb is simply telling us what we read here in Ecclesiastes (Ecc 1:8-10).

Ecc 1:8  All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
Ecc 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Ecc 1:10  Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

This is why the internet with the myriad of search engines on AI steroids fits right into this proverb that says “the eyes of man are never satisfied”(Ecc 12:12, Gen 6:3). All of flesh leads to the same “hell” (H7585 Sheol; grave) “and destruction” (H10 ->H11 Abaddon; perishing) destination, and cannot inherit the kingdom (1Co 15:50). As long as there is flesh, “hell and destruction are never full”.

Ecc 12:12  And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Gen 6:3  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Our Father is ultimately seeking an occasion against all flesh [all books], and today God’s elect are blessed to be judged and overcome all that is in the world [our books] within us first so that we can fulfill God’s will (1Jn 2:15-17, Eph 2:8, Eph 1:12, Php 1:29).

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. [the narrow way Mat 7:14]

Pro 27:21  As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

Pro 27:21  People use fire to make gold and silver pure. In the same way, a man is tested by the praise people give him. (ERV)

Pro 27:21  The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, and a man is measured by what he is praised for. (BBE)

In these verses we are being shown that when we go through trials our life is going to be refined, “fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold”. It is those tests that we go through that bring us to a place where we are standing in the Lord and if standing we are giving honour where honour is due, “a man is measured by what he is praised for” (Rom 13:7). All that glory and honour are God’s for the work that He does within us as His workmanship (Eph 2:10).

God has worked a work in our lives which is expressed in these verses (this is the “the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold”1Co 3:12-14) and it is all being accomplished by God through Christ who told us of himself he can do nothing without the Father, just as we of our own selves can do nothing without Christ (1Jn 4:17) while in these earthen vessels (Luk 19:40, Joh 15:5, Joh 5:30, Rom 1:20).

Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Mic 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

Pro 27:22  Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

Pro 27:22  No matter how hard you beat a fool, you can’t pound out the foolishness. [CEV]

This proverb is speaking about our old man whose hardened heart cannot change and make war with the beast (Rev 13:4), until the day of evil is revealed within ourselves (Pro 16:4) and the man of perdition is destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our heavens (Joh 8:36). Christ is the pestle that crushes the wheat in the lives of God’s elect for good, but if we are not being worked with in this age our sorrowful situations will not change us, being of a worldly sort and not Godly sorrow that is not to be repented of.  (2Co 7:9-10). Godly sorrow brings forth fine flour that is refined and able to be used to nourish the body of Christ as the next verse goes on to show (2Co 7:11)

2Co 7:9  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
2Co 7:10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. (“Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him”)
2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Pro 27:23  Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

Pro 27:23  You should take good care of your sheep and goats, (CEV)

David was a man after God’s own heart, and so there is a correlation to repentance in the lives of God’s people that is needful if we are going to be justified and take good care of the Lord’s flocks and herds (Luk 18:14). We are taking good care of the flocks and herds when we have a contrite and broken heart which is a gift from God (Isa 66:2). Verse (Isa 66:3) is contrasted with (Isa 66:2) to show the difference between a sacrifice that is acceptable versus one that is not.

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Isa 66:3  He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

Pro 27:24  For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
Pro 27:25  The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

Pro 27:24  because wealth and honor don’t last forever.
Pro 27:25  After the hay is cut and the new growth appears and the harvest is over, (CEV)

The imagery of youthful spiritual beginnings is illustrated with these words, “The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered”, speaking of the sincere milk of the word that we can grow by (1Pe 2:2), going onto maturity no longer a babe in Christ but able to partake of strong meat (Heb 5:13-14, Eph 4:13-15, 1Pe 5:10).

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

There are seasons in our lives where we will be less productive, and God has purposed this and calls us to pray for that renewed growth “because wealth and honor don’t last forever” and “After the hay is cut and the new growth appears and the harvest is over” we need to continue to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling to the end (Php 2:12-13), patiently possessing our souls (Heb 10:36, Luk 21:19) and waiting for the next harvest, the next increase, that God gives in our lives (1Co 10:11-13, 1Co 3:6, Jas 5:7).

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Jas 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Jas 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts:(1Pe 5:10) for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Pro 27:26  The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
Pro 27:27  And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

Pro 27:26  you can sell lambs and goats to buy clothes and land.
Pro 27:27  From the milk of the goats, you can make enough cheese to feed your family and all your servants. (CEV)

We are like Christ on this earth (1Jn 4:17-18) and as such we are sheep for the slaughter (Rom 8:36) whose lives are sacrificed for each other so that we can clothe each other, “The lambs are for thy clothing”, as a joint that supplies in love (Eph 4:16). The end result of our due diligence in the Lord which is accompanied by repentance (Rom 2:4) is an abundant spiritual harvest which is being likened unto with these words, “The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field” and “goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens”. Between harvests in our lives we have enough spiritual store laid up, which is what this plenty is talking about [likened also unto extra oil in our vessels given by the grace of God (Mat 25:4, Eph 2:8)].

Finally we share in paying for “the price of the field” as the scapegoat along with Christ. The field is the world (Mat 13:38), and God so loves the world that He bruises Christ as well as His body (Isa 53:10, Mat 21:44, Php 1:29, 2Ti 2:12) so that we can share in being saviours with our Lord who will come up on “mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S” (Oba 1:21).

Lev 16:10  But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: (the fit man within Col 1:27, the same fit man Lev 16:21)

Isa 53:10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes[a] his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.[NIV]

Mat 21:44  Any man falling on this stone will be broken, but he on whom it comes down will be crushed to dust.

Php 1:29  Because to you it has been given in the cause of Christ not only to have faith in him, but to undergo pain on his account:

Oba 1:21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

These final few verses we’ve looked at remind us that Christ not only had the preeminence in being crushed for our sakes, but has also taken on the role of our high priest so we can be assured that we can indeed drink the cup. (Mat 20:23, Rom 5:10). God’s word, Christ,  is that strong sword in our heavens who is able to sharpen our heavens and prepare us to endure whatever the future holds for the bride of Christ (Joh 18:9).

Mat 20:23  And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Joh 18:9  That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

“Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

  (Pro 27:9-16)

[Study Aired April 9, 2026]

Pro 27:9  Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
Pro 27:10  Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
Pro 27:11  My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
Pro 27:12  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Pro 27:13  Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Pro 27:14  He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
Pro 27:15  A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
Pro 27:16  Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

Christ is our friend,  our mighty counsellor (Isa 9:6, Joh 15:15-16) who provides hearty counsel if we are blessed to be given an hunger and thirst for it in this age (Mat 5:6, Joh 6:35).

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

That counsel when received of our Father in heaven will make our hearts burn within us, with gratefulness and joy knowing what a privilege we’ve been given to hear His voice (Mat 13:16-17, Rev 16:15, Luk 12:37, Rev 22:7). It is those who read, hear and keep the sayings of the prophecy who Christ identifies as being blessed as these verses below demonstrate (Rev 1:3).

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Luk 12:37  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

As discussed last week, God will reward those who diligently seek him (Heb 11:6), and if we are blessed to continue in the truth, it will set us free (Joh 8:31-32) and provide us the ability to set others free with the spiritual words of life that can quicken us and in due time cause others’ hearts to burn with the joy of knowing our Lord and God’s plan of salvation (1Ti 4:16, 1Jn 4:6, Joh 6:63, Heb 4:2, 1Jn 5:4).

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (1Ti 4:16).

Heb 4:2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (Rom 10:17).

(Eph 2:8) reminds us that we are truly at God’s mercy as we receive this gift of salvation, and the world will one day understand (Luk 17:10) that is applicable to those few who God has ordained to be a kind of first fruits who will be scarcely saved (1Pe 4:18), enduring to the end by being granted to have hearts that “… burn within us, while he talk[s] with us by the way, and while he open[s] to us the scriptures” (1Pe 4:18, Mat 24:13).

