Read Proverbs 21:10–18
Questions from the Scripture text: Whose soul desires what (Proverbs 21:10a)? Who finds what in his eyes (verse 10b)? What happens when the scoffer is punished (Proverbs 21:11a)? What further happens, when he is subsequently instructed (verse 11b)? What does the righteous do (Proverbs 21:12a)? To do what (verse 12b)? What does the man in Proverbs 21:13a do? What will happen to him (verse 13b)? What does a gift in secret do (Proverbs 21:14a)? What does a bribe in the bosom pacify (verse 14b)? What do the just get out of doing justice (Proverbs 21:15a)? What do workers of iniquity get out of it (verse 15b)? From what does the man in Proverbs 21:16a stray? Where does he end up resting (verse 16b)? What happens to the man who loves pleasure (Proverbs 21:17a)? And to the man who loves wine and oil (verse 17b)? Who is a ransom for whom (Proverbs 21:18a)? And who for whom in verse 18b?
What is the difference between the righteous and the wicked? Proverbs 21:10–18 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the wicked and righteous are opposite in heart, hand, way, and destiny.
Our passage divides into three subsections, contrasting the righteous and the wicked. The sections cover their desires (Proverbs 21:10-12), their actions (Proverbs 21:13-15), and their loves and paths (Proverbs 21:16-18). The problem of the wicked is first in his heart (Proverbs 21:10-12), and then in his hands (Proverbs 21:13-15) and feet (Proverbs 21:16-18). And each section contrasts the outcomes that they experience.
The wicked’s heart desires evil (Proverbs 21:10a) and despises his neighbor (verse 10b). He needs it to be changed, which can come only by God’s grace. The two step process in Proverbs 21:11 begins with grace-attended discipline, that makes the scoffer wise (verse 11a), and continues with grace-attended instruction that gives him knowledge in his newfound wisdom (verse 11b). The righteous one (not necessarily God, as NKJ suggests) considers the wicked’s house to overthrow them (Proverbs 21:12)—both, overthrowing wickedness in his own home; and, if the righteous is in authority, for overthrowing the wicked who are under him.
The wicked’s hand is also evil. It is unmoved by the cry of the poor (Proverbs 21:13), but easily moved by the prospect of sinfully obtained wealth (Proverbs 21:14). But the wicked isn’t only overthrown by the righteous (Proverbs 21:12), he also experiences different providence than the righteous. The just man comes into joy by way of doing justice (Proverbs 21:15a); but, however enjoyable the wicked man thinks working iniquity is, providence inevitably brings him destruction (verse 15b).
Finally, the wicked’s path is evil. He wanders from the path of understanding (Proverbs 21:16a), because his love is of pleasure (Proverbs 21:17a) and luxury (verse 17b), rather than of God and neighbor. His destination is not in the assembly of the righteous, but in the assembly of the dead (Proverbs 21:16b). Whatever wealth he may have in the short term, he will end in the worst poverty imaginable in the long-term (Proverbs 21:17). The wicked and unfaithful will perish, while the righteous and upright are delivered (Proverbs 21:18). Though God is righteous and just in condemning them, why permit them to have lived at all? As a ransom—in His saving love and wisdom toward the righteous.
So, be alarmed, when your heart desires evil (Proverbs 21:10a), or you are unmoved by your neighbor’s misery (Proverbs 21:13), or are motivated by wealth to compromise (Proverbs 21:14), or crave pleasure or luxury (Proverbs 21:17). These should all drive you to ask God to make His Spirit bless discipline and instruction to you (Proverbs 21:11), that you may become wise!
When do you find your heart desiring evil? What neighbor’s misery have you not cared enough about? When have you been tempted to compromise truth or right to obtain wealth? What pleasure or luxury do you love so much that you’re in danger of wandering out of the way? How have you responded to God’s discipline and instruction? To what end do you have good hope of coming?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You that You have not left us to perish in sin. Change our hearts so that our hands are moved by truth and right. Deliver us and bless us, through Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP119I “According to Your Word, O Lord” or TPH51C “God, Be Merciful to Me”
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