We see in this man with the evil eye, a man who wants what belongs to others, a man who is motivated by greed. He has no regard for how he gets what someone else has just as long as he gets it soon.
Money or wealth gotten from evil ways and in a hurry has a way of leaving just as fast. Poverty is inevitable for this man because God will not bless him.
We see bribery associated with this. (piece of bread). Some judges accept bribes and release someone just because of favors or because of who they are. God expects us to treat all men fairly.
Talking about every little irritation or piece of gossip only keeps the fires of anger going. Refusing to discuss them cuts the fuel line and makes the fires die out. Does someone continually irritate you? Decide not to complain about the person and see if your irritation dies from lack of fuel.
This is just saying, stop adding fuel to the fire and the fire will die down. A rumor cannot damage anyone until it is told, Gossip is like the wood. It causes widespread damage. To stop the damage, stop the gossip. This continues in the next verse.
We see there, a situation where the coals of gossip have just about gone out, but a contentious man who loves trouble will go in there and rekindle the mess all over again. To make coals re-ignite you blow on them and add a little kindling (gossip), to the fire. This makes an even hotter fire than you had in the first place. This evil man wants to keep the quarrel going so he stirs it up a little and gets it going full blast again.
Talking about every little irritation or piece of gossip only keeps the fires of anger going. Refusing to discuss them cuts the fuel line and makes the fires die out. Does someone continually irritate you? Decide not to complain about the person and see if your irritation dies from lack of fuel.
Untimely cheerfulness is unbearable. When you have a heavy heart, you are in no mood to sing or have someone to sing to you. To take away someone’s coat when it is cold, would be a cruel thing to do.
To pour vinegar upon nitre (Baking soda), is to cause it to hiss and lose its component power. Vinegar stings when applied wrongly.
When our brothers and sisters are sad, it is cruel to rejoice in their sorrow.
God’s form of retaliation is most effective and yet difficult to do. Paul quotes this proverb in
Romans 12:19-21. In Mathew 5:44, Jesus encourages us to pray for those who hurt us. By returning good for evil, we are acknowledging God as the balancer of all accounts and trusting him to be the judge.
(From the end of verse 23 to verse 25), we see that injustice is evil and destabilizes society. There is nothing worse than an unjust judge. The people can tell when someone is playing favorites, and they do not like it. They demand justice. Fair play is not only wanted but demanded by the people.
The people want the guilty punished and the innocent to go free. The judge that does just that, without playing favorites, is respected, and loved by the people and by the Lord as well.
These words introduce a brief section forming an appendix of further wise sayings that finish the first group of proverbs complied by Solomon to add to his own.
Acts 10:34 “Opening his mouth, Peter said: I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality:”
James 2:1 “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.”
You should read (all of James 2:1 thru 2:9), God is not a respecter of persons, as well. We should judge all the same with no prejudice because of wealth or prominence.
We see some of the things of wisdom and understanding teaches (in verses 26, 27, 28). The first verse is another warning to listen to. The word prostitute is a very clear word showing just how disgusting this sin is.
These terms refer to any immoral woman. Falling into her clutches should be as frightening as the prospect of falling into a deep pit or well, from which there is no escape.
We have said before that devastating diseases are associated with whoredom today. A man or woman of wisdom will not get involved in this type of sin. This sin involves the body, and the body (if you are a Christian), is the TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. This sin, more than others, involves God in the sin; and this is an abomination to God.
Don’t let the desires of the flesh; draw you out of fellowship with God.
We see here “Incline your ear and hear” means humble yourself enough that you will hear. Someone can talk all day, but if you do not receive it, you have done nothing. “Apply your mind to knowledge” is speaking of the knowledge of God being applied to the heart.
Verse 18 is an extension of verse 17. The knowledge of God applied to the heart is a pleasant thing. If you keep it hidden away in your heart forever, your words will be coming from a pure heart and you will be speaking pure words. The knowledge God has revealed to you should not be a shame to you, but a joy to speak.
Proverbs 22:19 So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you.
We see, we are not to trust in ourselves or even the people around us, but in the Lord who will never let us down. God has revealed Himself to us. This last sentence in verse 19 is saying (believe it or not), I have revealed it unto you.
Proverbs 22:20 Have I not written to your excellent things of counsels and knowledge.
The previous counsels have been the same. He is just reminding them here that they already have been instructed in God’s way.
Proverbs 22:21 To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who ask you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.
One of the reasons we learn the truth is so that we can pass it on to others after we have applied it to our lives. Not only are we to get saved by the truth of God, but we must minister truth everywhere we go
Under Gods command 