Pro 27:9  Ointment^H8081 and perfume^H7004 rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

Christ in us is that ointment and perfume that rejoices the heart (Isa 10:27, 1Jn 2:27), as every joint supplies in love to the edifying and building up of the body of Christ (Eph 4:16). With Christ’s life in us, and via the pruning and purging of sin in our lives, a zealousness and sweetness is formed, the fruit of His righteousness that provides hearty counsel. This “friend” is our hope of glory within, Jesus Christ, who we are to each other “by hearty counsel”(Act 22:8).

Exo 31:11  And the anointing oil^H8081, and sweet incense^H7004 for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.

Isa 10:27  And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

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.

Act 22:8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Pro 27:10  Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

On a practical human level this proverb reminds us to value faithful friends and dependable neighbors, especially in times of need. Spiritually, however, it points us to Jesus Christ, our eternal Friend and our hope of glory within (Col 1:27), who never abandons us (1Ti 6:7-8, Heb 13:5-6).

1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

(being prepared spiritually is typified by the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who as a result of that spiritual preparedness had the boldness needed in the day of adversity to stand (Pro 24:10), having done all (Dan 6:13, Dan 3:16-18))

Pro 27:11  My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

If we cleave unto Christ and resist the devil he will flee from us (Jas 4:7, Joh 6:44) and we will be given to wisely answer or not answer those who reproach us in this life (Pro 26:4-5, Luk 12:11-12). Satan is the ultimate accuser of the brethren, and the one who continues to reproach the body of Christ (Rev 12:10) that we can overcome through Christ, quenching every fiery dart that is thrown by the devil (Eph 6:16).

Luk 12:11  And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
Luk 12:12  For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Lord willing, we are being prepared and overcoming that wicked one (Eph 6:13), and if God will permit (Heb 6:3) that is exactly what will happen due to the wisdom of Christ, and the faith, and strength that He can give us to make us more than conquerors through him (Rom 8:37-39).

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christ has prophesied that the elect will be made ready as the wise virgins, “My son, be wise, and make my heart glad”, and the unwise will be overtaken by the reproach of the devil that will corrode the love of many and cause iniquity to abound (Mat 24:48-51, Mat 24:12). This is all “according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will”, and so we are warned to not be highminded of this victory of salvation that God has promised His children at the expense of the world’s unbelief (Eph 1:11, Rom 8:28, Rom 11:18-22).

Mat 24:48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Mat 24:49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants,[Mat 24:12] and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Mat 24:50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. [which is “to eat and drink with the drunken”]

Rom 11:18  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.(1Jn 5:4) Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Pro 27:12  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

We’ve just discussed the evil that Christ prophesied is going to abound at the end of this age, and the solution to overcoming is to hide ourselves in Christ (Heb 10:25).  “The simple pass on” implies that the mind of Christ is not present in this person, and as a result they will forsake the body and will be punished by being saved yet so as by fire in the lake of fire (1Co 3:14-15).

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Pro 27:13  Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

If someone is taking responsibility for a stranger’s debt or getting involved with a risky person, don’t trust them blindly—make sure there’s some guarantee or security so you don’t end up losing out. That’s the practical physical meaning of this proverb.

The spiritual lesson is that we all end up ‘losing out’ at first, in Babylon, as per God’s design when we invest in her garment wholeheartedly without considering how this leaven of the pharisees is going to affect us. It is Christ alone who can become the pledge for us, as we are dragged out of Babylon and brought into remembrance of all the false doctrines that reside in her that we now have to overcome the rest of our lives.

We take her gold and silver, the words of God wrapped around the idol of our hearts, and if God is working with us in this age He will purify those words and set us free from the past harlotries that had us in bondage (Joh 17:17,Pro 7:7-12).

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Pro 7:7  And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
Pro 7:8  Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
Pro 7:9  In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
Pro 7:10  And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
Pro 7:11  (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
Pro 7:12  Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) [Lev 19:29 – The Glebe]

Pro 27:14  He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

The friend we bless early in the morning with a loud voice is a parable relating to our relationship with Christ who we want to be our friend early in the morning, from our first coming to know of Him in Babylon. The problem is, we are cursed because that is all we want to know, Christ crucified for us on a cross for our sins (1Co 2:2, 1Co 3:1), not yet identifying our need to be crucified with Him in these early morning stages of our walk in the Lord (Col 1:24).

1Co 2:2  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Pro 27:15  A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
Pro 27:16  Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

These verses describe the church as a contentious (argumentative) woman (1Co 3:2-6) who is yet carnal and likened unto a continual dropping in a very  rainy day, which means we have many words at this time, ever searching but not mature enough to rightly divide the word and come to the knowledge of the truth (Heb 5:13-14).

1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
1Co 3:5  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

We hide the truth in this immature state and “the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.” refers to how, although we are heirs with the unction given to us (1Jn 2:20) having His holy spirit, “the ointment of his right hand”, and being sealed with the holy spirit of promise (Eph 1:13), however because we are yet carnal (Gal 4:1-7), that ointment on our right hand, “bewrayeth” or discloses our immaturity.

Gal 4:1  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

In conclusion, these proverbs reveal that the “ointment and perfume” which rejoices the heart is Christ in us our hope of glory (Col 1:27). Through Him, we are being fashioned as God’s workmanship, growing and maturing into stedfast, unmoveable, servants of the living God (1Co 15:58).

1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Though we begin in weakness and partial understanding, God is faithful to complete His work in us through the pruning, purging, and much tribulation we must go through in order to endure unto the end, with the faith of Christ (Act 14:22, Heb 12:2-4, Mat 24:13).

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Nothing can separate us from His love (Rom 8:35-37), expressed by His giving us the power to “drink indeed of my cup” (Heb 12:6-7, Mat 20:23), and as we abide in Him and receive His hearty counsel, we are not only finding liberty (Act 5:32, Heb 5:7-8, Eph 5:30, 2Co 3:17), but are also being prepared to set the world free, as saviours that will come up on mount Zion (Oba 1:21).

Act 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;(1Jn 4:17)

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

“Earnestly Contend For The Faith Which Was Once Delivered Unto The Saints”

(Pro 27:3-8)

[Study Aired March 26, 2026]

Pro 27:3  A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
Pro 27:4  Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
Pro 27:5  Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Pro 27:6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Pro 27:7  The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
Pro 27:8  As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

As we studied last week, boasting is excluded by the law of faith (Rom 3:27), and it is not the hearers of the law who are justified of God but the doers (Rom 2:13), and the doers are that little remnant who have God’s holy spirit within them (Rom 8:9) making it possible for us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is Christ who is working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:12-13). His good pleasure is to give us the kingdom which can only happen by our being given the power we need to lose our lives for this high calling in Christ, as we are dragged to Him (Joh 6:44) and given spiritual increase that only comes from God (Mat 25:4, 1Co 3:6), which will be needed to endure to the end (Mat 10:39, Rom 11:18-22, 1Co 3:6, Mat 24:13).

Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake (Joh 6:68) shall find it. (Heb 10:38, Gal 2:12)

Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back^G5288, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back^G5289 unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Gal 2:12  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew^G5288 and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

G5288 hupostellō hoop-os-tel’-lo
From G5259 and G4724; to withhold under (out of sight), that is, (reflexively) to cower or shrink, (figuratively) to conceal (reserve): – draw (keep) back, shun, withdraw.
Total KJV occurrences: 4

G5289 hupostolē hoop-os-tol-ay’
From G5288; shrinkage (timidity), that is, (by implication) apostasy: – draw back.
Total KJV occurrences: 1

With the verses will look at this week, (Pro 27:3-16), there are some very close connecting thoughts found in the book of James that should help further explain the meaning of these proverbs and why there will always be a need for us to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”.

Pro 27:3  A stone is heavy^H3514, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
Pro 27:4  Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

The main point to be taken from these proverbs is that physical burdens can be grievous, but foolish anger is far more dangerous because it controls the heart (those who come to say my lord delays his coming, end up being angry and beating the menservants, not possessing their souls patiently as we must Luk 12:45). These two proverbs, (Pro 14:29-30, Pro 16:32), are closely related to the ones we’re looking at.

H3514 kôbed From H3513; weight, multitude, vehemence: – grievousness, heavy, great number.

