Charles Ellicott Commentary Proverbs 3:11

"My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof:" — Proverbs 3:11 (ASV)

Despise not the chastening of the Lord ... . This marks a wonderful advance beyond the teaching of the Pentateuch (for example, Deuteronomy 28), in which the Jewish people had to be treated as children, and punishment or reward follow as the immediate consequence of bad or good behavior.

Under such a system of discipline, misfortune could only be regarded as a punishment, a sign of God’s displeasure; but now a further manifestation of His dealings with humankind is revealed. When He sends trouble upon His children, He is no longer to be regarded as an offended father punishing their faults, but as one who, in love, is correcting them.

Even the New Testament quotes these words with approval, and without adding anything to their teaching (Hebrews 12:5–13). There it is shown how all God’s children must, without exception, submit to this discipline.