Proverbs for Life
Proverbs 15:28 – “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.”
In the book of the Proverbs, a proverb is often presented in two lines, presenting a comparison or contrast. Proverbs 15:28 presents a truth of contrast. Whereas the righteous will study a matter carefully before answering, the wicked will spew out evil words carelessly in abundance.
Proverbs 15:28 – “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.”
In the book of the Proverbs, a proverb is often presented in two lines, presenting a comparison or contrast. Proverbs 15:28 presents a truth of contrast. Whereas the righteous will study a matter carefully before answering, the wicked will spew out evil words carelessly in abundance.
Interpretation (Content)
The first contrast presented in this proverb concerns the subject of each line. The subject of the first line of the proverb is “the heart of the righteous.” The subject of the second line is “the mouth of the wicked.” The reference to “the heart” focuses our attention upon the internal mindset of the righteous, whereas the reference to “the mouth” focuses our attention upon the external activity of the wicked. Whereas the mindset of the righteous is spiritually thoughtful, the mouth of the wicked is selfishly thoughtless.
The second contrast presented in this proverb concerns the character of the individual that is categorized in each line. The character of the individual that is categorized in the first line of the proverb is “righteous.” The character of the individual that is categorized in the second line is “wicked.” In fact, the activity of these contrasting individuals is presented as flowing directly out of their character. The spiritual thoughtfulness of the righteous individual flows directly out of his righteous character, and the selfish thoughtlessness of the wicked individual flows directly out of his wicked character. Indeed, when an individual is walking aright with the Lord our God, his heart will be governed by the principles of God to be spiritually thoughtful. However, when an individual is walking rebelliously against the Lord our God, his mouth will be motivated by the principles of self to be selfishly thoughtless.
The third contrast presented in this proverb concerns the activity of each line. The activity of the first line of the proverb is that of carefully “studying.” The activity of the second line is that of verbally “pouring out.” The righteous individual, out of his spiritual character, will be careful to understand a matter fully and will be considerate to listen unto others thoroughly. On the other hand, the wicked individual, out of his selfish character, will care only about his own interests and will consider only his own opinions. Even so, the righteous individual, out of his spiritual character, will be slow to speak in order that he might only speak the spiritually appropriate word; whereas the wicked individual, out of his wicked character, will be swift to speak forth everything that comes to mind without any spiritual discretion.
The fourth and final contrast presented in this proverb concerns the results in each line. The first line of the proverb indicates that the righteous individual’s activity of careful studying results in a spiritually beneficial and considerate answer. The second line of the proverb indicates that the wicked individual’s activity of verbal pouring out results in the abundant communication of evil things. Indeed, the spiritual thoughtfulness of the righteous individual results in appropriate communication that is pleasing to God and edifying to others. On the other hand, the selfish thoughtlessness of the wicked individual results in abundant communication that is offensive to God and destructive to others.
Integration (Context)
Even so, the broader context of Proverbs 15 teaches us that the Lord our God is offended by four aspects of the wicked individual’s living:
1. By his internal thoughts (Proverbs 15:26)
2. By his daily conduct (Proverbs 15:9)
3. By his verbal communications (Proverbs 15:28)
4. By his religious service (Proverbs 15:8)
All of these things are a hateful abomination in our Lord’s sight. Thus our Lord separates His fellowship and favor far from the wicked (Proverbs 15:29).
On the other hand, the righteous individual walks in a right relationship both with the Lord our God and with others around him. Because he walk in righteousness, the Lord sets His loving fellowship and favor upon him (Proverbs 15:9) and delights in hearing and answering his prayers (Proverbs 15:8, 29). Furthermore, out of his righteous character, the righteous individual is able to speak wise words “in due season,” which will bring joy to himself and good to others (Proverbs 15:23). Yea, such words will be pleasing in the Lord’s sight and pleasant to others’ lives (Proverbs 15:26).
Instruction (Contact)
So then, we must first seek to walk in righteous fellowship with the Lord our God, allowing our hearts to be governed by the principles of His Word and by the direction of His Spirit. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). (See also Luke 6:45)
Furthermore, we must allow the Spirit of God to govern our thoughts and our words, so that we are careful and considerate to study and listen before answering. We must learn to be “swift to hear” and to be “slow to speak.” We must learn to be patiently careful, lovingly considerate, and spiritually wise in our communication. In addition, whenever we are not, we must acknowledge our conduct as sinful in the selfish motivation of our hearts, as sinful in the communication of our words, and as sinful against those who hear us.