Pro 14:29  He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Pro 14:30  A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Pro 16:32  He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Jas 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Here are a couple of examples in God’s word that demonstrate the destructive power of wrath and envy (Jas 4:4-5), which can only be overcome through Christ (Gen 4:1-8, 1Sa 18:1-26).

Jas 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Jas 4:5  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?[We have to overcome that spirit of man within that naturally wants to fit in and be friends with this world (2Co 6:17)]

Gen 4:5  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Gen 4:6  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? (Eph 1:6) and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Gen 4:8  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.(Rev 20:8)

Cain who represents our old man did not have mastery over his anger, but it grew and led to murder. His anger was heavier than anything he could carry in other words, and is the point of this story, that without Christ through whom we are accepted we cannot overcome sin. It is only upon the burnt offering that represents Christ that we can be accepted of God (Eph 1:6). Cain was instructed, he knew to do well, but did not do well by not offering his offering upon a burnt offering as Abel did, who represents the elect. Not including the required burnt offering represents a self-righteous spirit that cannot yet acknowledge the continual need for Christ’s righteousness to be ruling and reigning in our hearts as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is Christ who is doing this work within us, “both to will and to do of his good pleasure”  (Php 2:12-13, Php 3:9).

These essential studies of “the law offerings” go into great detail regarding our acceptance of God through Jesus Christ.

iswasandwillbe.com/the-law-offerings introduction/

Pro 27:5  Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Pro 27:6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Christ, exemplifies these proverbs perfectly. He often rebuked openly, out of love and a desire for repentance and growth. These things were written for our admonition upon whom the end of the ages are come (1Co 10:11, Heb 12:6).

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

In (Mat 23:27-28), Christ openly criticized the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, saying they were like “whitewashed tombs” full of dead men’s bones. This rebuke was not secretive and demonstrated that “open rebuke is better than secret love.”

Likewise, Christ corrected His disciples when they misunderstood His teachings, as when Peter rebuked Jesus for speaking of His suffering, and Jesus responded openly, “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mat 16:23). Here, the “faithful wounds” of correction were meant to protect and guide, contrasting sharply with deceitful praise that misleads.

The main point being that before the receiving of the holy spirit on Pentecost we cannot savour the things of God, and Peter as he often was, had preeminence in the negative sense, and so was corrected before the others. Peter typifies the church experiencing God’s judgement in this life first (1Pe 4:17).

Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Pro 27:7  The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

This proverb is an admonition against avarice and the need for the miracle from God to continue to have a hunger and thirst for His righteousness (Mat 5:6). It is Christ’s words that are likened unto honey (Pro 25:16, Psa 119:103) and if we have a true hunger and thirst for righteousness in this life, even the bitter things, the admonition, the correction, will be sweet unto us knowing that those bitter stripes in our belly will bring healing spiritually to us (Pro 20:30, Psa 19:12).

Mat 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger [“to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet”] and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Pro 25:16  Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

Psa 119:103  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Pro 20:30  The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

Psa 19:12  Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Pro 27:8  As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

There are many positive and negative examples that can accompany this proverb, and all things work together for the good for those who love God and are the called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28). All the promises in Christ are ‘yes’, and so when we look at what I call the negative examples, we should keep in mind that they are only negative for our flesh, but are working out a greater purpose for those who are being redeemed of the Lord in this age (Psa 107:2, 2Co 1:20).

Positive examples of leaving one’s place

Proverbs 27:8 warns that “as a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place”, highlighting the instability and vulnerability of those who leave their proper place or calling (Heb 10:25). Yet the Bible also shows positive examples of leaving one’s place when it is done in faith (Rom 14:23).

Ruth, for instance, left her homeland of Moab and chose to go with Naomi to Bethlehem (Rth 1:22). Though she physically wandered from her familiar home, her movement was intentional, guided by loyalty and faith in God. Ruth typifies the church who are led of the spirit of God through this life (Rom 8:14-16).

Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Similarly, Lot, who had settled near Sodom, faced imminent danger when the city was condemned. When God commanded him to flee, his departure from Sodom preserved his life, demonstrating that leaving one’s place under God’s direction is a source of safety and protection rather than instability and death, even despite our resistance to obey.

Lot typifies the elect who by God’s grace and the faith of Christ will be dragged out of situations where God does not want us. He preserves the elect and delivers us from ourselves, all typified by the angels that came and took Lot out of the cities that would ultimately be destroyed by God. Those cities and nations represent our sins and the pulls of sin in this life that by little and by little we will overcome (Exo 23:30, Deu 7:22), and the messengers or the angels that we are to each other play a critical role in that deliverance (Gen 19:1-30, Pro 11:14, Pro 15:22, Pro 24:6, Luk 17:27-30, Luk 18:5-8).

Gen 19:1  And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war:(Gen 19:1) and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Luk 17:27  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. (Heb 11:7, Pro 22:3, Pro 27:12)
Luk 17:28  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Luk 17:29  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. (1Pe 4:17-18)
Luk 17:30  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Luk 18:5  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Luk 18:6  And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (We are to be that importunate widow for each other, learning of the forbearance and longsuffering of God (Rom 2:4))
Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Abraham provides another example: he left Ur of the Chaldees in response to God’s call, wandering into the unknown, yet faithfully following God’s guidance. His journey led to the establishment of God’s covenant, blessing and inheritance.

This again typifies for God’s elect how the faith of Christ works in our lives today, and the need to possess our souls patiently after we have done the will of God (Heb 10:35-39). That faith-filled life of the elect will lead to an inheritance of being saviours of the world (Oba 1:21), which was typified by Abraham expressed in these promises to him in (Gen 22:17-18, Heb 11:8-10, Rev 14:4, Luk 14:26-28).

Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Gen 22:17  That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; (Mat 16:18)
Gen 22:18  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.(Rom 8:14-16) These were redeemed from among men, (Psa 107:2) being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.(Eph 2:10, Psa 127:1)

Luk 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:28  For which of you, intending to build a tower,(Heb 11:10) sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Joseph, though forcibly removed from his home and sold into Egypt, remained faithful, and his displacement became the instrument through which God would save the nations from physical famine. God’s elect like Joseph are displaced and go where the Lord leads us as we are dragged to Him, so that we can be made ready and provide the spiritual food that Babylon does not possess (Isa 3:1, Joh 20:21, Joh 3:17, Oba 1:21).

Negative examples of leaving one’s place

The proverb “As a bird that leaves its nest, so is a man who leaves his home” is clearly shown many times in the Old Testament. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve left the place God had appointed them in the Garden of Eden by disobeying His command, becoming vulnerable and exposed, much like a bird away from its nest. Similarly, the nation of Israel in the wilderness wandered physically and spiritually when they distrusted God, abandoning the “place” of faith and dependence He had given them,(1Co 10:11) which brought trials and judgment (Psa 107:4-7).

On an individual level, King Saul strayed from his God-given role by disobeying God’s commands, resulting in the loss of God’s favor and ultimately the kingdom (1Sa 13:13-14, 1Sa 15:22-23). Likewise, the unfaithful leaders of Israel, including prophets and priests who neglected their responsibilities, abandoned their appointed “places” of care for the people, leaving them exposed and vulnerable, as described in (Jer 23:1-2) and Ezekiel 34. In each case, the Old Covenant illustrates that straying from one’s proper place leads to disorder, weakness, and judgment, just as a bird is endangered when it leaves its nest. One last example that comes to mind is (Jud 1:3-8).

Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jud 1:5  I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Jud 1:6  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jud 1:7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jud 1:8  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

In reflecting on (Pro 27:3-8) and the related scriptures, we see a clear call to faithfulness, discernment, and obedience. The weight of wrath and envy reminds us of the dangers of an uncontrolled heart, while faithful rebuke and correction exemplify the love and guidance God provides through Christ (Heb 12:6). True spiritual nourishment comes not from comfort alone, but from a hunger for righteousness, allowing even bitter lessons to bring growth and healing.

Finally, whether in stability or in displacement, our place is found in God’s purpose—wandering without Him leads to vulnerability, yet walking in faith, as Abraham, Ruth, and Joseph demonstrate, leads to blessing and fulfillment. Therefore, we are exhorted to earnestly contend for the faith delivered to the saints, trusting in God’s wisdom, mercy, and sustaining power to guide us, correct us, and strengthen us in every circumstance (Heb 10:36, Luk 21:19-22).

Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luk 21:20  And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luk 21:21  Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains;(Psa 121:1, Heb 12:1-2) and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Luk 21:22  For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth”

(Pro 27:1-2)

[Study Aired March 26, 2026]

Pro 27:1  Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Pro 27:2  Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

Our discussion today is in regards to ‘boasting’, which will be excluded in the life of God’s elect when the faith of Christ is present in our sojourn (Rom 3:27, 1Jn 5:4-5, Col 1:27).

Rom 3:27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?(Joh 6:28-29, Jas 2:26, Php 2:12-13, 1Sa 17:47, Gal 5:6)

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe (1Jn 5:5) on him whom he hath sent.

Jas 2:26  For as the body without the spirit (Rom 8:9, Col 1:27) is dead, (Luk 9:60) so faith without works is dead also.

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.[with the faith of Christ]
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. [we are His workmanship]

1Sa 17:47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

Gal 5:6  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision;[trying to perfect ourselves in our flesh does not avail anything] but faith which worketh by love.(Rom 3:27)

Pro 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

This most critical proverb has a micro and macro way in which it can be looked at. Starting with the micro, as was stated when we know we are God’s workmanship, it means that the faith of Christ is at hand (Joh 14:20), and with that faith we are being given the victory over our naturally boastful flesh so that we can die daily and give God all the glory for that which He is working in each member of the body of Christ (Eph 6:16,  1Th 5:19).

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith [the faith of Christ with works (Jas 2:26, 1Ti 6:19, this is the clothing and work of those who are as a soldier for Christ 2Ti 2:3 , Eph 6:13-20)], wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Jas 2:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

1Ti 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

When the man of perdition is destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our heavens, boasting is also dethroned and overcome by little and little (Deu 7:22, Exo 23:29-30) as we learn to not lean unto our own understanding, but rather acknowledge God in all our ways so His righteousness can be revealed in our heavens (Pro 3:5-7, Php 3:9). That trust spoken of in (Pro 3:5-7) is formed by Christ driving the beasts out of our temple, which results in bringing health to the body of Christ (Pro 3:8-10) as we worship Him in spirit and in truth  (Mat 21:12 , Joh 4:24).

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.(this is what we must depart from Joh 9:41)

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:

Mat 21:12  And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

God’s goal which will be accomplished is to have us “all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” (Eph 4:13-15). To get us to that macro event of believing and seeing ourselves as one body, with many members, there must be continual trials of our faith that are precious unto our Father (Act 14:22) as this is what it takes for us to each be placed in the body of Christ by God where it hath pleased Him (1Co 12:18).

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
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;

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

1Co 12:18  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

We grow to love and appreciate each other more and more as the body of Christ, disciples of Christ who demonstrate that love toward each other through obedience (Joh 13:35, 1Jn 5:2), that is being fashioned through the things that we suffer in this life (2Ti 2:12, Php 1:29). As we go through fiery trials we cease from sinning more and more and with the victories that Christ gives us over our flesh (1Pe 1:7, 1Pe 4:12) we become more and more united and fitly framed as the body of Christ, through the spirit. This does away with boasting and ultimately leads to the first resurrection where we will see Christ face to face (1Co 13:12), where we will cast our crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Eph 2:21-22, Rev 4:10-11).

Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Rev 4:10  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

That is the macro event of which Christ is the author and finisher of for each one of us, and the bride collectively who will be made ready (Heb 12:2, Rev 19:7). Boasting about anything is just another way of saying that we are being conceited and another very good example of the macro view of how and what the faith of Christ can and will produce is found in (Rom 11:5-8, Rom 11:18-22).

Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Rom 11:7  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Rom 11:8  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Rom 11:18  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.(1Jn 5:4) Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity;[the natural branches] but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.[Rom 2:4]

God willing we will not grow weary of his correction or in well doing (Gal 6:9-10, Heb 12:4-7) or the dying daily process we have been called unto, never losing sight that God is the one who causes us to err (Isa 63:17) and leads us to repentance for our good, for our maturing, so that through Him having done all we can stand in the day of evil, and have strength in the day of adversity (Pro 24:10), because of our hearts having been prepared through God’s judgements that have taught us His righteousness and strengthened us to do spiritual battle through Christ (Php 4:13, 2Ti 2:10, 1Co 13:7).

Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.[again works that are accompanied by faith which reassures us that we are His workmanship]

Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.(Rom 5:10)
Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Isa 63:17  O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

How God will “Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance”

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

2Ti 2:10  Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

1Co 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Boasting is excluded from this entire process, not giving ourselves credit even for our sins (Rom 6:20-23), or of our righteous behavior which are all part of the workmanship that must unfold in all of His children (Eph 2:10). Only God knows what has been written in our books, but to be certain if it is written that we are granted to be more than conquerors through Christ who has apprehended us (Php 3:12), then nothing shall separate us from His love (Rom 8:37). We don’t cast away our confidence in the work that Christ can do in us, that has great recompence of reward (Heb 10:35), even as we continue to be of the generation who have no confidence in our flesh (Php 3:3). We can go forward even if we don’t know what the morrow is going to bring, “for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth”, and be saved (Rom 8:25).

Rom 6:20  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Rom 6:21  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Rom 8:25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. “for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Col 1:27, Heb 11:26-27).

Pro 27:2  Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

Knowing what we know regarding not boasting, we are given this next proverb that explains the great ongoing need to be thankful for what God is doing in each of our lives, in the many parts that make up the body of Christ. No man ever hated his own flesh (Eph 5:29) and we are His flesh and bones (Eph 5:30). Giving honour where honour is due is something we must keep in the forefront of our thinking, being grateful for what God has provided through each joint that supplies in love (Luk 17:15, Rom 13:7).

Luk 17:15  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

Rom 13:7  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Praising ourselves is just another way of saying you are boasting, even if you know God did the work in you. It is still possible to glory in those things that He did as if we did them when we did not (1Co 4:7, 1Co 3:4-6).

1Co 4:7  For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
1Co 3:5  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (Mat 6:27, Jer 13:23)

Finally what was it that Paul gloried in, and how did Christ glorify His Father when he was on earth, and what must we do to do the same?(2Co 11:30, Joh 17:1-2, 2Co 3:18, 2Co 12:9, 2Co 4:15, 1Co 10:16, 2Th 1:4-5).

2Co 11:30  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.(2Th 1:5)

Joh 17:1  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Joh 17:2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.(Mat 28:18, Mat 6:10)

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.(Zec 4:6)

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

2Th 1:4  So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
2Th 1:5  Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

Now finally when we realize we are being given the power to lose our life and give up everything to follow Christ (Gal 2:20), we will by God’s grace embrace these exceedingly great and precious promises (2Pe 1:3-4) that Christ spoke to a yet unconverted Peter who represents the church before we are granted the faith of Christ that makes it possible for this victory to be realized (Mat 19:26-30, 1Jn 5:4).

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Mat 19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. [the self-righteous rich young ruler we all are at first (Mat 19:21-22, Mar 10:21, 1Jn 2:19, Joh 6:44)]
Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.[to escape “the corruption that is in the world through lust” and this is why boasting is excluded by the law of faith]
Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Mat 19:30  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Proverbs 26 “To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” Part 6

(Pro 26:22-28)

[Study Aired March 19, 2026]

Pro 26:22  The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Pro 26:23  Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Pro 26:24  He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
Pro 26:25  When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Pro 26:26  Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
Pro 26:27  Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
Pro 26:28  A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

With true Godly repentance that “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Mat 3:8), we become part of a cleansing process by God’s spirit that takes us from an academic, worldly knowledge of Christ, to being able to demonstrate the power of God because of the cleansing of our temple that now has liberty by way of God’s spirit working in our lives, giving us power to die daily and overcome (1Co 2:5-14, 2Co 3:17, Joh 8:31-32, Joh 8:36, Rom 6:14).

