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proverbs 3 commentary john macarthur

by Fleta Hegmann Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

John MacArthur on Proverbs (Part 3) “Guard your mind and obey your parents!!” John MacArthur: Chapter 4, would you notice verse 23? “Watch over your heart with all diligence,” the father says to his son, “for from it flow the springs of life.” Guard your mind diligently because everything in life comes out of it. Out of it comes your conduct

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Is the principle of Proverbs 3 a promise?

The principle of Proverbs 3:2 is not an absolute promise; there are some people who truly are given to obedience in both conduct and heart and die relatively young. Some godly persons have trouble living in peace. We regard these as true principles, not absolute promises.

What does Proverbs 3 say about the first and Best?

Proverbs 3. God, who is the first and best, must have the first and best of every thing; his right is prior to all other, and therefore he must be served first. Note, It is our duty to make our worldly estates serviceable to our religion, to use them and the interest we have by them for the promoting of religion,...

Who wrote the Book of proverbs in the Bible?

The collection in chaps. 25–29 was originally composed by Solomon ( 25:1) but copied and included later by Judah’s king Hezekiah (ca. 715–686 B.C.). Chapter 30 reflects the words of Agur and chap. 31 the words of Lemuel, who perhaps was Solomon. Proverbs was not assembled in its final form until Hezekiah’s day or after.

What is the purpose of proverbs in the Bible?

Proverbs is both a pattern for the tender impartation of truth from generation to generation, as well as a vast resource for the content of the truth to be imparted. Proverbs contains the principles and applications of Scripture which the godly characters of the Bible illustrate in their lives.

What is Proverbs 3 talking about?

Wisdom is better than gold and jewels, and more worthy of pursuit. Long life, riches, pleasantness, peace, and honor all come from wisdom. It's a tree of life that showers happiness on the people who are able to eat from it. Good times.

Do not lean on your own understanding verse?

3 Verses 5 to 6. [5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

What is the meaning of Proverbs 3 9?

(Proverbs 3:9-10) In this verse, “honor” is just another word for worship. Simply put, we are called to worship the Lord with our wealth. Worshiping God with our wealth has, in broad terms, two essential aspects: First, it means obeying God's command to tithe at least 10% of our income back to him by faith, (Mal.

What is the message of Proverbs 3 5?

A favorite of mine is Proverbs 3:5-6, which states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Encouraged to memorize it when I was younger, it has been an invaluable help to me all during my life and especially ...

What happens when we lean on your own understanding?

This is exactly what happens to a man when he leans on his own understanding. They lose hope and give up and await death. But thank God, Apostle Paul trusted in God and went to him for a solution.

What does the Bible say about doing things in your own strength?

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." The Good News: God is always there for us, so we can be strong in knowing that He always has our backs. "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small."

What does it mean you Cannot serve God and money?

Being virtuous is not compatible with being greedy (mammon means “money”). This is a saying of Jesus in the Gospels. It explains, “No man can serve two masters (see also No man can serve two masters).”

Who wrote Proverbs 3?

Who wrote this book? Some of the book of Proverbs is attributed to “Solomon the son of David, the king of Israel” (see Proverbs 1:1; 10:1; 25:1; see also 1 Kings 4:32; Guide to the Scriptures, “Proverb—the book of Proverbs”; scriptures.lds.org).

How might you honor the Lord with your wealth in your life?

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops."- Proverbs 3:9, NIV. We are to give God the best and first of everything that we give Him, but specifically with our finances and all that we earn. We can honor God by paying the first ten percent of our income to Him through our local church.

What does it mean to trust in the Lord with all my heart?

Trusting in God means that whatever we suffer, in the end, can be used for our — all of our — ultimate good.

What does make your paths straight mean?

Proverbs 3:5-6. The promise here is he will make our paths straight. Path is our way, the course and fortunes of life. Straight means to make smooth, straight, free from obstacles, successful. I'm don't know about you, but smooth, straight and free from obstacles doesn't describe my life so far.

What have you learned from Proverbs 3:5-6 that should serve as a light and lamp to you?

The wisdom in Proverbs 3:5-6 is necessary for every situation you face in life. Verses 5 and 6 are part of one sentence: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths".

What is the purpose of Proverbs?

Proverbs is both a pattern for the tender impartation of truth from generation to generation , as well as a vast resource for the content of the truth to be imparted. Proverbs contains the principles and applications of Scripture which the godly characters of the Bible illustrate in their lives.

Why is Proverbs not superficial?

Though it is practical, Proverbs is not superficial or external because it contains moral and ethical elements stressing upright living which flow out of a right relationship with God. In 4:1–4, Solomon connected 3 generations as he entrusted to his son Rehoboam what he learned at the feet of David and Bathsheba.

What are the two themes in Proverbs 22:6?

In Disciplining Children Prov. 22:6. The two major themes which are interwoven and overlapping throughout Proverbs are wisdom and folly. Wisdom, which includes knowledge, understanding, instruction, discretion, and obedience, is built on the fear of the Lord and the Word of God. Folly is everything opposite to wisdom.