Finally, we must allow the Spirit of God to guide our thoughts and our words, so that we might actually speak forth the spiritually appropriate and edifying word “in due season.”
The first contrast presented in this proverb concerns the subject of each line. The subject of the first line of the proverb is “the heart of the righteous.” The subject of the second line is “the mouth of the wicked.” The reference to “the heart” focuses our attention upon the internal mindset of the righteous, whereas the reference to “the mouth” focuses our attention upon the external activity of the wicked. Whereas the mindset of the righteous is spiritually thoughtful, the mouth of the wicked is selfishly thoughtless.
The second contrast presented in this proverb concerns the character of the individual that is categorized in each line. The character of the individual that is categorized in the first line of the proverb is “righteous.” The character of the individual that is categorized in the second line is “wicked.” In fact, the activity of these contrasting individuals is presented as flowing directly out of their character. The spiritual thoughtfulness of the righteous individual flows directly out of his righteous character, and the selfish thoughtlessness of the wicked individual flows directly out of his wicked character. Indeed, when an individual is walking aright with the Lord our God, his heart will be governed by the principles of God to be spiritually thoughtful. However, when an individual is walking rebelliously against the Lord our God, his mouth will be motivated by the principles of self to be selfishly thoughtless.
The third contrast presented in this proverb concerns the activity of each line. The activity of the first line of the proverb is that of carefully “studying.” The activity of the second line is that of verbally “pouring out.” The righteous individual, out of his spiritual character, will be careful to understand a matter fully and will be considerate to listen unto others thoroughly. On the other hand, the wicked individual, out of his selfish character, will care only about his own interests and will consider only his own opinions. Even so, the righteous individual, out of his spiritual character, will be slow to speak in order that he might only speak the spiritually appropriate word; whereas the wicked individual, out of his wicked character, will be swift to speak forth everything that comes to mind without any spiritual discretion.
The fourth and final contrast presented in this proverb concerns the results in each line. The first line of the proverb indicates that the righteous individual’s activity of careful studying results in a spiritually beneficial and considerate answer. The second line of the proverb indicates that the wicked individual’s activity of verbal pouring out results in the abundant communication of evil things. Indeed, the spiritual thoughtfulness of the righteous individual results in appropriate communication that is pleasing to God and edifying to others. On the other hand, the selfish thoughtlessness of the wicked individual results in abundant communication that is offensive to God and destructive to others.
Integration (Context)
Even so, the broader context of Proverbs 15 teaches us that the Lord our God is offended by four aspects of the wicked individual’s living:
1. By his internal thoughts (Proverbs 15:26)
2. By his daily conduct (Proverbs 15:9)
3. By his verbal communications (Proverbs 15:28)
4. By his religious service (Proverbs 15:8)
All of these things are a hateful abomination in our Lord’s sight. Thus our Lord separates His fellowship and favor far from the wicked (Proverbs 15:29).
On the other hand, the righteous individual walks in a right relationship both with the Lord our God and with others around him. Because he walk in righteousness, the Lord sets His loving fellowship and favor upon him (Proverbs 15:9) and delights in hearing and answering his prayers (Proverbs 15:8, 29). Furthermore, out of his righteous character, the righteous individual is able to speak wise words “in due season,” which will bring joy to himself and good to others (Proverbs 15:23). Yea, such words will be pleasing in the Lord’s sight and pleasant to others’ lives (Proverbs 15:26).
Instruction (Contact)
So then, we must first seek to walk in righteous fellowship with the Lord our God, allowing our hearts to be governed by the principles of His Word and by the direction of His Spirit. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). (See also Luke 6:45)
Furthermore, we must allow the Spirit of God to govern our thoughts and our words, so that we are careful and considerate to study and listen before answering. We must learn to be “swift to hear” and to be “slow to speak.” We must learn to be patiently careful, lovingly considerate, and spiritually wise in our communication. In addition, whenever we are not, we must acknowledge our conduct as sinful in the selfish motivation of our hearts, as sinful in the communication of our words, and as sinful against those who hear us.
Finally, we must allow the Spirit of God to guide our thoughts and our words, so that we might actually speak forth the spiritually appropriate and edifying word “in due season.”
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