An Eye for an Eye?
Read: Matthew 5:38-48 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.” (Prov. 24:29) Speaking of payback, let’s listen to Jesus: “Turn the other cheek,” “Go the extra mile,” “Give him your cloak too.” In these famous examples Jesus […]
Don’t Get Even, Get Generous
Read: Romans 12:9-21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. (Prov. 25:21-22) Have you ever thought about the difference between Proverbs and proverbs—the human sayings that have […]
“Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child”
Read: Hebrews 12:3-11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. (Prov. 3:11-12) The book of Proverbs is famously big on parental discipline, including discipline that seems unduly harsh to us. Remember […]
Keep Your Hand on the Tiller
Read: James 3:1-12 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. (Prov. 10:19) Have you ever wished you could take back something you said to someone too hastily, without thinking of the consequences? Have you ever regretted words you spoke without realizing who could hear them? Of course […]
True Humility
Read: Philippians 2:1-11 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. (Prov. 3:34) The apostle Peter quoted this proverb, then drew a practical lesson from it: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:6). Paul, in […]
Cards for Iranian Christians
Words of Hope organizes discipleship conferences for Iranian Christians multiple times per year. Since it is not safe to openly gather for Christian teaching inside the country of Iran, these converts travel to meet together at a safe location across the border. There they are able to sing worship songs, celebrate the sacraments, and grow […]
Do You Want to Be Forgiven?
Read: Matthew 18:21-35 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. (Prov. 21:13) You’re familiar with the concept of poetic justice. We call it “poetic” because it’s kind of sweet and fitting, like a poem. It appeals to our aesthetic sense; it just seems right. […]
Who Speaks for the Poor?
Read: Amos 5:11-24 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. (Prov. 31:8) What does Proverbs mean when it tells us to open our mouths for the mute? Here we might remember an important principal of Hebrew poetry: parallelism. In both Psalms and Proverbs, the writer often emphasizes a […]
Look at the Ants!
Read: Matthew 25:1-13 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. (Prov. 6:6) One of the themes Proverbs returns to again and again is the importance of hard work. Solomon clearly had a fear of sloth. “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and […]