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1Jn 4:6-7, Heb 12:25, Heb 5:7, Heb 10:25)

[“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph 3:19)]

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.(Joh 8:36)
1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect:G5046 yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

[Babylon is still crucifying Christ afresh with the substitutionary doctrine, sinning with impunity believing that Christ did everything on the cross and that there is no need for us to fill up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ (Col 1:24, Lev 16:10, Lev 14:6). There is a need, and there is a lifelong process that is seeing Christ increase as we decrease (Joh 3:30), sinning less and less by God’s grace (Heb 12:6) through faith (1Jn 5:4) if we are His workmanship in this age (Eph 2:8)]

In this last section of proverbs chapter 26 we will look at how knowing the love of Christ surpasses human knowledge, or human understanding. The Spirit guides us into all Truth (Joh 16:13), for the express purpose of exposing corruption in our hearts. These verses confirm that truth! (Rom 2:4, 1Jn 3:1-3, 1Jn 1:5-10).

Pro 26:22  The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

In this first proverb I’ll bring out a few biblical examples that show how harmful gossip, or rumours, can be. A talebearer does just that, and as we will see with the examples given, gossip can deeply wound people, and bring division to the body of Christ (Pro 6:16-19). The best way to avoid internalizing gossip, which both injures and corrupts as it goes down “into the innermost parts of the belly”, is to never let it start.

Pro 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

The Bible repeatedly illustrates the powerful and often destructive impact of words.

Miriam and Aaron, criticizing Moses over his Cushite wife in Numbers 12, allowed their discontent to spread, ultimately resulting in God striking Miriam with leprosy—a stark example of how spoken criticism can escalate.

Similarly, Doeg the Edomite’s report to King Saul in 1 Samuel 21–22 led to the massacre of 85 priests at Nob, showing how a single report can ignite deadly consequences when accepted without discernment.

In the New Testament, false accusations against Jesus in Matthew 26 were repeated until public opinion turned against Him, contributing to His crucifixion and demonstrating how slander shapes hearts and events.

The spies’ fearful report about Canaan in Numbers 13–14 discouraged the Israelites, prompting rebellion and 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, while Absalom’s subtle manipulation of the people in 2 Samuel 15 “stole the hearts of the men of Israel,” ultimately leading to a rebellion against his father, King David.

In each case, Scripture shows that words, whether whispered, repeated, or subtly sown, can penetrate deeply, influence hearts, and bring about devastating consequences.

Here are some scriptures to consider that explain how we can  “know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God”, overcoming this deadly spirit of a talebearer.

Overcoming gossip through the love of Christ:

Through Christ, our hearts can change from this (Mat 12:34), as we overcome and fulfill these following verses by God’s grace (Psa 141:3, Gal 5:22-23, Jas 1:19-20, Pro 17:9, Col 3:12).

Mat 12:34  O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Psa 141:3  Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Jas 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Pro 17:9  He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

Col 3:12  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Pro 26:23  Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

Pro 26:23  Hiding hateful thoughts behind smooth talk is like coating a clay pot with a cheap glaze.[CEV]

The lesson for God’s elect is to examine ourselves, and judge ourselves so that we don’t become as the whitened sepulchre described by Christ in (Mat 23:26-28).

Mat 23:26  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter (2Co 13:5, 1Co 9:27), that the outside of them may be clean also.
Mat 23:27  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.(Eze 33:13)

Eze 33:13  When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

The “potsherd covered with silver dross” (Jer 6:27-30) is the very hard to detect and remove, self righteous spirit that we all must overcome day to day, thought by thought (Php 3:9).

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: (Pro 3:5-12)

Jer 6:26  O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.
Jer 6:27  I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.
Jer 6:28  They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.
Jer 6:29  The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
Jer 6:30  Reprobate silver shall men call them,[“a potsherd covered with silver dross”] because the LORD hath rejected them.

Pro 26:24  He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

To ‘dissemble with one’s lips’ is to pretend to be friendly or kind, while secretly harboring hatred. It’s the act of speaking falsely to hide true feelings. When we lay up deceit within ourselves we harbour hidden intentions of harm or dishonesty.

In short, this proverb warns that some people conceal their hatred with flattering words. This is why we are to try the spirits whether they are of the Lord or not (1Jn 4:1). It’s a sad commentary on human nature, but very real and very active in the world which we are not to love, but rather demonstrate our love toward our neighbour by doing the will of God (1Jn 2:15-17). If we are blessed to do the will of God he will lead us to victory over our inward struggles and enemies without as well (Psa 1:1-6)

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Psa 1:1  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psa 1:4  The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Psa 1:5  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
Psa 1:6  For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

A clear example of this proverb is Judas Iscariot, who harbored deceit and hatred, even while ‘going along to get along’ for years with Christ and his disciples. We know Judas was a type of the man of perdition who was yet to be removed, and yet all the disciples forsook Christ, as we all do at first. To those with whom God is working, a pattern is revealed with Christ’s words to both Peter and Judas. Peter was called to be an overcomer who by God’s grace wept bitter tears after He betrayed Christ and then went on to receive the holy spirit on Pentecost. Judas, typifying the man of perdition was encouraged by Christ, “That thou doest, do quickly”, as opposed to Peter who was rebuked and told “Get thee behind me, Satan”.

Joh 13:27  And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

Mat 16:22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.(Pro 3:5-12, Php 3:9)

Pro 26:25  When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Christ in us as our hope of glory (Col 1:27) can see right through the fair speech of others, making it possible for us to try the spirits whether they are of the Lord or not (1Jn 4:1, 1Co 2:12-13).

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth (1Co 2:5), but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.(We try the spirits with the word of God)

This proverb warns against trusting someone simply because their words sound kind, flattering, or persuasive. “Speaking fair” refers to speech that seems agreeable or honest, but may actually conceal deceit. Appearances can be misleading, and words alone do not prove a person’s trustworthiness.

The phrase “seven abominations in his heart” symbolizes complete or extreme wickedness, with the number seven representing completeness (2Co 11:13-15). This means that while the person’s words may be pleasant, their inner thoughts, motives, and intentions can be thoroughly corrupt or evil (Act 20:29-32).

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Act 20:32  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (His word is light 1Jn 1:7, His word is truth Joh 17:17)

Pro 26:26  Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

This proverb teaches us that a person may try to hide hatred or evil intentions behind deceit, lies, or pleasant behavior, but eventually the truth will be exposed. Adam and Eve are the prototype for this kind of behaviour.

It’s in the churches of this world that we are hidden for a season amongst men, as Adam and Eve did amongst the trees that typify men (Gen 3:8, Mar 8:24).

Gen 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Mar 8:24  And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

If God is working with us in this age He will draw us out of Babylon and the myriad of lies that are within her, and we will be humbled in the congregation of God where we will go through a process of having the seals, trumpets and vials poured out upon us, cleansing us of all those lies (Rev 16:1).

Rev 16:1  And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

In this verse with the expression “your sin will find you out” (Num 32:23), Moses warns the tribes of Reuben and Gad that if they fail to keep their promise to help Israel conquer the land, they would be sinning against God, and their sin would find them out. The principle is that wrongdoing eventually brings consequences and exposure—God sees what is hidden, and the truth will come to light sooner or later.

Here are some biblical examples of sins being exposed:

Achan – In the story recorded in the Book of Joshua chapter 7, Achan secretly stole forbidden items from Jericho and hid them in his tent (Jos 7:21), but God revealed the sin and it was exposed before all Israel. The Babylonish garment represents the false doctrines of Babylon that are wrapped around the idol of our hearts until they are exposed and destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our lives (2Th 2:8).

Jos 7:21  When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

One other example is King David who, after committing adultery with Bathsheba and arranging the death of her husband Uriah the Hittite, tried to conceal the sin. However, God sent Nathan the Prophet, who confronted him and revealed the wrongdoing, and let David know that the sword would not depart from his house. This curse pronounced on David typifies the blessing God bestows upon the elect in this age as we are judged by the sharp two edged sword that God’s word represents (2Sa 12:10, 1Pe 4:17, Heb 4:12).

2Sa 12:10  Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Pro 26:27  Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

This proverb teaches the principle that harmful schemes often backfire on the person who planned them. Someone who plots evil, deception, or injustice for others frequently ends up suffering the consequences of their own actions. It reflects a common biblical theme: God’s justice causes the wicked to be trapped by their own plans.

