- Proverbs 13:1-5
-
- Prov 13:1 (KJB)
- A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner
heareth not rebuke.
-
- Scorner - Mocker
- Heareth not - Does not heed
-
- The difference between the wise man and the foolish is laid out in this
verse in a very simple manner. A wise son or man will hear and understand
his father’s instructions. He will realize that his father is trying to
impart wisdom to him and will not allow personal pride to get in the way of
his growth. On the other hand, a scorner does not heed the rebuke of anyone.
They mock at the advice of others simply because they believe that they know
it all and nothing anyone says to them will ever supersede the wisdom or
knowledge they think they possess. The most dangerous thing a person can do
is to reject or mock the advice others give, especially when those others
are doing it out of a spirit of caring.
-
- Prov 13:2 (KJB)
- A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of
the transgressors shall eat violence.
-
- Transgressors - Deceitful ones
- Violence - Wickedness or wrong
-
- Here we have a verse which speaks about the necessity of right words. A
wise man will know what words to bring to a person and that is not speaking
of words which flatter to gain some advantage. These are words which a
person needs to hear at the proper time. They could be words of
encouragement, to strengthen another or help calm them down. By using words
in the proper context and with feeling aimed at the person who is being
spoken with, their speech will yield a good return for them. They will not
be known as someone who just likes to put people down or just speak with
empty words. Their speech will help a person in a time of need. As a result
of their caring attitude, they will build a large friendship base and when
they need help, their friends will remember them and help them. On the other
hand, the one who always has the negative or railing mouth will gain a
return of violence against them. Violence can be either physical or it can
be verbal. People will remember those who caused much consternation instead
of helping them and their wrong attitude will be returned to them, sometimes
worse than they way they gave it out.
-
- Prov 13:3 (KJB)
- He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that
openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
-
- Keepeth - Observe or guard
-
- A person who carefully guards his speech is one who is wise and probably
never gets in trouble for spewing out unwholesome words or accusations. This
verse teaches us that we are to watch what we say, simply because the wrong
words to the wrong people can cause us to lose our life. Especially in the
times we live in where just a wrong look could cause someone to pull out a
gun and shoot. If we watch what we say and only use words at an appropriate
time, we will guard our lives as well as our testimony. On the other hand,
the one who is vociferous is placing themselves in a bad position because
the person they could be railing against could take their life. This verse
does not state “may have destruction” but it states “shall have
destruction.” It means that those who use their mouth in a slanderous way
will meet destruction head on. It may take a while but it will come.
-
- Prov 13:4 (KJB)
- The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul
of the diligent shall be made fat.
-
- Be made fat - Figuratively to make healthy, rich, or prosperous
-
- Here is the essence of laziness. The lazy person has all kinds of
desires and wants yet they are so lazy and will do nothing to establish and
work toward a goal. Their entire life is based on laziness and will always
have nothing while maintaining desires. They always think that tomorrow will
bring something better for them, even though they have done nothing to
warrant looking forward to tomorrow.
(Prov
27:1 KJV) Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day
may bring forth. The lazy person always thinks
that tomorrow will hold something better for them but it is just one more
day deeper into poverty. On the other hand, the diligent person does not sit
around and makes the most of as many opportunities as they can. They are
diligent in the work that they do and that work will yield fruit in due
time. In fact, they will become prosperous in their vocation. It is like the
person who refuses to do Bible study and continually knows less every day
but the person who chooses to be diligent in their studies in the Scriptures
will become rich in the wisdom of God and knowledge of the Scriptures. To be
a spiritually fat Christian is to be one who is constantly growing in the
faith.
-
- Prov 13:5 (KJB)
- A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is
loathsome, and cometh to shame.
-
- Lying - A word of deception
- Loathsome - Stinks or causes to stink
-
- The truly saved man will hate lying, in fact, he will hate any form of
deception whether it is deceptive teachings or deception in any realm. He
knows that if he continually tells the truth, his reputation will always
remain intact and he will never have to go back and cover a lie with another
lie. In fact, even the most ingenious lie will eventually be uncovered and
exposed. The wicked man lives in deception and that deceptive lifestyle of
his will give off an odor that people will want to stay away from. It may
not be a body odor but it will be the type of an odor of deception that will
cause people to want to stay away from that person. Eventually, that person
will be openly shamed because their deceptions will be brought to light.
Back
-