we took a one month break
from the Proverbs series
and during that time I also took my paternity leave
so it's been a while since I've been back
to preach and I want to thank you all for being so supportive
and releasing during that time
and we definitely needed that time for him to recuperate
and for us to get used to the new rhythm of our family
even though we're still not quite used to it
it's a joy and an honor to preach God's word to you this evening
we're in Proverbs chapter 17
so please turn with me there
Proverbs 17 verse 7 to 28
fine speech
is not becoming to a fool
still less is false speech to a prince
a bribe is like a magic stone
in the eyes of the one who gives it
wherever he turns he prospers
whoever covers an offense seeks love
but he who repeats a matter separates close friends
a rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
than a hundred blows into a fool
an evil man seeks only rebellion
and a cruel messenger will be sent against him
let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs
rather than a fool in his folly
if anyone returns evil for good
evil will not depart from his house
the beginning of strife is like letting out water
so quit before the quarrel breaks out
he who justifies the wicked
and he who condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord
why should a fool have money in his hand
to buy wisdom when he has no sense
a friend loves at all times
and a brother is born for adversity
one who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor
whoever loves transgression loves strife
he who makes his door high seeks destruction
a man of crooked heart does not discover good
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity
he who sires a fool gets himself sorrow
and the father of a fool has no joy
a joyful heart is good medicine
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones
the wicked accepts a bribe in secret
to pervert the ways of justice
the discerning sets his face toward wisdom
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth
a foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him
to impose a fine on a righteous man is not good
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness
whoever restrains his words has knowledge
and he who has a cruel spirit is a man of understanding
even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise
when he closes his lips he is deemed intelligent
this is God's holy and authoritative word
let's pray
heavenly father we come to your word
to which is before our face
which the word the wisdom of God that you have revealed to us
and we want to humbly listen
to hear your voice
to align ourselves to it
so please God
speak to us
address us as your people
as your children
that we might wise up
and live in accordance with your will
in Jesus name
we pray
amen
biblically speaking
a fool
is someone who does not
acknowledge God
someone who lacks sense
with regard to God
so the fool says in his heart
it says in Psalm 14 1
there is no God
that's the definition
Bible's definition of a fool
and that fundamental folly
of not acknowledging God
makes them foolish
in all their dealings with other people
it's like a crossword puzzle
in a crossword puzzle
the vertical and horizontal lines
are interrelated
so that if you get a word
a vertical line wrong
it's going to throw off the entire puzzle
all the horizontal lines
that come off of that vertical line
you're going to get wrong
similarly if we don't get
our vertical relationship
right with God
you're going to get
the horizontal relationship
with other people
wrong
and that's what this passage is about
it's about human folly
and some variation
of the word fool
occurs nine times
in this passage
and it teaches us
that human folly
because it is anti-God
it's profoundly anti-social
anti-humanity
and our world
teams with
fools
we were all once fools
but how should a wise person
relate to them
and interact with them
