What is the meaning of Proverbs 18:23? The poor man • Scripture introduces the poor as people God watches closely and defends. “Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him” (Proverbs 14:31). • Poverty in Proverbs is most often linked with humility and teachability (Proverbs 19:1; 28:6). Though lacking resources, such a person is still valued and protected by the Lord (Psalm 12:5). • James 2:5 reminds us that God “has… chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith.” The verse under study immediately sets up a contrast between external status and internal worth. pleads for mercy • “Pleads” pictures humble, earnest entreaty—an admission of need. Compare the tax collector’s cry, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13). • This posture is welcomed by God: “He raises the poor from the dust” (1 Samuel 2:8). The wise takeaway: neediness drives us toward dependence on the Lord. • Proverbs warns against exploiting such appeals: “Do not crush the afflicted at the gate, for the LORD will take up their case” (Proverbs 22:22-23). • Jesus blesses the same spirit: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). but the rich man • Wealth itself is not condemned, but it often breeds self-security: “A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city” (Proverbs 18:11). • Prosperity can distort self-perception: “A rich man is wise in his own eyes” (Proverbs 28:11). • Christ warned, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23), and Paul cautioned the affluent “not to be conceited” but to hope in God (1 Timothy 6:17). • The verse highlights the temptation of the prosperous to forget compassion and humility. answers harshly • Whereas the poor requests favor, the rich replies with severity—literally a curt, abrasive rejoinder. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). • Harshness springs from pride and a sense of superiority. Proverbs 17:27 praises the opposite: restraint and calm. • James rebukes believers who mirror this attitude: “Is it not the rich who oppress you…?” (James 2:6). The apostle later warns exploitative wealthy people to “weep and wail over the misery to come” (James 5:1-6). • God hears both sides of every conversation; hard speech toward the vulnerable invites His judgment (Proverbs 14:31). summary Proverbs 18:23 sets a vivid scene: a needy person appeals for kindness while a wealthy person replies with cutting words. Scripture affirms that God values humility, listens to the cry for mercy, and calls His people to mirror that compassion. Wealth carries responsibility; when it produces harshness, it betrays a heart trusting riches rather than the Lord. The verse therefore urges us—whatever our means—to speak with gentleness, honor the dignity of the poor, and remember that every conversation happens in the presence of the righteous Judge. |
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