Matthew Henry Commentary Proverbs 4
Matthew Henry Commentary
Proverbs 4
Matthew Henry Commentary
Proverbs 4
"Hear, [my] sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding: For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law. For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live; Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth; Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee. Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her. She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life." — Proverbs 4:1-13 (ASV)
We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though instruction carries reproof and correction, welcome it. Solomon's parents loved him; therefore, they taught him. Wise and godly men, in every age of the world and in every rank of society, agree that true wisdom consists in obedience and is united to happiness.
Get wisdom; take pains for it. Gain rule over your corruptions; take more pains to obtain this than the wealth of this world. An interest in Christ's salvation is necessary. This wisdom is the one thing needful.
A soul without true wisdom and grace is a dead soul. How poor, contemptible, and wretched are those who, with all their wealth and power, die without gaining understanding, without Christ, without hope, and without God!
Let us give heed to the sayings of Him who has the words of eternal life. Thus our path will be plain before us: by taking and keeping a firm hold of instruction, we will avoid being constrained or stumbling.
"Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on. For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart. For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil." — Proverbs 4:14-27 (ASV)
The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to accomplish some purpose; but it is an evil way, and will end badly. If you love your God and your soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a due distance, but at a great distance; never think you can get far enough from it. The way of the righteous is light; Christ is their Way, and he is the Light.
The saints will not be perfect until they reach heaven, but there they shall shine as the sun in his strength. The way of sin is as darkness. The way of the wicked is dark, therefore dangerous; they fall into sin, but do not know how to avoid it. They fall into trouble, but never seek to know why God contends with them, nor what will be the end of it.
This is the way we are instructed to shun. Attentive hearing the word of God, is a good sign of a work of grace begun in the heart, and a good means of carrying it on. There is in the word of God a proper remedy for all diseases of the soul. Keep thy heart with all diligence. We must set a strict guard upon our souls; keep our hearts from doing hurt, and getting hurt.
A good reason is given; because out of it are the issues of life. Above all, we should seek from the Lord Jesus that living water, the sanctifying Spirit, issuing forth to everlasting life. Thus we shall be enabled to put away a froward mouth and perverse lips; our eyes will be turned from beholding vanity, looking straight forward, and walking by the rule of God's word, treading in the steps of our Lord and Master. Lord, forgive the past, and enable us to follow You more closely in the time to come.
Jump to: