Proverbs 27:17 Commentary and Bible Study

The mind of another person who has fresh and distinct thoughts of his or her own is of huge advantage to us, and the effect we have on one another is one of God’s ways of sanctifying and improving us. It is easier to sharpen a knife with a grindstone because the stone has the ability to remove metal from the knife to produce a sharp edge, but an alternative is to use a steel, made essentially of the same material as the knife. By rubbing the two at the right angle against each other, one piece of iron can sharpen the other, and Solomon makes this a metaphor for the effect of one person upon another for good. The interesting effect is of course the far more subtle and wonderful influence that one human soul has upon another, particularly in spiritual matters as two children of God refine each other. Both have been awakened to see the purpose of this life. No longer do they live for things that are passing away, the pleasures that come from owning property or goods in this world, from parading these things before others as proof of success in the world, or from achievements which men esteem highly that have nothing of lasting value but will all perish at the end of life. Now they are living for eternity, and the things that have real value in their estimation are those that belong to the kingdom of heaven. Are Christ’s lost sheep being gathered in? Are the churches growing? Are the people of God being advanced in their understanding and perfected in their character so that they can take something from this world which will outlive physical death? Therefore the people of God converse together; they speak often and with joy about what God has done for them. They sorrow together at wickedness in the world of unbelief, and marvel at the change that takes place when God takes hold of a fallen human being and begins to transform them. They discuss the nature of the soul and the many different ways in which people behave and speak and react to the circumstances of life. Living next to each other and talking with each other they correct each other, add to each other, encourage each other in such a way that their understanding is sharpened, making them better able to deal with the next situation they encounter in life. They attempt to argue a point and are compelled to improve it by a better argument.