Proverbs 21:21
He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Sermons
ReligionHomilistProverbs 21:21
Righteousness and MercyArthur Mitchell, D. D.Proverbs 21:21
The Successful SearchE. Johnson Proverbs 21:21
The True Pursuit of MankindD. Thomas, D. D.Proverbs 21:21
The Wise and the Loving LifeE. Johnson Proverbs 21:21-23














I. IT IS AN ARDENT ENTHUSIASTIC LIFE. (Ver. 21.) Literally, he who hunts after justice and love will find life, righteousness, and honour. So in other figures - of hungering and thirsting, of digging eagerly for hid treasures, etc. - the earnest enthusiasm of the true life is depicted.

II. IT IS A LIFE OF PRESENT POSSESSION AND ENJOYMENT. So in the New Testament (Romans 3:26; Galatians 3:21).

III. THE RESISTLESS POWER OF WISDOM. (Ver. 22.) The like penetrative power to that which we ascribe to the subtlest forces of nature - heat, magnetism, etc. - is possessed, but in a higher degree, by the intelligence add the will of man. The barriers of time and space seem to fall before him who knows and him who loves. Let none rely on walls and fastnesses. What man's hands have raised man's hands can break to pieces. We are truly strong only by means of the arts and works at intelligence and love.

IV. THE SAFETY OF THE PRUDENT TONGUE. (Ver. 2.9.) As one quaintly says, "God, as the Creator, has placed a double wail before the mouth - the teeth and lips, to show that we ought to use and guard the tongue with all care." "He that hath a satirical vein, as he maketh others afraid of his wit, so he had need to he afraid of others' memory." "Discretion of speech is more than eloquence; and to speak agreeably with him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words or in good order" (Bacon). - J.

He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
In every perfect character there will be found many opposite virtues, such as gentleness and courage, energy and patience, determination and docility, justice and mercy. We all respect the sterling worth of justice, yet justice alone would mark a defective character. It could be trusted, but not loved. Mercy alone would make one too weak. Love may lack the fidelity required to rebuke wrong, as is often seen in parental indulgence. Judicial laxity that sacrifices law, or military inefficiency that ignores discipline, are other illustrations. The wider the government, the nobler the interests to be guarded, the more imperative the need of the union of law with love, truth with gentleness. It is important to notice that this union of apparently opposing virtues does not weaken, but really makes either the more impressive in action. The rebuke of a loving father is all the more effective on account of the affection that inspires it. Justice speaks all the more terribly from the lips of a tender judge. When Washington's tears blot the order for Andre's execution, the awful necessity of Andre's doom is seen and felt at every camp-fire. In Jesus Christ we see the blending of these diverse qualities in a remarkable degree. Tender and gentle as He was, incarnate mercy, He uttered the most awful denunciations and threats of everlasting fire. The awfulness of future punishment is felt when we remember it is the "wrath of the Lamb"! This theme sheds light on certain problems of the Divine government. The universe needs a corner-stone, and human hopes an anchorage. These are found in God. The highest triumph of wisdom is seen in the harmony of diverse qualities. As our character approaches His, we can the better interpret the problems of His government that confound others. President Woolsey rightly marvels at the folly of men who legislate about the universe, pass judgment on sin and retribution, yet cannot govern their own homes, or agree on the principles of human legislation. A greater than Woolsey exclaims: "Behold the goodness and severity of God!" Christianity exhibits this union as an exclusive trait, one that commands at once the hearts and the consciences of men. At the Cross of Christ justice and mercy blend, righteousness and grace kiss each other. God is holy as well as loving. Grace makes righteousness sure and pardon free. So peace comes, for justice is not compromised in giving a pardon that we should wish to hide from righteousness. The gospel unites them in one display. We show these virtues at different times; here they appear in parallel glory. No human justice has risen to this conception, no philosophy has embodied these ideas. Grace comes to be the marvel and the loadstone of our hearts.

(Arthur Mitchell, D. D.)

I. GOODNESS IS THE OBJECT. "He that followeth after righteousness and mercy."

1. We are to follow after this supremely.

2. We are to follow after this constantly. It must be pursued, not occasionally, but always; not on the Sundays, but on the weekdays as well.

II. HAPPINESS IS THE ATTENDANT. Life stands for happiness. The unregenerate has no true life. The righteous man will be righteously dealt with. God has established such a connection between excellence and conscience that conscience must recognise it wherever it is seen. Happiness comes as goodness is pursued. Happiness never comes to a man when he seeks it as an end. It wells out of those activities which spring from generous self-obliviating love. The unselfish and the loving have ever been the truly happy men. Happiness is the end of the universe, but God has ordained that our happiness shall grow out of our goodness.

(D. Thomas, D. D.)

Homilist.
Religion is here presented in two aspects.

I. As a PURSUIT. Really to do what the text expresses implies —

1. A true estimate of the objects to be pursued. "Righteousness and mercy." These are the two cardinal elements of moral excellence in all worlds, are essential to the well-being of all moral intelligences. To pursue them you must be impressed with their transcendent worth. Thus Moses chose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God," etc.

2. Resolute perseverance. The pursuit of these cardinal blessings involves great difficulties. The world, the flesh, and the devil all obstruct the way.

II. As a REALISATION. He that thus successfully pursues "findeth life, righteousness, and honour." Religion is its own reward. The good man is blessed in his deed.

