Proverbs 15:31 Commentary and Bible Study

A person who is unwell and needs treatment does not resent having to take medicine, even though it is unpleasant to the taste. Likewise, every lost soul that is saved by Christ accepts the life of correction and reproof which is an essential part of being prepared for heaven. He wishes to be counted with the wise and knows that there is no other path to wisdom than to receive instruction, some of which will be unpleasant and will challenge the most cherished sins. The ear here is again not just the physical organ but the spiritual ear, the ear of the soul, which hears not only the sound of words but receives those words into the heart as true and worthy to be believed, worthy to be acted on. The ear of the believer does not deny or fight against words of reproof, but lets those words do their work deep in the heart. It is a reproof of life because it is reproof which when received leads to life, but when rejected leads to death. That reproof may come directly from God’s word or from those who understand it. These two proverbs apply also to the seeker, for the first thing that God has to say to us in our unbelief is to point out our sin; salvation starts with conviction of sin. But training and correction does not stop there; it must continue until the last day of life. These reproofs should be welcomed by us and precious to us. They are the means by which we stay on the path to life. It is not our enemy who reproves us but our friend. Our enemy will leave us on the path that leads to hell and do nothing to warn us. Our friend is ready to stand in our way and oppose us even though we resist him; he sees our good more clearly than we do perhaps. He risks being rejected by us, knowing that if he can bring us to accept reproof and learn from it, then we will thank him later and see more clearly what he was doing to help us. For who should love a man’s own interests as much as he does, and yet here was one who loved him more and was more clear sighted than he was himself. All this cannot be done unless we are willing to put away pride and be taught.