Proverbs 28:23 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

Navigator

Proverbs 28:23

Comments

There are some who love to reprove because of they love to take authority to themselves and to set themselves as judges above others. The motive of such reproof is completely wrong and Scripture is not encouraging anyone to behave in this way. They are driven by pride and self-righteousness which makes false comparison between themselves and others, and this sort of rebuke is often simply a way of boosting self. These will not find favour from the Lord. Others are very sensitive to any sort of contention. They see what is wrong in the behaviour of another but they cannot bring themselves ever to challenge anyone because of the discomfort and possible breakdown of relationship that may result. They may behave this way out of cowardice having some concern for the truth, but lacking the courage to stand for it, or it may simply be too much trouble to admonish. (There may be those who do not reprove because they have little concern for God’s righteous standards and wish to do the same evil things themselves and it does not suit them to reprove these practices, but that is not the case being considered here.) The case before us is of those who prefer to live at peace with those they have to get along with on a day to day basis. Their first loyalty is to their friends not to the Lord and therefore it is as if they have taken sides with their law-breaking friends to avoid trouble. This is also a great fault and such friendship is worth little. A true friend is a faithful friend and that means that he is ready to admonish us when we go astray. It means he is going to help us walk the pathway to heaven, and bring us back to the Lord. He will put up with the short term displeasure that his rebuke produces because he hopes that something better will come from it in the future. What comes from a faithful reproof is change that leads to life. This is how we truly help each other. Who will thank us afterwards for failing to correct them when that failure has resulted in eternal loss? This is how we should conduct ourselves on earth in order to securely navigate this fallen world.

Application

This of course is the way every good parent deals with their child and is the way the Lord deals with his people. He does not ask their permission to send hard providences into their lives. He does not constantly alter his standards to match our failings. He is the unchanging God and he is training us to meet an unchanging standard of perfect righteousness exhibited by Christ. It is we who must change and not him. But the flatterer is a weak person, though he may also be a devious person. But sticking with the idea of weakness, he flatters out of fear or out of desire for favour. He takes too much consideration of man.

Friends have ways of reproving each other. It does not mean they have to be harsh, but they make clear that they are not willing to shift from a right standard, and that they expect their friends to follow the same standard. They may offer a quiet word of advice, but it is obvious that they speak plainly and speak sincerely. A king may need to be reproved with subservience, while a servant is reproved with firmness, but the intention is obvious in both cases.

Questions

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Proverbs 28:23 Commentary and Bible Study