Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…
Proverbs 16:27-30 ESV
27 A worthless man plots evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A dishonest man spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor
and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things;
he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.
The believer is prone to think the truly evil person is vicious with an overtly criminal behavior. The writer of Proverbs gives a different picture of those he identifies as wicked.
Proverbs 16:27-30 presents this person who is truly evil as a plotter of destruction at any cost (vs 27). He is internally dishonest with the intent of destroying contentment and goodwill (vs 28). Through subtle temptation he spreads evil behavior (vs 29).
The writer then sums this up by identifying him as a crafty man motivated by dishonesty. He uses speech to his advantage to bring to pass his evil designs (vs 30).
Throughout this context it is plain that the mouth is a tool to accomplish his plans and it discloses his heart condition. The Lord Jesus in Matthew 12:34 states this with absolute clarity, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”
In this Matthew context the whole spectrum of evil is before us - from the insidious evil of backbiting and gossip to the extreme of overt criminal behavior. Matthew 12:33-37.
33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.
34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
37 or by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
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