that's the question
this passage answers
and it teaches us
that those who trust
in the sovereign judgment
of the Lord
can be loving
and self-controlled
even in the face of folly
even in the face of human folly
that's the main point
we're going to look at
folly in speech
and folly in justice
and folly in relationships
and learn how to deal
with each situation
so first
verses 7 and 9
introduces us
to three different kinds
of fools
that I just mentioned
that the rest of the passage
will expand upon
so first
folly in speech
then justice
then relationships
and the three are interrelated
as we'll see
it says in verse 7 and 9
fine speech is not becoming
to a fool
still less is false speech
to a prince
a bribe is like a magic stone
in the eyes of the one
who gives it
wherever he turns
he prospers
whoever covers an offense
seeks love
but he who repeats a matter
separates close friends
so first on this list
is the following speech
it says fine speech
is not becoming to a fool
still less is false speech
to a prince
fine speech
eloquent speech
well spoken speech
it doesn't fit
a fool
it's like a gold ring
in a pig's snout
as one proverb
puts it
or it's like tying
a garbage bag
with a little bow tie
it doesn't fit
the fool
is better suited
for silence
but that's not all
it says still less
is false speech
to a prince
if fine speech
is not becoming
of a fool
then it's even more
the case
that false speech
is not becoming
of a prince
a prince
doesn't necessarily
refer to a monarch
it's someone
who has a noble bearing
a noble character
so later in verse 26
the same Hebrew word
is translated as
the noble
which is parallel
to a righteous man
so Solomon is assuming
here that it's
insufficient
for a member
of the royal family
or the aristocracy
or a ruler
to be noble
simply by virtue
of their birth
or heritage
rather they should be
noble in their character
his noble character
should match
his noble station
and it's unbecoming
of a noble person
to lie
even more
than fine speech
is unfitting
for a fool
false speech
is unfitting
for a wise person
brothers and sisters
we must remember this
as the children of God
we are children
of the God
who never lies
as Titus 1-2 says
false speech
is beneath your dignity
whenever you are
tempted to lie
in order to
get the better
of a situation
or someone
remember how degrading
it is for you
to lie
we ought to instead
live in a manner
worthy of our identity
in Christ
and if the fact
that false speech
is unbecoming
of our character
and it isn't enough
that if that's not enough
of a motivator
for us
verse 20 warns us
of the consequence
of false speech
a man of crooked heart
does not discover good
and one with a dishonest tongue
falls into calamity
usually people lie
in order to get
out of trouble
right
or to avoid trouble
but this
is short sighted
because this proverb
tells us
that in the long run
in light of God's
sovereign rule
it's the dishonest tongue
that falls
into calamity
verses 27 and 28
continue to address
folly in speech
it says
whoever restrains his words
has knowledge
and he who has
a cool spirit
is a man of understanding
even a fool
who keeps silent
is considered wise
when he closes his lips
he is deemed intelligent
so these verses
call for
a cool spirit
and closed lips
in the engineer east
as we do now
people often use
the words hot
and cool
to refer to
people's temperaments
a hot spirit
person
is a short
tempered
and hot headed
person
and a cool
spirit
person
is a patient
and even
keeled person
and so a cool
spirit
and closed lips
together represent
self control
and restrained
speech
and we have to
understand this
proverb in context
because this passage
throughout speaks
of fools
who lie
to get their way
fools who pervert
justice
fools who bring
grief to their
parents and
others in authority
their close friends
as well
and even in the face
of such human
folly
it says
we are to be
restrained in our
words
and self controlled
but where does