What comes to mind is that we all dig a pit in Babylon when were under the law, and Christ comes to us to show us our hypocrisy in keeping the law for the lawless (1Ti 1:9), only when it’s convenient for us (Luk 14:5). Our strength, our riches in Babylon are represented by this ass or ox that falls into a pit.

Luk 14:5  And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

Christ is our sabbath, our spiritual rest, and He is showing us how lacking the law of Moses is. Christ is that stone “and he that rolleth a stone” (Mat 21:42) that we roll around for so long in our flesh while we are under tutors and governors, under the law (Gal 4:2), until one day Lord willing that stone comes back and crushes us, “it will return upon him” bringing us to see clearly the hypocrisy of all flesh (Rom 7:8-9) and how only Christ within us can truly give us the ability to keep the spirit of the law (Mat 21:44).

Mat 21:42  Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Rom 7:8  But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Rom 7:9  For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Pro 26:28  A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Here are three example that bring out how this proverb can be explained. The first being the false witnesses against Jesus as the example of a “lying tongue”. The Pharisees flattering Jesus to trap him, as an example of a “flattering mouth”, and finally Absalom flattering the people to steal the kingdom, which flattery led to ruin “worketh ruin”.

The first example of “a lying tongue” is seen in the false witnesses brought against Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. During His trial, the religious leaders sought testimony that would justify condemning Him, and many came forward with false accusations (Mat 26:59-60). These lies ultimately contributed to Christ being delivered to crucifixion. This account demonstrates how a lying tongue harms those it targets and reveals the hatred behind the words, fulfilling the warning of (Pro 26:28) that deceitful speech afflicts and injures others.

The second example shows how flattery can be used deceptively. The Pharisees approached Jesus with respectful-sounding praise, saying that He was true and taught the way of God in truth, but their words were only a pretense meant to trap Him with the question about paying tribute to Caesar (Mat 22:16-17). Their flattering speech was not sincere admiration but a calculated attempt to ensnare Him. This illustrates how a flattering mouth can conceal harmful intent and work toward ruin, exactly as the proverb warns.

The third example is found in the rebellion of Absalom recorded in the Second Book of Samuel. Absalom positioned himself at the gate of the city and spoke kindly and sympathetically to the people, suggesting that their grievances would be better heard if he were judge in the land, a type and shadow of wanting to make disciples after themselves (2Sa 15:3-4, Act 20:30). Through these flattering words he gradually “stole the hearts of the men of Israel,” leading to rebellion against David. In the end, the scheme brought devastation to the kingdom and ultimately to Absalom himself, showing how flattery leads to ruin “and a flattering mouth worketh ruin”.

These examples remind us that the admonitions in Proverbs 26 are not merely moral observations but spiritual lessons that reveal the condition of the human heart and the need for the life of Christ to mature within us.

Whether through gossip, deceitful speech, hidden hatred, or flattering words, the flesh continually manifests corruption that must be exposed and cleansed by the Spirit of God. As we are judged and purified by the living Word, we learn in a deeper way “to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.” (His word is light Joh 17:17, His word is truth Joh 17:17-19)

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Joh 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
Joh 17:19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

Proverbs 26 “To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge”

(Pro 26:17-21)

[Study Aired March 12, 2026]

Pro 26:17  He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Pro 26:18  As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Pro 26:19  So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
Pro 26:20  Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
Pro 26:21  As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
Pro 26:22  The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Pro 26:23  Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Pro 26:24  He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
Pro 26:25  When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Pro 26:26  Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
Pro 26:27  Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
Pro 26:28  A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

These remaining proverbs of chapter 26 have two main themes, the first being ‘The Danger of Stirring up Conflict’ which theme is contained in (Pro 26:17-21), and the second theme I’ve titled ‘The Harm and Consequences of Deceitful Speech’ which comprises the last part of the proverb which we’ll look at next week Lord willing (Pro 26:22-28).

The wars and rumours of war that are becoming more prevalent in our society are signs of the times (Mat 24:4-13) that Christ tells us are for our sakes (2Co 4:15-16) so that we can learn to hold faith with a good conscience (1Ti 1:19-20) and not get caught up in the destructive spirit of ‘brother against brother’ in this age (Mat 10:21-23).

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

1Ti 1:19  Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
1Ti 1:20  Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Mat 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, [“Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme”] and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

This prophecy of Christ (Mat 24:4-13, Mat 10:21-23) paints a very clear picture for us of what the physical and spiritual landscape of the world is going to look like before our Lord returns, and does look like today, and He is telling us to be ready and think it not strange concerning the fiery trials (1Pe 4:12) that are coming our way and have come our way as His children. These verses (Mat 24:4-13, Mat 10:21-23) tie in well with the subjects at hand in this last section of Proverbs chapter 26. The more mature bad fruit of the man of perdition is catalogued for us in many of the proverbs we will be looking at, and this 24th chapter of Matthew shows us the evil fruit of this age, the deceptive spirit of mankind that has waxed worse and worse, and is setting the stage for the return of our great King (2Ti 3:13).

Mat 24:4  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

[many are called but few are chosen to overcome the man of perdition, “[that] man [who can and does] deceive you]”,  which is on the throne of mankind’s heart. In order for us to see this, we must have the man of perdition destroyed in our own hearts first, by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our heavens (2Th 2:3-8)]

2Th 2:3  Let no man “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. [making no room for Christ, leaving us with the spirit of anti Christ (1Jn 4:3)]
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work [Eze 33:12-13]: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12  And because iniquity [Eze 33:13] shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.[Php 3:9]

Mat 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children [false doctrines] shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. [what this tells us is that we will be fighting false doctrines our whole life and must endure until the end to be saved, these cities being within (Mat 24:13)]

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2Ti 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (Joh 8:31-32)

The Danger of Stirring Up Conflict

Pro 26:17  He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

We are to watch and pray and not lose heart (Mar 13:33, Luk 18:1), knowing that God has ordained that the love of many will wax cold at the end of this age (Mat 24:12). Many will not be given that extra oil for their lamps, but God has determined from the foundation of the world who it is that will endure to the end, by being given that increase (1Co 3:6), or extra oil that comes from Him (Mat 25:3). Knowing salvation is a gift from God (Eph 2:8) and understanding the mercy that God has bestowed upon us in this age will help do away with a spirit of conceit. (Rom 11:25, Rom 12:16).

Mar 13:33  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Luk 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Mat 25:3  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

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.

Rom 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Our goal as the bride of Christ, as those who are being redeemed of the Lord (Psa 107:2), is to keep the focus on fulfilling His will as we look to Christ (Heb 12:1-2, Rom 12:1-2) to lead us into paths of righteousness for His name sake (Psa 1:1-3, Psa 23:3).

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

[This verse in (Psa 1:1) is the direct opposing thought to  “He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears”]

Psa 1:1  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.[as opposed to this “He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears”]
Psa 1:2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Getting involved with the conflicts of this world happens when we lose sight that we are ambassadors for Christ (2Co 5:20). We need God’s discerning spirit to know how we are to walk in this evil age, circumspectly, wisely, applying our hearts unto wisdom and numbering our days (Psa 90:12 , Eph 5:15-16), as those who do not “meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears”.

2Co 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Psa 90:12  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Eph 5:15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (how we redeem the time Mar 13:33, Luk 18:1)

The image of taking  “a dog by the ears” is a parable telling us if we forcibly cast our pearls on the unbelieving and try to convince those whose ears were intended to be closed, they will turn and rend us (Mat 7:6).

Mat 7:6  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Pro 26:18  As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Pro 26:19  So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

These verses warn about the danger of harming others and then pretending it was only a joke. The proverb compares such a person to a madman throwing firebrands, arrows, and deadly weapons in every direction. The image shows how reckless and destructive this behaviour is.

