God To Jesus
That Jesus was God’s Son requires no proof here. The Proverbs, then, as part of his Bible, must have been known and loved by him. In this article we now want to think of some ways in which the Proverbs would help him, and how he used the book. Jesus kept the Law perfectly; all the avenues we have considered in the previous section, and many more, would obviously be relevant to him as being a commentary on the meaning of the Law and the principles in it.
The Proverbs was part of “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”, and it kept his way “by taking heed thereto according to Thy word” (Ps.119). This is the power of the Word and the very influence which we are seeking as we consider the Proverbs (or any part of Scripture); Israel failed to grasp this so often, and yet it was in the Law (Deut.30:11- 14): This commandment which I command thee this day … the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.”
It was also in the Proverbs chapter 4:20-22: “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings … For they are life unto those that find them”. Jesus would find in the Proverbs His Father’s mind revealed. How touching in this connection those phrases become which we have already considered (ch.7:1): “My Son, keep my words …”, (ch.1:8): my Son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.” Which leads us to think of Mary the mother of Jesus, and tells us of her care for him in early years, care which taught him “her law” which was also his “Father’s commandment”: We remember the phrase in Luke 2:51, “And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.”
Mary, then, as a mother, brought up her son, not with petty restrictions and regulations to suit her own whims, or prevent her child interfering in her own ambitions in life, but subjected herself and her son to the Law of God with its demand that self be repressed and life be centred on Him. As an aside, it is helpful to look at the books of Kings and Chronicles and see, for example, 2 Chron.29:1: “Hezekiah began to reign … and his mothers name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD.” Ahaz his father could not have had much good influence, seeing how he wasted his life, but in the introduction to Hezekiah is his mother’s name and the fact that he did right.
These things lead us to realise how much influence the mother in Israel could have, and reflect much credit on those who used that influence to teach their children about God. Proverbs 3:1-4 says, “My son, forget not my law… so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man”, which takes us right away to Luke 2:52, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” This tells of the responsive heart which received what his mother taught,and its effect,even at twelve years of age. (Regarding this verse four see the LXX, “so shalt thou find favour: and do thou provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men”, and compare this with Rom.12:17.)
In Proverbs 6:16 we are told, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him”; then in verses 17-19 is the list of hated things; just prior to this in verses 12-15 is a description of the wicked man. These are expressions of human nature, tendencies which we all share, and which find some expression in our lives. But Jesus conquered and no sin ever expressed itself in his life. We could list the things which God hates in contrast to Jesus like this:-
| Verse 12-15 | Verse 17 -19 | Jesus | |
| Mouth/Tongue | Froward | Lying | Gracious Words |
| Eyes | Winketh | Haughthy | Flame of Fire |
| Feet | Speaketh | Run to Mischief | Bringeth Good Tidings |
| Finger/Hands | Teacheth | Shed innocent blood | Healing |
| Heart | Froward | Deviseth wicked imagination | Law of God |
| Deviseth Mischief Continually | False Witness Lies | I am the Truth | |
| Soweth Discord among Bretheren | Making Peace | ||
‘Lo, I come to do Thy will’ was prophetically written of Jesus in the Psalms, so clearly none of the things listed in Proverbs as hated by God would be allowed in his life. As the next verse in Proverbs 6 says, “My son, keep thy father’s commandment, … bind them continually upon thine heart … when thou goest, it shall lead thee.” In contrast, however, the lying tongue, haughty eyes, feet that run to mischief, hands that shed innocent blood,heart that deviseth wicked imagination, false witness that speaketh lies,and sowing discord among brethren were all seen, probably at their worst, at the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Men who would not enter the judgment hall for fear of defilement, who knew a great many facts about the Law, displaying in their lives the very things which God had said He hates. How much the religious leaders needed to heed Proverbs 1:10,11: “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause …” One responded, however, Joseph of Arimathaea “consented not.”
A fascinating aspect of the Proverbs in the life of Jesus is the way in which he used the Proverbs as a basis for his parables; consider these examples – Proverbs 3:9: “Honour the LORD with thy substance … so shall thy barns be filled with plenty …” forms a background to the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21.
The man in the parable failed to honour God with his substance, so his full barns became empty as far as he was concerned! When Jesus told the story of the friend at midnight who asked for bread from his sleeping neighbour, we can readily pick out a connection with Proverbs 3:28: “Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.”
Proverbs 4:23 says “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”; and this is the central principle in Jesus’ words at Mark 7:15:”There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.” When Jesus counselled us of the need for singleness of outlook to attain the Kingdom in Luke 9:62 he said, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
How closely this follows the Proverbs at chapter 4:25-27: Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” In the parable of the houses on sand and rock in Matthew 7:24-27 we find the Proverbs coming out again in story form; see, for example ,Proverbs 10:25:”As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.” Proverbs 12:7 “The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.” Proverbs 21:12:”The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.”
When Jesus told of the wise and foolish virgins Matthew 25:3, surely he had in mind Proverbs 21:20: “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.” So a Proverb which appears at first sight to say something like ‘sensible people keep candles in the house in case of a power cut’ is taken by Jesus and used in a story to show ‘Bible common sense’ in waiting for his return.
So also in the parable of the prodigal son we can hear echoes of Proverbs 28:7; “Whoso keepeth the Law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father”; also Proverbs 29:3: “Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father, but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.” Would this urge the people who listened to Jesus to study their Proverbs more closely to find deeper meanings, and to find a pattern to mould their lives on? – Does it urge us to?
God has revealed Himself as a God of Truth, which ought to make us most thankful that our Creator has, this characteristic, as always deeds speak louder than words, and our thankfulness is best seen by an attempt to imitate Him in being truthful ourselves. This was required by God under the Law of Moses, for example,Exodus 20:16: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”
The penalty for false witness was also stated in Deut.19:16-19: “If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong …. And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.” That being a faithful witness does not come naturally to us is shown by Jesus’ words, Matthew 15:19: “Out of the heart proceed … FALSE WITNESS.” (See also Rev.21:8 where he states ‘the end of all liars .. lake of fire.’)
The book of Proverbs comments on this topic, too – Proverbs 6:19: “These six things doth the LORD hate … a false witness that speaketh lies”, 12:17: “He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.”, 14:25: “A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies”, 19:9: “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish” (See also 14:5, 13:5, 19:5).
The way in which this teaching from Law and Proverbs is seen in Jesus can be realized when we recall one of his titles in Rev.3:14, “The faithful and true witness.” By witnessing faithfully to the Truth he gave his life, but by the sacrifice which he made he has shown righteousness and opened up a way of deliverance for souls who follow him. Imagine the injustice of the situation as he remained faithful to the end of his ministry, whilst the Jewish leaders, in spite of their knowledge of the Law, as Matthew 26:59 tells us, SOUGHT false witness against him! So mad were they in their hatred of Jesus that they looked for false witness, blind to the fact that God had said He hated it, but careful to ensure that there were two of them, since the Law said one witness was insufficient!
Enough has been presented, we hope, in this part to show how the Proverbs permeated the mind, actions and words of Jesus, and we move finally to consider how they affect us.
Reflections on the Potter and the Clay