Proverbs 17:4 Commentary and Bible Study

There is a strange magnetic attraction between those who do evil and those who speak evil, which makes the evildoer welcome the evil and false things that he hears others say. It is as if he wants to hear evil because when he hears it he knows he is among friends, among those who are committed to the same evil principles. In fact the evil doer is likely to be an evil speaker and a speaker of lies himself, and as such he is well aware of the potential of others to lie and is often the keenest at spotting lies in others. Not that he listens to every false word; he distinguishes between what is spoken against him and what is spoken against others. But when it comes to gossip, to false accusations, especially to attacks on God and his truth, he is ready to soak it all up and to receive it as truth. He shows that there is a bias in favour of believing these things inside him so that he accepts weak arguments against the existence of God when he would not accept the same weak arguments in other matters. Man in other words has a deep prejudice against the truth and clutches at every vain thing that seems to support this prejudice. Another realisation of this proverb is in the readiness which the wicked have to accept flattery and to believe all manner of exaggerated praise about themselves. They are already convinced that they are to be admired more than others, that they excel in natural talents, and that they are to be excused for any minor misdemeanours. When they hear others support this view, they naturally receive this as the truth without being careful not to receive false praise. But the wise man is not so easily deceived. He cares more about the truth than about his own reputation. He knows that unless God approves of him, the approval of others is worth nothing, for their praise will perish along with them. They are happy with a false testimony about themselves as long as it is plausible. These are open to false religion which tells men and women that there is an easy entrance into the kingdom of heaven, that God is so lenient that he overlooks sin and is content with the best that fallen man is capable of. They soak up a religion that does not honour all the attributes of God but teaches that God is love only and nothing else. Such false religion is built on lies, which man is responsible for believing, because he is capable of knowing better but chooses not to.