Since God Created humans, only God can provide specific understanding of human behavior. God gave Solomon Divine Wisdom (1 Kings Chapters 3 and 10) to explain what and why behavior is as it is, and Proverbs 10:1-24:34 are randomly written, as if they were Solomon’s judgments about individual cases brought to him, or simply God-given explanations about life. New Testament passages may help see the continuation of Wisdom offered through Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 18:13: “He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.”
Many seem to value their opinion above established truth. They are quick with their opinion about anything and everything, even though they know little or nothing factual about the subject. They form their opinions from headlines, magazine covers, Tweets, gossip, or others’ opinions! In Moses’ Law, God emphasized the rule of truth when forming a proper judgment: “Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness” (Deuteronomy 17:6), and this continued into Jesus’ day: “Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, ‘Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?’” (John 7:50-51) In His final day on the earth, the “chief priests and scribes” brought Jesus into their mock trial, and asked Him, “’Are You then the Son of God?’ So He said to them, ‘You rightly say that I am.’ And they said, ‘What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth’” (Luke 22:66, 70-71).
More than one witness is necessary to determine actual facts without the individual embellishments, and they crucified Jesus on His one statement to them! “Do not go hastily to court; For what will you do in the end, When your neighbor has put you to shame? Debate your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another; Lest he who hears it expose your shame, And your reputation be ruined” (Proverbs 25:8-10).
Speaking up before we know what the issue is all about is “folly and shame” (empty and disgraceful). “Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet” (Proverbs 19:2). Brought over into Christianity, James said, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak” (James 1:19).
Jesus distinguished opinion from fact by asking: “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” The Apostles replied: “’Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ Then Jesus asked for God’s revealed fact: “He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven’” (Matthew 16:13-17).
Before anyone answers the question, “are you saved?” he/she should study the Word of God on the subject (Mark 16:16), and ask the question, “have I done what God requires?” People’s opinions matter little, “For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends” (2 Corinthians 10:18)!
All Scriptures and comments are based upon the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.
#baptism, #bible-study, #jesus-christ, #opinion, #proverbs, #truth, #wisdom
A certain segment of the American population has succeeded in perpetrating the notion of “political correctness” (PC) across a broad base of society. This ideology has infiltrated politics, education, and religion. While touted as a manifestation of “compassion” and “respect” for those with whom one disagrees, the fact is that PC seeks to silence any expression of disagreement that is not in line with its covert agenda. 