such restraint
come from
according to
verses 27 and 28
this restraint
is the characteristic
of the person
who has
knowledge
a person
who has
understanding
and what is
knowledge
and understanding
proverbs chapter 2
5 to 6
said that if we
heed the words
of this book
then you will
understand
the fear
of the lord
and find
the knowledge
of god
for the lord
gives wisdom
from his mouth
comes knowledge
and understanding
so what is
knowledge
and understanding
then they are
in proverbs
the knowledge
and understanding
of god
and his word
it begins
with the fear
of the lord
living before
the presence
of under the
authority of
and for the glory
of god
that's what it
means to live
with the fear
of the lord
this knowledge
of god
and expectation
of his
sovereign judgment
is what
restrains
our words
and makes us
self controlled
even in the face
of human folly
we don't need
to vent
because of
god's vengeance
we don't need
to fight
because god
defends us
we don't need
to win the
argument
because of
god's
judgment
and he says
even a fool
who keeps silent
is considered wise
this proverb
might be behind
the aphorism
often misattributed
to abraham lincoln
quote
it is better
to remain
silent
at the risk
of being
thought a fool
than to talk
and remove
all doubt
of it
if even a fool
can be thought
wise by being
silent
how much more
should a wise
person
hold his tongue
in the face
of folly
this doesn't
mean
that we should
never speak up
of course
verse 10
qualifies this
it says
a rebuke
goes deeper
into a man
of understanding
than a hundred
blows into a fool
it implies
that we should
rebuke
a man
of understanding
the bible
calls us
to exhort
one another
to correct
one another
in god's
people
among god's
people
so the person
who will
listen
and gain
knowledge
we ought
to offer
rebuke
because wise
person is
suited for that
but a fool
on the other
hand
is suited
it says
only for
a beating
it says
a hundred
blows
that's
hyperbole
of course
the old
testament
never stipulates
such
steep
punishment
but even
when a fool
receives
the proverbial
hundred blows
the teaching
does not
penetrate
it doesn't
go very
deep
into the fool
one
the
19th century
English
pastor
Charles Bridges
illustrated the
comparison
this way
he says
a simple
word of
rebuke
was enough
to make
king David
repent
in 2
Samuel 12
just a
look from
Jesus'
eyes
was enough
to make
Peter repent
after his
denial of
Jesus
in Luke
chapter 22
but the
hundred
blows
a hundred
blows
wasn't
enough
to teach
the Egyptian
Pharaoh
in Exodus
chapter 9
the wise
person
knows
not to
waste
his breath
he knows
better than
to rebuke
a fool
in his
folly
this is
what verse
16
is speaking
of
why should
a fool
have money
in his
hand
to buy
wisdom
when he
has no
sense
Proverbs
sometimes
uses
the imagery
of buying
wisdom
to tell us
to cherish
it more
than silver
and gold
it's asking
us why
should a fool
be able
to buy
wisdom
when he
has no
mind
to learn
it
what's
the use
of giving
Shakespeare
to an
illiterate
person
what's
the use
of playing
Mozart
for a
deaf
person
a fool
will not
grasp
wisdom
so the
wise
person
knows
when to
spare
his
words
so that's
what
Solomon
has to
say
about
folly
in
speech
but in
verse 8
he introduces
a second
kind of
folly
in
justice
a
bribe
is like
a magic
stone
in the
eyes
of the
one
who
gives
it
wherever
he
turns
he
prospers
like it
or not
bribes
are an
integral
part
of how
society
runs
throughout
much
of the
world
and it
works
like a
charm
money
talks
to
the
one
who
gives
it
it's
like
a
magic
stone
but
note
the
important
phrase
in
the
eyes
of
a
bribe
is
like
a
magic
stone
in
the
eyes
of
the
one
who
gives
it
that
phrase
reveals
Solomon's
true
attitude
toward
bribes
because
frequently
throughout
Proverbs
that phrase
in the
eyes
of
is
used
to
describe
the
fool
it
warns
us
in
chapter
3
verse
7
not
to
be
wise
in
our
own
eyes
it
says
that
the
way
of
a
fool
is
right
in
his
own
eyes
Proverbs
12
15
it
says
in
Proverbs
16
2
all
the
ways
of
a
man
are