God’s word is also likened unto a firebrand and arrows (Psa 127:4). When we think above what is written and take license with God’s word, using it carelessly without a second or third witness (2Co 13:1), our good intentions can end up being divisive and spiritually destructive. It’s “the man” who deceives his neighbour with idols wrapped around his heart (Eze 14:4), who can also carelessly dismiss his lack of judgement and say “am not I in sport?”, meaning “I was joking”, not understanding that carelessly using God’s word is not a laughing matter. In the next couple of examples I’ve given there is again a connection with doctrine and the need to keep the word of God undefiled.

Psa 127:4  Having a lot of children to take care of you in your old age is like a warrior with a lot of [positive use] arrows. [“As a mad man who casteth firebrands, [negative use] arrows, and death”]

2Co 13:1  This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

Words spoken in deception or cruel humour can cause real damage to relationships, reputations, and hearts. Yet the person responsible may try to escape blame by saying, “I was only joking.” Scripture repeatedly teaches that words are powerful and must be used carefully. As (Pro 18:21) says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” and careless speech can wound as deeply as physical violence. Repentance is what is needed in a deceived heart in order to fitly frame His words of gold around pictures of silver. Silver representing repentance (Pro 25:11).

The Bible gives several examples of this harmful spirit. In (Gen 21:9), Ishmael mocked Isaac, and what may have seemed like ridicule or playful scorn created serious conflict within the family of Abraham. The situation became so severe that Sarah insisted that Ishmael and his mother leave. We know this was all played out this way for our benefit to show us an allegory of the two covenants, the first covenant being represented by the bondwoman Hagar, whose fruit of her womb, her child or doctrine, represents spiritual bondage. The second covenant represented by the free woman’s son Isaac typifies the seed of Christ or the doctrine of Christ that liberates us if we are blessed to continue in it (Gal 4:22-26, Joh 8:31-36). The cruel mocking spirit of Ishmael represents the spirit of the law of Moses which the sons of thunders possessed, and the world today still holds fast to (Luk 9:49-56, Rom 2:14).

Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33  They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Luk 9:49  And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
Luk 9:50  And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Luk 9:51  And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Luk 9:52  And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
Luk 9:53  And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
Luk 9:54  And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
Luk 9:55  But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. [Babylon today]
Luk 9:56  For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

In another example, the Philistines called for Samson to “make sport” for them in (Jdg 16:25), mocking him for their entertainment after they had captured him. Their cruel amusement treated a man’s suffering like a joke and ultimately ended in Samson bringing down the temple. In this example a “young man” guided Samson’s hands toward the pillars so that he could destroy the temple. The young man symbolizes how scripture can guide us into a place where we can destroy the idols of our hearts, and destroy those negative pillars that house and hold up the idols of our own hearts (Jdg 16:26, Mat 18:3,  Jdg 16:30).

Jdg 16:25  And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
Jdg 16:26  And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.

Mat 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Jdg 16:30  And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.

Likewise, in (2Ki 2:23-24), a group of youths mocked the prophet Elisha, showing how ridicule and disrespect can quickly become serious sin. Once again, a parable is being shown and these youths represent false doctrines coming up against God’s true prophet, and resulted in those youths being destroyed, which is what God is going to do through the church with every false doctrine of Babylon within us. There are many other examples of this spirit, like the 250 men of renown (Num 16:2, 1Co 10:11), the whole congregation that rebelled (Num 14:2, 1Co 10:11), Aaron and Miriam (Num 12:1-10, 1Co 10:11), all the churches of Asia that turned away from Paul, including Phygellus Hermogenes, Titus, Crescens, and Demas (2Ti 1:15), and on and on!

2Ki 2:23  And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
2Ki 2:24  And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

The greatest example of cruel mockery is seen in the treatment of Jesus Christ. In (Mat 27:27-31), Roman soldiers mocked Him by dressing Him in a robe, placing a crown of thorns on His head, and sarcastically saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”. Scripture therefore warns believers to avoid speech that disguises cruelty as humour. Instead, our words should build others up, as (Eph 4:29) teaches: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying.”

Pro 26:20  Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
Pro 26:21  As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

God’s elect are being judged in this age with a judgement that is not only burning out the wood, hay, and stubble within us, but also purifying our heavens that have been blessed to have His “gold, silver, and precious stones” within us being purified (1Co 3:12-15, Jer 5:14, 1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 1:7).

1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

The “talebearer” within us is destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our heavens (2Th 2:8), and the end result of this action is that “the strife ceaseth” (1Pe 4:1).

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

After we have been cleansed by God’s fiery word, through fiery trials (Jer 23:29, 1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 1:7), we must have all readiness of mind to then defend the words of Life that we’ve been given (2Co 10:3-6), not letting the coals, or wood have opportunity to flourish from a contentious man who kindles strife (Jas 3:6-7, 1Co 9:26-27).

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire (Jer 23:29, 1Pe 4:12), might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds (how we redeem the time Mar 13:33, Luk 18:1)
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

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.

Jas 3:5  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
Jas 3:6  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

May the “water of the word” put out such fires! (Eph 5:26, Job 18:5)

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Job 18:5  Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.

Next week Lord willing will look at the harm and consequence of deceitful speech and how by God’s grace and the faith of Christ we can come “To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” and contains all of these spiritual qualities mentioned in (Jas 3:17-18).

Jas 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Jas 3:18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

The Harm and Consequences of Deceitful Speech

Pro 26:22  The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Pro 26:23  Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Pro 26:24  He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
Pro 26:25  When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Pro 26:26  Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
Pro 26:27  Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
Pro 26:28  A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Proverbs 26 “To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” Part 4  

(Pro 26:13-16)

[Study Aired March 5, 2026]

Pro 26:13  The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
Pro 26:14  As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
Pro 26:15  The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
Pro 26:16  The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

In this study of (Pro 26:13-16) we’ll review how Christ who is our wisdom (1Co 1:30) works within our hearts and minds (Jer 17:9) to lead us unto repentance (Rom 2:4) by the power of God’s holy spirit. God’s words which are spirit (Joh 6:63) become a lamp unto our path (Psa 119:105), that helps us discern His will that takes us out of a direction of spiritual slothfulness into a liberty in Christ, that produces a zealousness to do what is right in the temple of God that is being cleansed as we are “changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (Rom 8:14-17, 2Co 7:9-11 ,  2Co 3:17-18).

2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Paul beseeches us (Rom 12:1-3) to present our lives a living sacrifice in order to overcome this slothful spirit, and John also explains the same message of not loving the world or being conformed to it so that we can discern the will of God (1Jn 2:15-17) which, when accomplished by God’s holy spirit within us (Zec 4:6, 2Co 3:17), will lead us into the glorious liberty of the children of God, even now (Joh 2:17, Rom 8:21, 1Jn 3:1).

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (Joh 17:3)

Joh 2:17  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. (1Co 3:16, Php 2:12-13)

Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

In order “to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge”(Joh 17:3), we must be granted to see all these negative traits found in these proverbs, within our own heavens first (Pro 16:4), and continue to overcome them by the goodness of God that is expressed in “the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering” (Rom 2:4) traits of our heavenly Father that are used to continue to receive his children in this age (Heb 12:6, Tit 2:12-13).

Pro 26:13  The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

This verse can be seen as referring to Christ who is the lion of the tribe of David who is the way, the narrow way in the streets, meaning in life, where God willing we are being consumed by His zealous spirit that is working within us both to will and to do of our Father’s good pleasure (Rev 5:4-5, Mat 7:13-14, Php 2:12-13).

Adam and Eve hid themselves in the garden and did not want to be judged by Christ who is the lion in the streets (Gen 3:8). God’s elect are being dragged to the altar which is the cross, where we die daily (Joh 6:44, 1Co 15:31) for the purpose of being cleansed by that light that is Christ within us, our hope of glory who is able to cleanse the temple from all sin (1Jn 1:6-10, 1Jn 3:1-3).

1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:(Heb 10:25)
1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.(Col 1:27, Rom 8:9)

The lion in the street can also be taken as meaning Satan who is the god of this world going to and fro seeking who he may devour in the streets (Job 1:7, 1Pe 5:6-8).

Job 1:7  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The solution to overcoming the second lion is found by drawing close to Christ who is greater than him who is in the world (Jas 4:7-10, Luk 18:1, 1Pe 5:6-7, Php 4:6-7, Luk 22:31-32, 1Jn 4:4).

