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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.