Proverbs 17:25 Commentary and Bible Study

Why is this proverb so similar to verse 21, and why is it repeated so soon? One difference between the two is that the first focuses on the parent who brings such a child into the world, while this proverb focuses on the child who causes such grief to those who ought to have reason to rejoice.Here is a picture of painful disappointments in life. A father naturally looks forward to the birth of a child as one of the greatest events in his life. The child is surrounded by hopes for the future. The father who brings up the child and the mother who carried and gave birth to the child and tenderly cared for him, investing so much affection; they have high expectations and anticipate great things for their child. They look forward to the growth and development of the child and all the joys that he will bring into their lives. But what if the child turns out to be a fool? The illustration could again be of a man with a small holding who expects his child to take over from him in his old age. The son will run the farm and have to make wise decisions about when to sow, when to harvest and a host of other key issues. If the son is profligate and does not know how to manage his resources, or if he is preoccupied with having fun with his friends and does not give attention to the upkeep of his land, then it will go to ruin and the family will be impoverished. The child must be aware that all this pain will come on those who brought him into the world if he behaves as a fool. That foolishness is something that affects others deeply for the son does not live to himself alone but to those who have invested much of themselves in his life.This is a picture of spiritual foolishness, that foolishness which turns away from God and does not care about the welfare of the soul. God’s people have high hopes for one another and expend vast amounts of love and care on each other. It may be that the disappointment comes from physical children, or it may be it comes from those who come to faith through our labours. Paul felt deeply the pain of seeing the Galatians, who had come to faith through his labours, turning away from the truth to a false gospel which could not save them (Galatians 4:13-20). We do much for the other because we hope to see fruit in their lives, but if our efforts come to nothing then we are greatly distressed.