"Dread hearing such talk as tends to instill loose principles into the mind; and, if thou art linked in with such, break off from them; thou hast heard enough, or too much, and therefore hear no more of the evil communication which corrupts good manners."
- Matthew Henry
Proverbs 19:27 says - "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge."
In other words, "Dread hearing such talk" that -
...teaches you that it is ok to sin a little each day in thought, word, or deed.
...excuses or justifies sin in a believer's life.
...widens the strait gate and broadens the narrow way for the Christian.
...or totally negates the Cross life or the denying of Self from the life of the saint of God.
"Dread hearing such talk."
Proverbs 19:27 says - "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction..."
That word "cease" is a strong word meaning to desist, leave off, forsake, stop, or come to an end. So Solomon is telling us to cease to proceed or act in this particular fashion. Stop listening to a certain type of
instruction. No longer regard or consider such teaching. Quit yielding to or giving heed to such doctrine.
To what kind of instruction is he referring?
Proverbs 19:27 explains - "...the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge."
He is referring to the teaching that causes us to go astray, swerve, meander, or wander from God's Truth.
Is it possible for a believer to be led astray from the right way or led aside from the path of virtue?
Absolutely!
The following Scriptures bear this out -
James 5:19 - "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth..."
Psalm 119:118 - "Thou hast trodden down all them that err from Thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood."
Isaiah 3:12 - "...O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths."
1 Timothy 6:10 - "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith..."
2 Timothy 2:17-18 - "...Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred..."
2 Peter 3:17 - "Ye therefore, beloved...beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked..."
It is very possible for a believer in Christ to doctrinally embrace error and fall into sinful practices accordingly. It is very possible for a believer to stray away from the Gospel of Christ.
That is why the Apostle Peter warned us in 2 Peter 3:17 - "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness."
2 Peter 3:16 - The Apostle Peter warns of those who are "unlearned and unstable" and who "wrest" or twist the Scriptures to their own destruction. Being aware of this danger, he admonishes us, as believers, to "beware"- be on guard, keep a diligent watch - in order that we would not be "led" or carried away with the "error of the wicked" and fall from our own stedfastness.
The "error of the wicked" is wandering and straying from holiness or piety. It's being led astray from the right way...straying from the righteous mode of acting or living...and following the path of the wicked man - the man who is lawless and breaks all restraints of God's law to gratify his sinful lusts.
The moment we adhere to such error, we begin to "fall from our own stedfastness." We are immediately driven out of course from our firm condition and stability in our walk with the Lord and become like those who "wrest" or twist the Scriptures - "unlearned and unstable."
In Proverbs 14:7, Solomon strongly admonishes us to - "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge."
How do we discern a "foolish man"? We perceive not in him "the lips of knowledge." In other words, he has no desire to promote holiness or piety in his teachings. His instruction is corrupt and corrupting unto others - in no way edifying to the saints - but tearing them down by promoting rebellion and the license to sin in their holy walk with God.
This vain, empty fellow can neither receive Truth nor can he convey it. Solomon warns us - "Go" from his presence. Get away from such foolishness, stupidity, and arrogancy. Do not associate with such kind.
Our Lord God admonishes us in Jeremiah 23:16 - "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD."
Once again, we are warned in the Holy Scriptures not to give heed to the counsel or advice of those so-called "spokesmen for God" who are encouraging us to sin by their false prophesies.
Through the "vision of their own heart," they tell us that there is no harm or danger in Sin and its practice in the Christian's life. They tell us that it shall be well with us even if we should persist in a sinful lifestyle. They excuse, justify, and encourage others in their Sin.
"They speak a vision of their own heart."
God did not send them. Their main objective is to make the saints "vain." They desire to fill them with vain hopes, while all along, they are leading them astray from the path of Truth.
The Apostle Paul warned us in 2 Timothy 4:3 of a fixed time when people would no longer put up with "sound doctrine" - "For the time will come..."
That set time is upon us.
Instead of the uncorrupt, "free from any mixture of error" teaching, many are "itching" for the teaching that allays their restless and uneasy desires and gratifies them. They have this unsatiable desire for variety. They don't want the so-called "stale truths" of the Bible. They want some "New" revelation. "Away with the Bible!" is their heart's cry. "Give us something 'New' that will deal gently with our vices and allow for our carnal desires."
Nonetheless, let's remember what the Scriptures tell us -
Cease to hear such instruction.
Beware lest you be "led away with the error of the wicked" and "fall from your own stedfastness."
Go from the presence of such foolish men who do not speak with "the lips of knowledge."
Do not hearken to such false prophets who speak "a vision of their own heart" and make you "vain" or lead you astray from the path of holiness and uprightness.
"For the time will come..."
It is upon us.
Proverbs 19:27 - We need never be deceived if we will only heed Solomon's warning - "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge."
Copyright 2005 by Connie Giordano