pure
in
his
own
eyes
but
the
Lord
ways
the
spirit
the
briber
is
wise
in
his
own
eyes
he
thinks
he
knows
a
secret
that
others
are
ignorant
of
his
ways
are
pure
in
his
own
eyes
and
he
is
unaware
that
the
Lord
will
bring
his
actions
to
judgment
the
Bible
consistently
condemns
bribery
verse
23
later
says
in
our
chapter
the
wicked
accepts
a
bribe
in
secret
to
pervert
the
ways
of
justice
is
perverted
when
someone
who
can
afford
to
give
a
bride
and
is
willing
to
stoop
to
giving
a
bride
is
able
to
manipulate
justice
because
then
people
who
cannot
afford
it
and
people
who
are
too
principled
to
give
it
are
deprived
of
justice
there's
a
reason
why
bribes
are
given
in
secret
even
the
apostle
Paul
in
Acts
chapter
24
when
he
was
being
held
in
prison
by
governor
Felix
it
says
that
Felix
hoped
that
money
would
be
given
by
Paul
so
he
sent
for
him
often
and
conversed
with
him
in hopes
that
Paul
would
pay him
a
bribe
bribery
was
normal
and
expected
in that
culture
but
Paul
never
pays
that
bribe
instead
he
stays
in
prison
for
two
more
years
and
instead
you
know
what
Paul
does
he
says
in
Acts
24
25
he
says
that
Paul
reasoned
with
Felix
about
righteousness
self
control
and
the
coming
judgment
a
bribe
is
often
effective
when
it
is
used
but
this
doesn't
make
it
right
verse
26
says
to impose
a fine
on a
righteous
man
is
not
good
nor
to
strike
the
noble
for
their
uprightness
the
briber
ignores
the
sovereignty
of
God
over
human
folly
he
does
what
he
sees
fit
with
his
own
eyes
and
not
what
is
fitting
before
the
eyes
of
God
and
for
that
he
will
pay
a
much
dearer
price
than
his
bribe
on
judgment
day
so
this
is
how
we
are
to
deal
with
fools
who
pervert
justice
verses
11
to
15
go into
greater
detail
about
that
so
please
follow
along
with
me
verses
11
to
15
an
evil
man
seeks
only
rebellion
and
a
cruel
messenger
will
be
sent
against
him
let
a
man
meet
a
she-bear
robbed
of
her
cubs
rather
than
a
fool
in
his
folly
if
anyone
returns
evil
for
good
evil
will
not
depart
from
his
house
the
beginning
of
strife
is
like
letting
out
water
so
quit
before
the
quarrel
breaks
out
he
who
justifies
the
wicked
and
he
who
condemns
the
righteous
are
both
alike
in
abomination
to
the
Lord
these
verses
inform
one
another
a
fool
in
his
folly
says
like
a
she-bear
robbed
of
her
cubs
in
other
words
there
is
no
reasoning
with
the
fool
think
about
it
when
you
meet
a
raging
she-bear
robbed
of
her
cubs
you
don't
stand
there
and
reason
with
her
saying
hey
I
was
just
petting
your
cute
cub
hey
I
was
actually
just
trying
to
save
your
cub
from
extinction
that's
a good
way
to
get
mauled
by
a
bear
likewise
there's
no
reasoning
with
the
raging
fool
there's
no
need
to
fret
however
because
it
says
though
an
evil
man
seeks
only
rebellion
against
God
and
his
appointed
authorities
a
cruel
messenger
will be
sent
against
him
this
is
a
messenger
of
judgment
from
God
God's
justice
will
prevail
in the
end
and
overtake
the
rebellious
fool
so
don't
fret
when
someone
returns
the
good
that
you
do
for
that
person
with
evil
even
when
they
repay
evil
for
good
we
are
not
to
repay
evil
for
evil
as
Romans
12
17
to
19
says
it
says
here
in
this
proverb
God
will
repay
and
evil
will
not
depart
from
his
house
from
the
house
of
the
person
who
repays
good
with
evil
will
become
a
permanent
unwelcome
guest
in
his
household
so
verse
14
says
the
beginning
of
strife
is
like
letting
out
water
so
quit
before
the
coral
breaks
out
the
beginning
of
strife
is
like
a
hole
in
a
dam
though
the
seepage
is
negligible
at
first
the
pressure
mounts
up
quickly
and
it
bursts
open
the
dam
causing
an
uncontrollable
torrent
so
it
says
quit
before
the
coral
breaks
out
don't
can
be
consumed
with
confronting
a fool
in his
folly
who
is
like
a
she
bear
robbed
of
her
cubs
quit
before
the
coral
breaks
out
and
we're
able
to
do
this
because
we
trust
in
God's
sovereign
judgment
verse
15
says
he
who
justifies
the
wicked
and
who
condemns
the
righteous
are
both
alike
an
abomination
to
the
Lord
in
