Untitled Sermon
Arrogance means self-exaltation over another person
Arrogance means self-exaltation over another person
Lying (šāqer) signifies “aggressive deceit intended to harm the other, unfaithfulness
the center that gives rise to all of a person’s physical and spiritual activity—that plans
There is something of a contrasting parallel arrangement with the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. It has seven blessed things to answer these seven hated things; moreover, the first beatitude (“Blessed are the poor in spirit,” Matt 5:5) contrasts with the first hated thing (“haughty eyes,” v. 17; i.e., “a proud look”) and the seventh (“peacemakers,” Matt 5:7) with the seventh abomination (“stirs up dissension,” v. 19).
“a lying tongue” (lešôn šāqer lit., “a tongue of deception”
Deception in speech is harmful (Prov 26:28), but in the end truth will overcome it (Prov 12:19).
The pair of feet (raglayim; see 1:15) sets the whole person in motion toward the evil that he wants to achieve. That hasten to run (memaharôt lārûṣ) emphasizes his zeal and zest to follow the inner evil compulsion as soon as possible
A lying witness (yapîaḥ kezābîm) refers to one who consciously communicates what is false, against the truth.
“A proud look” (v. 17; lit., “raised eyes”) may be a general reference to the haughtiness that God detests as an intrusion on His sovereignty (see Is. 2:11–19)
“A lying tongue” (v. 17) may be a general penchant to play loose with the truth; it may also point to falsehood in setting up or testifying in a legal encounter
Each of the sins is associated with a body part, proceeding from top to bottom, so the sage gives an image of an unhealthy body using five organs: eyes, tongue, hands, heart, feet.
A proud look. Pride is dust deifying itself. The valet of an emperor said:
I cannot deny that my master was vain. He had to be the central figure in everything. If he went to a christening, he wanted to be the baby. If he went to a wedding, he wanted to be the bride. If he went to a funeral, he wanted to be the corpse.10
A lying tongue. The tongue was created to glorify the Lord. To lie is to pervert its use for that which is ignoble. Is it ever right for a believer to lie? The answer is that God cannot lie, and He cannot give the privilege to anyone else.
Hands that shed innocent blood. Every human life is of infinite value to God. He proved this by paying an infinite price at Calvary for our redemption. The institution of capital punishment (Gen. 9:6) reflects God’s attitude toward murder.
6:18 A heart that devises wicked plans. This, of course, refers to the mind that is always plotting some evil. The Lord Jesus listed some of these wicked imaginations in Mark 7:21, 22.
Feet that are swift in running to evil. God hates not only the mind that plans the evil but the feet that are eager to carry it out.
6:19 A false witness who speaks lies. Here it is a matter of public testimony in a court of law. In verse 17b it was more a matter of everyday conversation.
One who sows discord among brethren. The striking thing here is that God ranks the one who causes divisions among brethren with murderers, liars, and perjurers!
How many of the seven sins listed above can you associate with the trial and crucifixion of our Lord?
1. Pride (Proverbs 6:17)
“A proud look” (Proverbs 6:17). God is very opposed to pride in man. Pride is an abomination to God. This debunks the “self-esteem” philosophy embraced by so many.
2. Prevarication (Proverbs 6:17)
“A lying tongue” (Proverbs 6:17). A dishonest car salesman is not one of God’s favorite people.
3. Perniciousness (Proverbs 6:17)
“That shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:17). Injustice is the habit of our day, but it is an abomination to God. All perniciousness will be condemned by the Lord. It will not be seventy virgins for 9/11 perpetrators.
4. Plotting (Proverbs 6:18)
“An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations” (Proverbs 6:18). All evil thoughts are condemned here and especially those thoughts which plot and plan evil.
5. Passion (Proverbs 6:18)
“Feet that be swift in running to mischief” (Proverbs 6:18). Those who have a strong passion for evil and demonstrate it by their zeal to do evil will be condemned by God.
6. Perjury (Proverbs 6:19)
“A false witness” (Proverbs 6:19). This is lying in the court room. We have much of that going on in our land from the lowly to those in high position. It is an abomination to God.
7. Perturber (Proverbs 6:19)
“He that soweth discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:19). A number of this kind exist in our churches, and they, too, are an abomination to God.
Are my eyes haughty (v. 17a)? Do I have bloated views of my own abilities and importance, and look with contempt on those who I think don’t reach my standard?
Have I a lying tongue (v. 17b)? Do I falsify facts in order to maintain my reputation as a talented and important person, or to blacken another’s character?
Do I have a cruel and vicious streak (v. 17c)? Even if I don’t literally shed innocent blood, do I hurt people? If I am guilty of either or both of the first two sins, the likelihood is that I have caused someone pain. Pride, lying and murder go together, for they originate from Satan (John 8:44), into whose power our father Adam delivered us.
What goes on in my mind (heart)? How do I use my imagination (v. 18a)? Does my brain teem with endless schemes as to how I can get one-up on everyone else?
What makes my feet move quickly or press the accelerator to the floor? Where can I not wait to be (v. 18b)? The deceiver uses his feet to tap out a message
What sort of things do I say about other people (v. 19a)? This refers to a somewhat different form of lying from v. 17b, for the word means ‘fictions, stories’, rather than the falsification of facts. It refers not only to outright slander but malicious gossip.
Finally, have I or do I ever set people against each other (v. 19b
Seven things are listed here. Notice how they contrast with the Beatitudes of Matthew 5.
Proverbs 6
Matthew 5
v. 17 The proud look
v. 3 The poor in spirit
v. 17 The lying tongue
v. 4 Those that mourn
v. 17 The hands that shed blood
v. 5 The meek
v. 18 The heart devising wickedness
v. 6 Those that hunger and thirst after righteousness
v. 18 The feet swift to shed blood
v. 7 The merciful
v. 19 The false witness
v. 8 The pure in heart
v. 19 The sower of discord
v. 9 The peacemakers.
Pride is put first, because it is at the bottom of all disobedience and rebellion against God’s laws.
Lying is the wilful perversion of truth, not only by speech, but by any means whatever whereby a false impression is conveyed to the mind.
There are evil thoughts in all men’s hearts; but the devising, fabricating of them, and thus making the heart into a devil’s workshop, is the mark of utter depravity and wickedness, and is abhorrent to God.