Proverbs 30:11–30:20 I. Four kinds of undesirable behavior (vv. 11-14).
a. Disrespectful Children – a curse and a non-
blessing to their parents (v. 11).
b. Hypocritical People – Clean in no one’s eyes but
their own (v. 12). ... Read more
Proverbs 30:1–30:10 Agar the inspired writer of these verses is not
mentioned anywhere else in Scripture and even though
his father’s name is given there is no clue to his family
or tribe in Israel. Ithiel and Ucal are appar¬ently his
companions but are also unknown (v. 1). Agar seems
to have been a plain and ... Read more
Proverbs 29:15–29:27 An undisciplined child will bring shame to his mother
and ruin to himself (v. 15). When the wicked are
multiplied, transgression increases (v. 16). Proper
discipline includes both verbal instruction and
spankings. Failure to discipline results in a society
overrun with wickedness and lacking in ... Read more
Proverbs 29:1–29:14 A man who stubbornly refuses correction destroys
himself and any hope he may have for the future (v.
1). I can think of several men who destroyed their
ministry by refusing to admit their error. When
righteous leaders are in control even the unbelievers
will be glad. On the other hand, when ... Read more
Proverbs 28:15–28:28 The oppressive rule of a wicked leader is compared to
the vicious attack of a roaring lion (v. 15). He
oppresses the poor like a wild beast among the people.
He bears rule with a heavy hand and fails to see that
the security of his job should be related to the welfare
of those under him (v. 16) ... Read more
Proverbs 28:1–28:14 A guilty conscience and cowardice go hand in hand. The
guilty run from imagined pursuers while the righteous
are as bold as lions (v. 1). Throughout Israel’s history,
the stability of the nation nearly always depended on
the wisdom of its leader (v. 2). It’s often the poor who
are the most ... Read more
Proverbs 27:19–27:27 Just as water, like a mirror, reflects a person’s face, so
will a person’s heart and thoughts reflect what he is
really like (v. 19). The natural man is never satisfied (v.
20). The more he gets the more he wants. It is
reported that John Rockefeller was once asked how
much money it would take to ... Read more
Proverbs 27:10–27:18 When grief and tragedies come, it is far better to have
a faithful friend than a member of your own family
whose affections have been weakened by time and
distan¬ce (v. 10). If someone has been a good friend
of your father, you need to feel an obligation to helping
him when he needs help. A ... Read more
Proverbs 27:1–27:9 It is a big mistake to boast about what you will do
tomorrow because there is really no way of knowing for
sure what will happen (v. 1). This is especially true
when it comes to putting off being saved. The road to
hell is paved with good intentions. Not only should a
person refrain from ... Read more
Proverbs 26:17–26:28 One who grabs a dog by the ears may expect to be
bitten (v. 17). The same is true of someone who gets
involved in other peoples’ quarrels (vv. 18-19). It is
best to stay out of others’ quarrels and let them settle
their own differe¬nces between themselves. When you
stop putting wood on a fire it ... Read more
Proverbs 26:1–26:16 Fools are those who make fun of sin and refuse to heed
the voice of wisdom.
(1) Honoring a fool is Dangerous. Just as weather out
of season can destroy crops, a fool raised to a position
of honor will hurt everyone who follows him (v. 1).
Giving honor to a fool is useless, ... Read more
Esther 9:18–10:3 The Feast of Purim was not established by the Mosaic Law.
