Proverbs 20:17 Commentary and Bible Study

Within every man and woman is the awareness of eternity which makes them without excuse in choosing ‘to enjoy the pleasures of sin which are for a season’ (Hebrews 11:25). Not only do they know that sin is forbidden and that it leads to death, but they know they only have it for a short time before they must give account to God. It cannot satisfy the soul and the enjoyment of it comes with terrible long-term consequences. To seek its pleasures is therefore to betray their own souls and to spend the soul as if it was currency which we could afford to give away, but the soul is the real centre of life and to lose it is to lose everything. The temptation to sin and to enjoy the short-term pleasures of sin should therefore be met with deep reflection on the consequences of disobedience. The bread of deceit is sweet partly because it is deceit, and the perverseness of the human heart loves it for that reason. It seems to the sinner that he has cheated God out of something he was told was not possible. He has been warned not to sin and told that sin leads to death, but he imagines that he has been misinformed and that there is much pleasure to be gained from sin after all. He believes that he has robbed God and found pleasure where there was said to be no pleasure. This sense of gain thrills him, but deep down he knows he cannot succeed and that sin comes at a price. The sweetness does not last and is a delusion. The bread of deceit involves him in deceiving others and attempting to deceive God, but the sweetness which he experiences is itself a deception; he has deceived his own soul and allowed his heart to believe its own lies. There is now and there is afterwards. Afterwards may come soon or it may come later, but it will certainly come, and after ‘afterwards’ there is nothing else: that is the final state. Solomon’s expression is highly graphic, and it is deeply disturbing. For the mouth to be filled with gravel will cause great harm, and the teeth will be broken and unable to eat. Permanent damage will be done to the ability to consume in the future. Sin also brings wreckage to the whole man, for the corruption of the heart which follows, ruins man and makes him incapable of enjoying what he was designed to enjoy – the glory of God. He is left with guilt and fear and tastes that have been corrupted by participation in sin. His pleasures are short and his punishment long.