this
sinful
upside
down
world
fools
might
get
their
way
at
times
wicked
people
might
be
justified
and
righteous
people
might
be
condemned
but
such
perversion
of
justice
is
like
an
abomination
to
the
Lord
the
Lord
detests
them
both
letting
a
wicked
person
go
free
and
punishing
an
innocent
person
they're
equally
abominable
to
God
because
his
justice
is
perfect
and
because
we
know
this
we
can
avoid
quarrels
and
not
repay
evil
for
evil
because
we
trust
in
God's
sovereign
judgment
so
this
is
how
we
are
to
deal
with
fools
who
pervert
justice
and
the
third
kind
of
folly
in
relationships
verse
nine
says
whoever
covers
an
offense
seeks
love
but
he
who
repeats
a
matter
separates
close
friends
an
offense
in
this
passage
an
offense
has
been
committed
between
friends
and
there
are
two
contrasting
responses
that
we
can
take
first
it
says
whoever
covers
an
offense
seeks
love
this
is
similar
to
Proverbs
10
12
which
said
that
hatred
stirs
up
strife
but
love
covers
all
offenses
but
there's
a
slightly
different
emphasis
in
chapter
10
verse
12
the
covering
up
of
the
offense
was
motivated
by
love
but
here
in
chapter
17
verse
9
the
covering
up
of
the
offense
happens
with
the
goal
of
love
whoever
covers
an
offense
seeks
love
or
fosters
love
as
the
NIV
the
new
international
version
translates
it
the
offense
caused
has
already
threatened
the
friendship
once
if
you
cover
the
offense
the
relationship
will
survive
and
love
will
continue
but
if
you
go
and
repeat
the
matter
it
will
sever
even
a
close
relationship
the
expression
repeat
the
matter
is
wonderfully
ambiguous
it's
like the
similar
Greek
expression
which
means
double
tongue
or
to
speak
twice
it
means
to
repeat
something
that
shouldn't
be
repeated
whether
it's
betraying
someone's
confidence
and
revealing
a
secret
or
berating
someone
by
harping
on that
person
over
and
over
again
about
something
that
person
did
wrong
when
you
repeatedly
remind
your
friend
of
how
he
offended
you
when
you
retell
something
that
they
have
confided
in
you
or
the
way
they
have
offended
you
to
others
you
are
jeopardizing
your
friendship
if
all
of
us
keep
this
proverb
in
mind
we
can
greatly
strengthen
our
community
because
offense
is
not
unusual
if
you
live
in
close
relationship
with
anyone
whether
it's
your
housemates
other
church
members
or
your
family
members
you're
going
to
cause
offense
and
you're
going
to
be
offended
but
what
will
you
do
when
you
are
offended
will
you
let
that
offense
die
by
covering
it
up
will
you
forgive
or
will
you
revive
that
offense
again
and
again
each
time
each
time
you
repeat
it
an
offense
is
like a
cut
on
your
skin
once
a
scab
covers
it
there
is
a
chance
for
healing
just
as
when
you
cover
up
an
offense
you
seek
love
but
if
you
keep
picking
that
scab
open
it
will
never
heal
in
fact
it
can
get
worse
with
an
infection
and
it
will
leave
a
permanent
scar
if
you
repeat
a
matter
if
you
gossip
if
you
slander
and
say
something
ill
of
another
even
close
friendships
even
intimate
relationships
will not
survive
perhaps
some people
respond to
this point
by saying
well
I don't
want
friends
who
offend
me
so
good riddance
but
that's
not
what
friendship
is
meant
to
be
verse
17
says
a
friend
loves
at
all
times
and
a
brother
is
born
for
adversity
just
as a
person
who
cheers
for
the
Boston
Celtics
only
when
they're
winning
championships
is
no
true
fan
of the
team
a
fair
weather
friend
a
bandwagon
friend
a
friend
that's
only
there
for
you
when
you
when
that
person
is
pleasing
you
a
friend
that's
only
there
for
you
when
you
are
well
liked
by
everybody
else
a
fair
weather
friend
is
no
friend
at
all
love
in
hard
times
is
what
friends
are
made
for
enduring
support
and
persevering
love
in
times
of
adversity
is
what
a
brother
is
born
for
and
that's
what
we
are
meant
to
be
as
brothers
and
sisters
in
Christ
in
times
of
adversity
like
this
when
many
people
are
suffering
this
is
no
time
to
isolate
ourselves
from
one
another
no
time
to
forget
about
one
another
distract
