2025.12.29 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 20:9–11

Read Proverbs 20:9–11

Questions from the Scripture text: What hypothetical question does Proverbs 20:9 ask? What is the implied answer—how many have clean hearts or are pure from sin? What two things does Proverbs 20:10 talk about? How are they alike—what are they unto the Lord? Who is known by what (Proverbs 20:11a)? What about those deeds (verse 11b)?

Why do we need the King’s grace so badly? Proverbs 20:9–11 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, in ourselves, we are hopelessly sinful.  

We’ve just heard that a good/godly king scatters all evil with his eyes. This should turn us against our own evil, especially when we remember that the King of kings does this ultimately and eternally.

But this must turn us to God’s grace. Because no one can cleanse his own heart (Proverbs 20:9a). You cannot, by your own resolve or efforts, become that righteous man who walks in blamelessness (Proverbs 20:7a). That will not achieve purity (Proverbs 20:9b) in the only eyes that ultimately matter (Proverbs 20:10b). 

We must remember how rigorous and exacting is God’s purity and justice. He hates even the slightest variance in weights and measures (Proverbs 20:10a). Men might take for granted that a little creative bookkeeping is to be expected, but there are no small sins to YHWH—only abominations. So the standard is too high for us.

And we are too corrupt for it. The word translated “deeds” in Proverbs 20:11a implies wickedness. When we see our children acting in ways that are deceitful, quarrelsome, obstinate, rebellious, or selfish, we are seeing that they came into this world dead in sin, because they are ours. We long to see them loving and doing what is pure because it is pure, and what is right because it is right, because we know that when this comes about, it was not we or they that did this. 

Oh, dear reader, your and my bad behavior show what we are in ourselves. But God, by His grace, is a King Who doesn’t just reward the man that is a diligent (Proverbs 20:4), discerning (Proverbs 20:5) peacemaker (Proverbs 20:3), but makes such men. In the gospel, God offers you not just the atonement of Christ, but likeness to Christ, and all in union with Christ. That which you desperately need, God abundantly provides in His Son, by His Spirit. So, let this passage drive you to that desperation, and therefore that provision.

Who can’t clean your heart? Who can? Why is this so needful for you? How will the fruit of grace show?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we cannot cleanse our hearts, but even sins that seem small to men are abominations to You. We have been like this from our youth, so we look to You for grace to make us new altogether, to count us perfectly righteous in Christ, and to produce purity and righteousness in us.

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”