1. The reward is a natural effect of the conduct. Holiness and happiness are inseparably united.

2. The reward agrees with the conduct. It grows out of it. "Life, righteousness, and honour" — these grow out of "righteousness and mercy": the fruit is of the same kind as the seed. Man's heavenly joys will not be grapes gathered from thorns but from the vine-tree of goodness, the True Vine.

(Homilist.)

People
Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Findeth, Finds, Followeth, Follows, Goes, Honor, Honour, Kindness, Love, Loyalty, Mercy, Prosperity, Pursues, Pursuing, Righteousness
Outline
1. The king's heart in the hand of the Lord

Dictionary of Bible Themes
Proverbs 21:20-21

     8367   wisdom, importance of

Library
Definition of Actual Grace
1. GENERAL NOTION OF GRACE.--The best way to arrive at a correct definition of actual grace is by the synthetic method. We therefore begin with the general notion of grace. Like "nature,"(3) grace (gratia, {GREEK SMALL LETTER CHI}{GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA WITH OXIA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER RHO}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA}) is a word of wide reach, used in a great variety of senses. Habert(4) enumerates no less than fourteen; which, however, may be reduced to four. a) Subjectively,
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

Epistle xxi. To Constantina Augusta .
To Constantina Augusta [1593] . Gregory to Constantina, &c. Almighty God, who holds in His right hand the heart of your Piety, both protects us through you and prepares for you rewards of eternal remuneration for temporal deeds. For I have learnt from the letters of the deacon Sabinianus my responsalis with what justice your Serenity is interested in the cause of the blessed Prince of the apostles Peter against certain persons who are proudly humble and feignedly kind. And I trust in the bounty
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Epistle Cvi. To Syagrius, Ætherius, virgilius, and Desiderius, Bishops .
To Syagrius, Ætherius, Virgilius, and Desiderius, Bishops [65] . Gregory to Syagrius of Augustodunum (Autun), Etherius of Lugdunum (Lyons), Virgilius of Aretale (Arles), and Desiderius of Vienna (Vienne), bishops of Gaul. A paribus. Our Head, which is Christ, has to this end willed us to be His members, that through the bond of charity and faith He might make us one body in Himself. And to Him it befits us so to adhere in heart, that, since without Him we can be nothing, through Him we may
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

How the Slothful and the Hasty are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 16.) Differently to be admonished are the slothful and the hasty. For the former are to be persuaded not to lose, by putting it off, the good they have to do; but the latter are to be admonished lest, while they forestall the time of good deeds by inconsiderate haste, they change their meritorious character. To the slothful therefore it is to be intimated, that often, when we will not do at the right time what we can, before long, when we will, we cannot. For the very indolence of
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

How those are to be Admonished who Desire not the Things of Others, but Keep their Own; and those who Give of their Own, yet Seize
(Admonition 22.) Differently to be admonished are those who neither desire what belongs to others nor bestow what is their own, and those who give of what they have, and yet desist not from seizing on what belongs to others. Those who neither desire what belongs to others nor bestow what is their own are to be admonished to consider carefully that the earth out of which they are taken is common to all men, and therefore brings forth nourishment for all in common. Vainly, then, do those suppose
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Heavenly Footman; Or, a Description of the Man that Gets to Heaven:
TOGETHER WITH THE WAY HE RUNS IN, THE MARKS HE GOES BY; ALSO, SOME DIRECTIONS HOW TO RUN SO AS TO OBTAIN. 'And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain: escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.'--Genesis 19:17. London: Printed for John Marshall, at the Bible in Gracechurch Street, 1698. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. About forty years ago a gentleman, in whose company I had commenced my
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

"And the Life. " How Christ is the Life.
This, as the former, being spoken indefinitely, may be universally taken, as relating both to such as are yet in the state of nature, and to such as are in the state of grace, and so may be considered in reference to both, and ground three points of truth, both in reference to the one, and in reference to the other; to wit, 1. That our case is such as we stand in need of his help, as being the Life. 2. That no other way but by him, can we get that supply of life, which we stand in need of, for he
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

How Christ is the Way in General, "I am the Way. "
We come now to speak more particularly to the words; and, first, Of his being a way. Our design being to point at the way of use-making of Christ in all our necessities, straits, and difficulties which are in our way to heaven; and particularly to point out the way how believers should make use of Christ in all their particular exigencies; and so live by faith in him, walk in him, grow up in him, advance and march forward toward glory in him. It will not be amiss to speak of this fulness of Christ
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

An Analysis of Augustin's Writings against the Donatists.
The object of this chapter is to present a rudimentary outline and summary of all that Augustin penned or spoke against those traditional North African Christians whom he was pleased to regard as schismatics. It will be arranged, so far as may be, in chronological order, following the dates suggested by the Benedictine edition. The necessary brevity precludes anything but a very meagre treatment of so considerable a theme. The writer takes no responsibility for the ecclesiological tenets of the
St. Augustine—writings in connection with the donatist controversy.

Paul's Departure and Crown;
OR, AN EXPOSITION UPON 2 TIM. IV. 6-8 ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR How great and glorious is the Christian's ultimate destiny--a kingdom and a crown! Surely it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive what ear never heard, nor mortal eye ever saw? the mansions of the blest--the realms of glory--'a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' For whom can so precious an inheritance be intended? How are those treated in this world who are entitled to so glorious, so exalted, so eternal,
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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