Jas 4:9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Luk 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:(Luk 18:1, 1Jn 4:17) and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Pro 26:14  As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

There is a negative and positive use of a door and a bed, and the negative door is the one that “the door turneth upon his hinges” like “the slothful upon his bed”.

Pro 26:14  Lazy people turn over in bed. They get no farther than a door swinging on its hinges. (GNB)

Positively, the “bed” is undefiled in Christ because our labours in Him are holy and undefiled, and predestined from the foundation of the world (Heb 4:3, Eph 1:3-5, Heb 6:1).

Heb 4:3  For we which have believed [Joh 6:28-29] do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest [a predestined work] to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest [Php 2:12-13], he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest [Php 2:12-13], lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

[not acknowledging Christ doing the work within us is equated with slothful unbelief, and doing the work is equated with the faith of Christ “we which have believed [Joh 6:28-29] do enter into rest”].

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, [Luk 12:32, Luk 17:21]

Those works are being accomplished not by might or power but by God’s holy spirit, via the “door” (Php 2:12-13) who makes a way for us to bring forth much fruit through that door, that vine that Christ is to us.

If we contrast Jonah (Jon 1:4-6) with Christ (Mar 4:38-41) who are both asleep in ships in these stories it will help us understand how we are to enter into Christ’s rest through labouring in the word (Heb 3:18, Heb 4:11)

Jon 1:4  And the Lord sent out a great wind on to the sea and there was a violent storm in the sea, so that the ship seemed in danger of being broken.
Jon 1:5  Then the sailors were full of fear, every man crying to his god; and the goods in the ship were dropped out into the sea to make the weight less. But Jonah had gone down into the inmost part of the ship where he was stretched out in a deep sleep.

[We all start off as the foolish virgin as typified by Jonah in this story, and if we are God’s elect He deals with our spiritual inattentiveness, or slothfulness (Mat 25:5, Mat 26:40-41)]

Jon 1:6  And the ship’s captain came to him and said to him, What are you doing sleeping? Up! say a prayer to your God, if by chance God will give a thought to us, so that we may not come to destruction.

[trim your lamp by chance your God will give a thought to us]

Mar 4:37  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
Mar 4:38  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
Mar 4:39  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

[Christ (Mat 25:4) our hope of glory within (Col 1:27), is in the hinder part of the ship G4403, the area where the stern is, which is critical for the navigation of the ship Psa 107:13, Psa 107:19, Php 2:12-13]

Mar 4:40  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

[Christ’s rhetorical question because no faith had yet been given]

Mar 4:41  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

[they were still focused on the outward miracle and not able to answer Christ as to why they have no faith. This all representing us before we were given the faith of Christ that makes it possible for us to enter into Christ’s rest]

Heb 3:18  And to whom did he make an oath that they might not come into his rest? was it not to those who went against his orders?
Heb 3:19  So we see that they were not able to go in because they had no belief. (1Jn 5:4)

Pro 26:15  The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

A strong illustration of (Pro 26:15) is found in the Parable of the Talents in (Mat 25:24-30). The servant who received one talent hid it in the ground, did nothing with it, and excused his inaction. This mirrors the proverb well: the sluggard hides his hand, and the servant hides his talent in the earth, earth, earth that we are (Jer 22:29). Both avoid exertion, and both suffer loss because of their unwillingness to act. It takes God’s process of judgements in our earth, earth, earth for us to become a special people who are zealous of good works (Tit 2:14).

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

The servant was not asked to do something extreme—only to use what he had been given—yet even that felt like too much. His inactivity is a parable telling us what Christ told us, that we could of our own selves do nothing without him (Joh 5:30, Joh 15:5).

Joh 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Those works, are works which are being done in the earth where the talent was buried. This is the point of the proverb and that parable of Christ, that the world does not understand and neither do God’s elect until were given to see that it is only Christ who can do those works through us as we continue to abide in the vine (Joh 15:5).

If we don’t acknowledge that it is Christ, and that we don’t have free will, those works are yet talents in the earth, symbolized by the unaccepted wheat offering of Cain that was not upon a burnt offering as his brother Abel’s was (Gen 4:3-7).

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

A similar pattern appears in the account of the foolish virgins in (Mat 25:1-13). They brought lamps but failed to bring oil. They began the process but did not prepare fully. Like the sluggard who will not finish lifting food to his mouth, they started but did not follow through, and their lack of readiness cost them dearly and is an admonition that by God’s grace and the faith of Christ (Eph 2:8-9), God’s elect will take heed in this age and be made ready and scarcely be saved through a process of judgement (1Pe 4:17-18).

This again is another parable that admonishes God’s elect and reminds us that we are being received of God to burn this spirit of the sluggard out of us (Heb 12:6, Tit 2:11-12), so that ultimately we can glorify God with the predestined works that He has called the body of Christ unto.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

In our appointed time we are the first to say ‘haven’t I done many wonderful works, haven’t I trimmed my lamp’, etc. The truth is that once that man of perdition is destroyed from the temple of our hearts where we boast in our flesh,  then all such boasting is done away by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our heavens that tries our faith, so that it becomes precious in God’s sight (2Th 2:3-8,  Rom 3:27, 1Pe 1:7).

It is Christ’s tried faith that puts an end to that boastful spirit and then we begin to no longer hide our talent in the earth but rather lay up treasure in heaven through Christ (Mat 6:20). The only works that are accepted of God are those that are accompanied with a burnt offering that symbolizes our acknowledging that Christ is the one doing the work through us. The many who come up in the great white throne, lake of fire judgement, second resurrection, are the majority of humanity who did not have God’s spirit within them, and like the rich young ruler whom Christ loved (Mar 10:21), cannot follow Christ in this age, and will come up in the second resurrection claiming they have done many wonderful works, not knowing that those works were all hidden in the earth, like the talent that was buried in the earth (Mat 19:23, Mat 25:18).

Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 25:18  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

Another vivid example is the neglected field described in (Pro 24:30-34). The field is overgrown with thorns, the wall broken down, and everything deteriorated through neglect. The owner likely once intended to tend it, but repeated small acts of avoidance that led to ruin. This captures the “it grieveth him” mindset—where even necessary effort feels burdensome. In each case, what was needed was not extraordinary strength, but simple, faithful action that was continually put off.

Once again the story was written for God’s elect today to remind us that if we are faithful in little we will be faithful in lots (Luk 16:10), and that faithfulness will stem from our being given to not neglect so great a salvation, as God drags us to Christ, who permits us to bring forth much fruit to His glory in whom we first trusted (Heb 6:3, Eph 1:12). In other words we bring nothing to the table, and despite ourselves what God has started in us He will finish through the author and finisher of our faith, not by our might, or power, but by God’s holy spirit (Zec 4:6).

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Pro 26:16  The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

It takes a miracle for us to finally confess that we ‘are the man’ (2Sa 12:7) and that all our wise indictments of others’ bad behaviour is pointless and hypocritical if we don’t see ourselves as the chief of sinners in need of going through much tribulation, all the seals, trumpets, and vials, in order to enter into His rest. We can’t naturally do this in our flesh which does not have the power or might to open those seals without Christ giving us the power to do so. A process of judgement is being granted to the body of Christ in this age that can only be accomplished through Christ (Rev 13:4, Rev 5:1-5, 1Pe 4:17-18).

2Sa 12:7  And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Rev 5:1  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Rev 5:2  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Rev 5:3  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.(Col 1:27)

The sluggard who is wise in his own conceits is each one of us, who can’t hear  “seven men that can render a reason” because of that conceit in our hearts that needs to be burnt out by the seals, the trumpets and the vials of God so that we can enter into the temple of God (Rev 15:8).

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

The seven men represent the complete counsel of the church which the spiritual sluggard in me cannot receive until that spirit is burnt out of me through judgement. We are confident in our flesh that we can do what God asks of us, but in reality it is only Christ in us as, our hope of glory who can make a way where there seems to be none so that we can drink the cup that we are called unto (Mat 20:22-23).

Mat 20:22  But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mat 20:23  And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.