ourselves
with
other
things
it's
the
time
to
be
reaching
out
it's
the
time
that
we
were
born
for
to
be
a
brother
to
each
other
a
sister
to
one
another
verse
18
that
serves
to
qualify
verse
7
the
fact
that
you
should
be
a
friend
at
all
times
even
in
the
face
of
adversity
does
not
mean
that
you
should
be
a
fool
and
become
a
surety
for
your
friend
it
says
one
who
lacks
sense
gives
a
pledge
and
puts
up
security
in
the
presence
of
his
neighbor
the
word
friend
in
verse
17
and
the
word
neighbor
in
verse
18
are
the
same
words
in
Hebrew
and
so
this
is
not
a
prohibition
of
helping
our
neighbors
and
being
generous
to
our
neighbors
and
friends
the
Bible
in
many
places
commands
God's
people
to
give
generously
and
lend
liberally
to
our
neighbors
and
friends
but
this
is
not
the
same
thing
as
putting
up
security
in
the
presence
of
your
neighbor
in
that
case
you
are
neither
lending
to
a
needy
neighbor
nor
giving
to
a
poor
neighbor
you
are
in
essence
assuming
their
debt
wholesale
and
taking
full
responsibility
for
their
financial
situation
and
biblical
wisdom
literature
consistently
warns
against
that
practice
so
this
is
placed
here
to
qualify
verse
17
love
your
friend
at
all
times
yes
don't
be
a
fool
don't
be
naive
don't
become
a
surety
and
then
verse
19
says
whoever
loves
transgression
loves
strife
he
who
makes
his
door
high
seeks
destruction
now
here
the
person
who
loves
transgression
on the
one
hand
is
contrasted
with
the
friend
who
loves
at
all
times
in
verse
17
and
this
person
who
loves
transgression
does
not
love
his
friend
that's
the
connection
that
this
contrast
is
making
the
reason
why
is
because
he
loves
transgression
he
loves
crime
a
friend
then
and
this
I
think
I
dealt
with
temptation
much
more
when
I
was
younger
maybe
in
my
teens
or
perhaps
even
in
college
when
peer
pressure
mounts
there
are
friends
who
try
to
drag
you
into
transgressions
into
crimes
but
friends
who do
that
are
no
true
friends
they
are
unloving
toward
you
because
they
love
strife
people
who
love
transgressions
love
strife
they
are
leading
you
to
strife
and
it
says
he
who
makes
his
door
high
seeks
destruction
the
door
is
the
entrance
to
a
house
and
to
make
one's
door
high
is
to
make
it
inaccessible
protected
and
hidden
away
from
view
the
criminal
who
seeks
to
shield
himself
from
scrutiny
out
then
while
bringing
destruction
on
society
will
end
up
bringing
destruction
on
himself
and
then
verses
21
to
25
shifts
to
talking
about
having
a
foolish
child
verses
21
and
25
both
speak
of
the
father
who
has
a
foolish
son
so
it
encloses
this
unit
together
and
it
says
in
verse
21
and
22
he
who
sires
a
fool
gets
himself
sorrow
and
the
father
of
a
fool
has
no
joy
a
joyful
heart
is
good
medicine
but
a
crushed
spirit
dries
up
the
bones
a
joyful
heart
is
good
medicine
but
the
father
of
a
fool
has
no
joy
which
means
he
has
no
medicine
a
crushed
spirit
dries
up
the
bones
and
this
father
of
a
fool
gets
himself
sorrow
and
so
his
crushed
spirit
dries
up
his
bones
in
other
words
a
foolish
child
kills
his
or
her
parents
a
foolish
child
saps
the
very
life
and
vitality
out
of
his
or
her
parents
verse
25
affirms
the
same
a
foolish
son
is
a
grief
to
his
father
and
bitterness
to
her
who
bore
him
and
then
verses
23
and
24
tell us
more
specifically
about
this
behavior
of a
foolish
child
says
in
verse
24
the
discerning
sets
his
face
toward
wisdom
but
the
eyes
of a
fool
are
on
the
ends
of
the
earth
this
is
really
insightful
God
is
not
far
away
wisdom
is
not
far
away
he
has
revealed
it
to
us
the
phrase
the
discerning
sets
his
face
toward
wisdom
is
literally
at
the
face
of
the
discerning
is
wisdom
is
right
in
front
of
him
it's
literally
in
his
face
and
that's
what
the
discerning
preoccupies
himself
with
in
contrast
the
fool
sets
his
eyes
on
the
ends
of
the
earth
on
distant
unattainable
goals
on
exotic
fancies
on
pipe
dreams
things
i
must
travel
the
world
and
live
my
own
life
in
order
to
discover
myself
and
find
fulfillment
says
the
fool
