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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.