It was commanded by Mordecai (vv. 20-28) and by Esther
(vv. 29-32). These two feast days were for remembering
the goodness of God working through circumstances to
protect His people from extinction. This feast was called ... Read more
Esther 9:1–9:17 As this chapter opens, we find two opposing parties ready
to leap at each other’s throats. Haman’s decree had stated
that on a certain day (13th day of the 12th month) anyone
could kill the Jews and take their property (v. 1). This was
the very day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to do
away ... Read more
Esther 8:10–8:17 Despite Haman’s death and Mordecai’s promotion, the
Jews were still doomed to destruction by a decree that
could not be reversed by the king. It was decided that a
second unalterable decree had to be issued to overcome
the effectiveness of the first decree. This second decree
gave permission ... Read more
Recent commentaries
We Are Never Satisfied and Always Want More
Proverbs 30:11–30:20
I. Four kinds of undesirable behavior (vv. 11-14). a. Disrespectful Children – a curse and a non- blessing to their parents (v. 11). b. Hypocritical People – Clean in no one’s eyes but their own (v. 12). ... Read more
God Chooses to Use Ordinary People
Proverbs 30:1–30:10
Agar the inspired writer of these verses is not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture and even though his father’s name is given there is no clue to his family or tribe in Israel. Ithiel and Ucal are appar¬ently his companions but are also unknown (v. 1). Agar seems to have been a plain and ... Read more
The Rod and Reproof Bring Wisdom
Proverbs 29:15–29:27
An undisciplined child will bring shame to his mother and ruin to himself (v. 15). When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases (v. 16). Proper discipline includes both verbal instruction and spankings. Failure to discipline results in a society overrun with wickedness and lacking in ... Read more
An Honest Ruler Makes a Nation Strong
Proverbs 29:1–29:14
A man who stubbornly refuses correction destroys himself and any hope he may have for the future (v. 1). I can think of several men who destroyed their ministry by refusing to admit their error. When righteous leaders are in control even the unbelievers will be glad. On the other hand, when ... Read more
Giving Needed Rebuke is Never Easy
Proverbs 28:15–28:28
The oppressive rule of a wicked leader is compared to the vicious attack of a roaring lion (v. 15). He oppresses the poor like a wild beast among the people. He bears rule with a heavy hand and fails to see that the security of his job should be related to the welfare of those under him (v. 16) ... Read more
Refusing to Obey Brings Disastrous Results
Proverbs 28:1–28:14
A guilty conscience and cowardice go hand in hand. The guilty run from imagined pursuers while the righteous are as bold as lions (v. 1). Throughout Israel’s history, the stability of the nation nearly always depended on the wisdom of its leader (v. 2). It’s often the poor who are the most ... Read more
The Natural Man is Never Satisfied
Proverbs 27:19–27:27
Just as water, like a mirror, reflects a person’s face, so will a person’s heart and thoughts reflect what he is really like (v. 19). The natural man is never satisfied (v. 20). The more he gets the more he wants. It is reported that John Rockefeller was once asked how much money it would take to ... Read more
Iron Can Sharpen Iron
Proverbs 27:10–27:18
When grief and tragedies come, it is far better to have a faithful friend than a member of your own family whose affections have been weakened by time and distan¬ce (v. 10). If someone has been a good friend of your father, you need to feel an obligation to helping him when he needs help. A ... Read more
Don’t Brag About Tomorrow
Proverbs 27:1–27:9
It is a big mistake to boast about what you will do tomorrow because there is really no way of knowing for sure what will happen (v. 1). This is especially true when it comes to putting off being saved. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Not only should a person refrain from ... Read more
It Always Takes Two to Quarrel
Proverbs 26:17–26:28
One who grabs a dog by the ears may expect to be bitten (v. 17). The same is true of someone who gets involved in other peoples’ quarrels (vv. 18-19). It is best to stay out of others’ quarrels and let them settle their own differe¬nces between themselves. When you stop putting wood on a fire it ... Read more
The Man of Wisdom Will Not Dispute a Fool
Proverbs 26:1–26:16
Fools are those who make fun of sin and refuse to heed the voice of wisdom. (1) Honoring a fool is Dangerous. Just as weather out of season can destroy crops, a fool raised to a position of honor will hurt everyone who follows him (v. 1). Giving honor to a fool is useless, ... Read more
Feast of Purim Established
Esther 9:18–10:3
The Feast of Purim was not established by the Mosaic Law. It was commanded by Mordecai (vv. 20-28) and by Esther (vv. 29-32). These two feast days were for remembering the goodness of God working through circumstances to protect His people from extinction. This feast was called ... Read more
Jews Took Revenge
Esther 9:1–9:17
As this chapter opens, we find two opposing parties ready to leap at each other’s throats. Haman’s decree had stated that on a certain day (13th day of the 12th month) anyone could kill the Jews and take their property (v. 1). This was the very day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to do away ... Read more
The Second Decree to Protect The Jews Was Given
Esther 8:10–8:17
Despite Haman’s death and Mordecai’s promotion, the Jews were still doomed to destruction by a decree that could not be reversed by the king. It was decided that a second unalterable decree had to be issued to overcome the effectiveness of the first decree. This second decree gave permission ... Read more