Proverbs 21:21 Commentary and Bible Study

These are the treasures which the fool squanders which are of much greater value than silver and gold which perish. This man follows after or pursues righteousness and mercy. As they seem to evade him he makes additional effort to keep up. It is not easy but he set his heart on them and will not be discouraged. That seeking is evidence of a new heart for none seek the righteousness spoken of here but those who are born again. In the words of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount – ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’He finds what he pursues and more. Righteousness and mercy are twins; they belong together. We remember, of course, that we are saved by grace and by the blood of Christ alone, that alone secures us mercy, salvation and heaven. But we have been given the great desire and the obligation by God’s help to strive for righteousness, for holiness. All the things that are added to him are good. All are from God. All are beyond his ability to obtain for himself. In his pursuing, he only gains righteousness in part; perfect righteousness in this life always seems to evade him, but by the grace of God what he receives is eternal life and perfect righteousness, and true honour in the kingdom of heaven. All these good things go together: status in God’s eyes, adoption into God’s family, and citizenship of the kingdom of heaven. He follows after at every available opportunity. It becomes his instinct to choose righteousness. He sees the path that righteousness and mercy direct him in, and like a walker following some rough path he looks ahead and reads the path and puts his foot down in a level place where his ankle will not turn, and his foot will not slip or be caught in some root. Mercy pleases him because it does no harm, and because it pleases God. Sometimes it presents an opportunity to turn earthly perishable mammon into something which will bring eternal gain.