Teach Wise People Who Accept Truth

Proverbs 9:8 (ESV) … “Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.”

Wisdom’s first call was to the simple, the scorners, and the fools (1:22). The scorners laughed at her, so in her second call she invited only the simple and the fools (8:5). But the fools didn’t want God’s wisdom, so in this third call she invites only the simple ones to come to her feast. It’s a dangerous thing to reject God’s invitation; you never know when it may be your last one (Luke 14:24).

Of course, when the simple people accept the invitation, it means leaving the old crowd, and the fools and scoffers will try to talk them into staying (Prov. 9:6–8). Sinners don’t want to be rebuked and reproved, but wise people will accept and benefit from both. Fools, scoffers, and the simple like to have their own way and be told they’re doing fine, but wise men and women want the truth. Teach wise people and they’ll accept the truth and become wiser; try to teach fools and they’ll reject the truth and become even greater fools.

When it comes to possessing eternal life and living so as to please God, it’s an either/or situation. Either we accept the invitation or we reject it; either we obey His wisdom or we reject it. Those who claim to be neutral are rejecting His Word as much as those who turn away from it completely. “He that is not with Me is against Me,” said Jesus (Matt. 12:30).[1]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Skillful (p. 33). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.