i
need
to
delve
into
every
religion
experiment
with
every
philosophy
to
find
the
truth
says
the
fool
when
the
truth
is
right
in
front
of
him
when
god's
unchanging
time
tested
word
is
taught
to
him
when
wisdom
is
presented
to
him
in
his
own
house
by
his
own
parents
he
sets
his
eyes
on
the
ends
of
the
earth
it's
easy
to
wag
our
fingers
at
such
fools
but
that's
essentially
what
we
have
all
done
to
God
in
Luke
chapter
15
Jesus
uses
a
parable
to
compare
sinners
who
have
rebelled
against
God
to
a
son
who
rebels
against
his
father
and
it
says
that
he
gathered
all
he
had
and
took
a
journey
into
where
far
country
this
is
the
fool
that
Proverbs
17
is
talking
about
and
there
he
squandered
his
inheritance
and
reckless
living
he
had
everything
he
needed
at
his
father's
house
but
instead
of
setting
his
face
toward
wisdom
he
set
his
eyes
on
the
ends
of
the
earth
in
the
far
country
he
prematurely
demanded
his
inheritance
of
his
father
which
was
tantamount
to
wishing
that
his
father
were
dead
and
then
he
squandered
his
wealth
with
prostitutes
so
that
he
was
not
to
his
father
and
his
who
once
lived
for
ourselves
and
not
for
God
that's
what
we
have
done
by
disbelieving
in
God
wishing
that
God
were
dead
that's
what
we
have
all
done
in
enjoying
God's
good
gifts
in
creation
without
acknowledging
him
and
giving
thanks
to
him
as
the
giver
of
all
good
gifts
we
have
repaid
God
evil
for
good
we
brought
God
the
father
nothing
but
grief
and
bitterness
but
in
this
parable
when
after
hitting
rock
bottom
this
foolish
son
returns
home
the
lavish
father
instead
of
disowning
him
and
rejecting
him
like
he
should
have
this
father
runs
to
him
embraces
him
kisses
him
welcomes
him
and
most
outrageously
reinstates
him
as
his
son
and
there's
a
problem
however
with
this
story
the
father
had
two
sons
and
the
older
son
has
stayed
at
his
father's
house
working
diligently
to
build
the
family
estate
if
the
younger
rebellious
son
is
reinstated
as
a
son
that
means
he
the
older
son
must
now
share
his
rightful
inheritance
with
him
and
so
this
older
son
begrudges
his
brother's
return
this
creates
a
rift
between
him
and
his
own
father
but
Jesus
tells
a
story
to
tell
to
point
to
the
ultimate
good
brother
the
older
brother
that
will
actually
come
to
the
rescue
of
his
rebellious
brother
and
that's
him
Jesus
Christ
Hebrews
chapter
2
11
says
Jesus
is
not
ashamed
to
call
us
brothers
and
sisters
Proverbs
chapter
17
verse
17
says
a
friend
loves
at
all
times
and
a
brother
is
born
for
adversity
Jesus
in
John
15
said
I
now
call
you
friends
Jesus
is
the
friend
who
loves
at
all
times
Jesus
is
the
brother
who
was
born
for
adversity
and
in
our
greatest
adversity
when
we
face
the
greatest
enemy
of
our
own
sins
that
alienated
us
from
God
our
father
Jesus
our
friend
and
Jesus
our
brother
came
to
our
rescue
how
God
Proverbs
chapter
17
15
earlier
said
he
who
justifies
the
wicked
and
who
condemns
the
righteous
are
both
alike
an
abomination
to
the
Lord
God
is
holy
and
just
and
he
cannot
condone
the
wicked
he
cannot
rightly
justify
us
who
are
wicked
and
yet
Romans
chapter
4
verse
5
says
that
God
justifies
the
ungodly
how
does
he
do
what
is
abominable
to
himself
that's
because
Jesus
has
paid
our
price
because
our
brother
our
friend
has
died
in
our
place
on
the
cross
and
bore
our
sins
and
was
raised
from
the
dead
there's
no
greater
love
than
this
that
someone
lays
down
his
life
for
his
friends
because
Jesus
laid
down
his
life
for
us
his
friends
we
by
trusting
in
him
now
can
be
rescued
and
we
can
receive
the
wisdom
of
God
be
adopted
reinstated
as
his
children
and
it's
only
as
his
children
that
we
can
live
with
trust
in
his
sovereign
judgment
and
face
the
worst
of
the
human
father
please
take a
moment
to
reflect
on
that
and
ask
yourself
how
is
God
calling
you
to
respond
to
this
message
are
you
seeing
God
rightly
are
you
submitted
to
him
are
you
trusting
in
him
after
you've
done
that
we're
going
to
respond
by
praying
out
loud
together
as
a
church