My son, attend to my words ,.... Which go before and which follow after, his doctrines, instructions, cautions, and exhortations; incline thine ear unto my sayings ; stoop and bow the ear; listen attentively to what is said, as being of the greatest moment and importance. read more
Let them not depart from thine eyes ,.... Commit them to writing, frequently read them over; let them be always in sight, as a rule and directory to steer the course of life by. Some understand this of the wicked, as if the sense was, let not them, the wicked, cause them to depart from thine eyes; nor thee to neglect them, by their bad advice, solicitations to sin, and ill examples; See Gill on Proverbs 3:21 ; keep them in the midst of thine heart ; lay them up there, and ponder them;... read more
For they are life unto those that find them ,.... The words or doctrines of Christ, whose type Solomon was, are to be found in the field of the Scriptures, by diligent searching for them; and being found, they are the means of spiritual life, and of maintaining it, and of showing the way, and bringing unto eternal life; see John 6:63 ; and health to all their flesh ; the whole man, soul and body, as they are the means of preserving the body from many diseases, which intemperance,... read more
Keep them in the midst of thine heart - Let them be wrapped up in the very center of thy affections; that they may give spring and energy to every desire, word, and wish. read more
7. Seventh admonitory discourse. We here enter upon the second group of admonitory discourses, as is indicated by the opening address, "my children," and which occurs again in Proverbs 5:7 and Proverbs 7:24 . This group extends to the end of Proverbs 7:1-27 . Its prevailing tone is that of warning rather than of positive exhortations, which have been the rule hitherto. The general aim of the discourse before us, as of those preceding, is to exalt Wisdom, to exhibit her as a subject... read more
The teacher here resumes his admonitions after thus citing the example of his father's teaching, and showing how it resembled the tenor of his own precepts, which, upon such a consideration, were most worthy of attention. read more
Self-preservation The instinct of self-preservation is the very root of all our activity. "Every individual existence strives to remain what it is," and would defend its integrity from all attack. I. THE INSTINCT IS RECOGNIZED . As it must be by all genuine teachers. It is a fact, and cannot be properly ignored; a Divine fact, and ought not to be obscured. It includes II. THE INSTINCT IS DIRECTED . It needs direction; for all instinct is in itself blind, and men, in... read more
The course of wisdom In these verses we may trace the course of wisdom from the beginning to its full development. We have— I. ITS BEGINNING IS THE SOUL . ( Proverbs 4:20 .) It commences in attention. When a man "inclines his ear unto the sayings of Wisdom," when he eagerly listens to what God says to him, when he is a disciple sitting at the feet of the great Teacher, he has taken an important step in the heavenward course. The "grace of God" is upon him ( Acts 13:43 ... read more
Let them not depart from thine eyes; i.e. keep them constantly in view as the guide of the whole conduct. These words are a repetition of Proverbs 3:21 , just as the latter part of the verse reproduces the thought of Proverbs 2:1 . Depart. The hiph. yallizu is here used instead of the kal yaluzu of Proverbs 3:21 , but has the same force. In the midst of thine heart; i.e. in its inmost recesses; there the words and sayings are to be guarded as a man guards a treasure stowed... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 4:20-27
Solomon, having warned us not to do evil, here teaches us how to do well. It is not enough for us to shun the occasions of sin, but we must study the methods of duty. I. We must have a continual regard to the word of God and endeavour that it may be always ready to us. 1. The sayings of wisdom must be our principles by which we must govern ourselves, our monitors to warn us of duty and danger; and therefore, (1.) We must receive them readily: ?Incline thy ear to them (Prov. 4:20); humbly bow... read more