Proverbs 21:14 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Proverbs 21:14

Comments

The idea of a secret gift is understood by some translators to indicate a bribe, something given to avert justice, but the KJV rendering is better which sees this as a gift given privately to pacify justified anger. A bribe has no power to remove anger, and although it results in a different course of action by someone in power, it may result in the one paying the bribe being despised even more than he was before. What the verse describes is the genuine removal of legitimate anger, anger which is justified and strongly felt. A bribe cannot do this. The gift given here is a token of repentance. It is given as a humble acknowledgement of wrongdoing. The reason that it is given in secret is that the gift is not given for show for others to see, or simply to make an impression; it is done privately to win over the one who has been offended. It is for his eyes only. The present given in the bosom is a parallel idea: something given privately and sincerely, to the heart of the person and without any intention to deceive.How does this work? The greater part of the offence from a wrong-doing may well come from the guilty party refusing to admit their fault. While they hold out and insist they have done no wrong, there is no possibility of reconciliation. Not only have they committed an offence, but in refusing to acknowledge it they are in effect charging the other party with false accusation. No one can be reconciled while that attitude continues.

Application

The lesson for us in connection with the judgment of God is that we must placate God’s anger towards us which is entirely just and well deserved. We must truly humble ourselves and appeal to the heart of God for mercy. We must confess our sins and stop pretending that we have any righteousness of our own. We must instead see ourselves as guilty sinners who deserve to spend eternity shut out of his presence and banished to hell. God’s anger is strong anger indeed and something which we cannot begin to cope with. In our case, there is no gift that can pacify God or purchase his forgiveness. The gift that we need has been paid for us by Jesus Christ who laid down his life and made an atonement for sin. We must bring his sacrifice as the only grounds of our acceptance. Nevertheless God requires that we come in repentance and having received the free gift of salvation we offer up our bodies, a living sacrifice to him. There must be close dealings between our souls and the Lord in which we cast ourselves on his goodness and relinquish all claim to his favour other than through mercy.

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Proverbs 21:14 Commentary and Bible Study