Proverbs 16:29 Commentary and Bible Study

Although the word ‘entice’ seems a mild word to be used in connection with a violent man, it is often used in a bad sense, as in Proverbs 1:10, and has the basic meaning ‘to deceive’. How he entices is not stated, but certainly even a violent man does not do everything by force. He also makes use of cunning and persuasion, though the end he has in view is violent. He has no concern about the suffering that he inflicts on others, nor about getting others involved in his evil schemes. As Lawson says, ‘Thieves deprive us of our money, and murderers deprive us only of a short life; but these factors of hell who would seduce us to sin, attempt to rob us of heavenly treasures, and to destroy our immortal souls.’ A violent man, a man who has broken through that substantial limit that God sets on human behaviour, such a man is dangerous in every way, especially in what he will teach others to do. Having destroyed his own soul in hell, he has no qualms about destroying the souls of others also. He is prepared to lead others to hell itself. It is a fearful thing to be called the friend of such a man, for there is a complete vacuum in his heart where there ought to be concern for the eternal welfare of others. The violent man has violently destroyed his own soul. Following that act, he is capable of anything.