Proverbs 19:27 Commentary and Bible Study

There is some difficulty in the translation because of the brevity of the expression, but the general meaning of the verse is clear. The KJV interprets the second infinitive as if it was causal (hiphil) in order to link it to the first infinitive and make it to qualify the instruction given. Others make it a result and translate it with a future tense, applying it to those who receive this instruction. There will always be conflicting voices calling for our attention, and they do not all deserve to be listened to, as if we had to make sense of them all and reconcile them with each other. What we need is discernment. The right approach is to utterly dismiss the siren voice of sin, and to recognise the true voice of discipline. If our responsibility ended with hearing and following every voice that came within earshot, then we could not discern between one doctrine and another, but we are called to also pass judgment on our teachers before we receive their instruction or as we receive their instruction. When it comes to judging what doctrine is safe to receive, we examine every part, and when we detect something which contradicts the word of God, we are ready to reject all that that teacher says to us. How can they have mixed such error into the body of their instruction? How can they fail to see that this spoils the rest? How can they miss the point that this is harmful and they have disqualified themselves to teach? Here is the test we must apply: Does this doctrine in any way cast doubt on God or his word? Does it make me less concerned about those who are perishing or indifferent to them? Does it tell me that integrity and truth is less than vital, that we can cut corners, that it is impossible to keep all of God’s truth at once? Does it reduce our fear of sinning against God? Does it question the power of prayer? Then let us mark that teacher as one that we will not listen to. Let us turn away from them and warn others against them, and not be naïve but remember that we are involved in a battle for our very souls.