What is the gold mine of Proverbs?

Proverbs contains a gold mine of biblical theology, reflecting themes of Scripture brought to the level of practical righteousness ( 1:3 ), by addressing man’s ethical choices, calling into question how he thinks, lives, and manages his daily life in light of divine truth.

How do we have a continual regard to God's providence?

We must have a continual regard to God’s providence, must own and depend upon it in all our affairs, both by faith and prayer. By faith. We must repose an entire confidence in the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, assuring ourselves of the extent of his providence to all the creatures and all their actions.

What does the Bible say about tithing?

(3.) With the first-fruits of all, as Abel, Gen. 4:4 . This was the law ( Ex. 23:19 ), and the prophets, Mal. 3:10 .

What does the Bible say about peace?

Great and growing peace have those that love the law. II. We must have a continual regard to God’s promises, which go along with his precepts, and are to be received, and retained, with them ( v. 3 ): "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee, God’s mercy in promising, and his truth in performing.

Why does the father correct the son?

The father corrects the son whom he loves, nay, and because he loves him and desires he may be wise and good. He delights in that in his son which is amiable and agreeable, and therefore corrects him for the prevention and cure of that which would be a deformity to him, and an alloy to his delight in him.

Do all the good we can and no hurt to our neighbours?

We must do all the good we can, and no hurt, to our neighbours, because according as men are just or unjust, charitable or uncharitable, humble or haughty, accordingly they shall receive of God ( v. 27-35 ). From all this it appears what a tendency religion has to make men both blessed and blessings.

Do our heads keep God's commandments?

Not only our heads, but our hearts, must keep God’s commandments; in them, as in the ark of the testimony, both the tables of the law must be deposited.2. To encourage us to submit ourselves to all the restraints and injunctions of the divine law, we are assured ( v.

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

DeHoff recognized three divisions in this chapter: " (1) a call to complete commitment ( Proverbs 3:1-10 ), (2) the happiness and blessing of those who trust in God ( Proverbs 3:11-20 ), and (3) the confidence and security of those who walk with God ( Proverbs 3:21-35 )." 1 Halley noted that the big words in the chapter are: "Kindness, Truth, Long Life, Peace, Trust in God, Honoring God with our Substance, Prosperity, Security, Happiness, and Blessing." 2 It is a supremely superb and beautiful chapter indeed!.

Proverbs 3

DeHoff recognized three divisions in this chapter: " (1) a call to complete commitment ( Proverbs 3:1-10 ), (2) the happiness and blessing of those who trust in God ( Proverbs 3:11-20 ), and (3) the confidence and security of those who walk with God ( Proverbs 3:21-35 )." 1 Halley noted that the big words in the chapter are: "Kindness, Truth, Long Life, Peace, Trust in God, Honoring God with our Substance, Prosperity, Security, Happiness, and Blessing." 2 It is a supremely superb and beautiful chapter indeed!.

Title

  • The title in the Hebrew Bible is “The Proverbs of Solomon“ (1:1), as also in the Greek Septuagint (LXX)1. Proverbs pulls together the most important 513 of the over 3,000 proverbs pondered by Solomon (1 Kin. 4:32; Eccl. 12:9), along with some proverbs of others whom Solomon likely influenced. The word “proverb” means “to be like,” thus Proverbs is a book of comparisons betw…
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Author and Date

  • The phrase “Proverbs of Solomon” is more a title than an absolute statement of authorship (1:1). While King Solomon, who ruled Israel from 971–931 B.C. and was granted great wisdom by God (see 1 Kin. 4:29–34), is the author of the didactic section (chaps. 1–9) and the proverbs of 10:1–22:16, he is likely only the compiler of the “sayings of the wise” in 22:17–24:34, which are o…
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Background and Setting

  • The book reflects a 3-fold setting as: 1) general wisdom literature; 2) insights from the royal court; and 3) instruction offered in the tender relationship of a father and mother with their children, all designed to produce meditation on God. Since Proverbs is Wisdom literature, by nature it is sometimes difficult to understand (1:6). Wisdom liter...
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Historical and Theological Themes

  • Solomon came to the throne with great promise, privilege, and opportunity. God had granted his request for understanding (1 Kin. 3:9–12; 1 Chr. 1:10, 11), and his wisdom exceeded all others (1 Kin. 4:29–31). However, the shocking reality is that he failed to live out the truth that he knew and even taught his son Rehoboam (1 Kin. 11:1, 4, 6, 7–11), who subsequently rejected his father’s te…
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Interpretive Challenges

  • The first challenge is the generally elusive nature of Wisdom literature itself. Like the parables, the intended truths are often veiled from understanding if given only a cursory glance, and thus must be pondered in the heart (1:6; 2:1–4; 4:4–9). Another challenge is the extensive use of parallelism, which is the placing of truths side by side so that the second line expands, completes, defines, e…
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Outline

  1. Prologue (1:1–7)
  2. Praise and Wisdom to the Young (1:8–9:18)
  3. Proverbs for Everyone (10:1–29:27)
  4. Personal Notes (30:1–31:31)
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