Haughty eyes and a proud heart--the guides of the wicked--are sin. Haughty eyesHaughty eyes refer to a demeanor of arrogance and pride, often characterized by looking down on others. In biblical context, this is frequently condemned as it reflects a heart that is not aligned with God's humility. Proverbs 6:16-17 lists "haughty eyes" as one of the seven things the Lord detests. This phrase suggests a visible manifestation of inner pride, which is contrary to the humility exemplified by Jesus Christ, who, despite His divine nature, humbled Himself ( Philippians 2:5-8). and a proud heart
A proud heart indicates an internal attitude of self-exaltation and self-reliance, which is often in opposition to the biblical call for dependence on God. Throughout Scripture, pride is depicted as a root of sin, leading to rebellion against God. In Isaiah 14:12-15, the fall of Lucifer is attributed to pride, serving as a warning of its destructive power. The heart, in biblical terms, is the center of one's being, encompassing thoughts, emotions, and will, and a proud heart is thus a fundamental misalignment with God's will. the guides of the wicked
The guides of the wicked suggest that pride and arrogance direct the actions and decisions of those who are not following God's ways. In biblical history, the wicked are often those who reject God's commandments and pursue their own desires. This phrase implies that pride leads to a path of moral and spiritual corruption. Psalm 10:4 states that in his pride, the wicked man does not seek God; in all his thoughts, there is no room for Him. This highlights the spiritual blindness that pride can cause. are sin
The declaration that these attitudes are sin underscores the seriousness with which God views pride and arrogance. Sin, in biblical terms, is any action, thought, or attitude that falls short of God's holiness and righteousness. Romans 3:23 reminds us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, emphasizing the universal need for redemption. The identification of pride as sin aligns with the broader biblical narrative that calls for repentance and humility before God, as seen in the teachings of Jesus, who calls the humble blessed (Matthew 5:3). Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally considered the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His writings often focus on the contrast between wisdom and folly, righteousness and wickedness. 2. The WickedIn the context of Proverbs, the wicked are those who live in opposition to God's ways, often characterized by pride, deceit, and rebellion against divine instruction. 3. Ancient IsraelThe cultural and historical backdrop of Proverbs, where wisdom literature was a key component of teaching and moral instruction. Teaching Points The Sin of PridePride is not just an attitude but a sin that leads to further wickedness. It blinds individuals to their need for God and others. The Heart's ConditionThe "proud heart" mentioned in Proverbs 21:4 indicates that sin begins internally. Believers must guard their hearts against prideful thoughts and attitudes. Eyes as Windows"Haughty eyes" suggest that pride is often visible in our demeanor and actions. We must be mindful of how our attitudes are reflected outwardly. Guidance and InfluenceThe verse describes pride as a "guide" for the wicked, implying that pride leads to further sinful behavior. Believers should seek guidance from the Holy Spirit rather than their own prideful inclinations. Humility as a VirtueIn contrast to pride, humility is a virtue that aligns with God's character. Cultivating humility opens the door to God's grace and wisdom. Bible Study Questions 1. How does pride manifest in our daily lives, and what are some practical steps we can take to combat it? 2. In what ways can we ensure that our "eyes" and "hearts" are aligned with God's will rather than our own prideful desires? 3. How does the concept of pride as a "guide" for the wicked challenge us to evaluate the influences in our lives? 4. Reflect on a time when pride led to a negative outcome in your life. What did you learn from that experience, and how can it inform your future actions? 5. How can we encourage humility in our communities and relationships, following the teachings of Proverbs 21:4 and related scriptures? Connections to Other Scriptures 1. James 4:6This verse speaks about God opposing the proud but giving grace to the humble, reinforcing the idea that pride is a barrier to receiving God's favor. 2. 1 Peter 5:5This passage also emphasizes humility, instructing believers to clothe themselves with humility toward one another, as God opposes the proud. 3. Isaiah 2:11-12These verses describe the downfall of the proud and lofty, highlighting God's judgment against pride. 4. Philippians 2:3This verse encourages believers to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than themselves. People SolomonPlaces JerusalemTopics Breadth, Evil-doer, Haughty, Heart, Lamp, Loftiness, Lofty, Plowing, Pride, Proud, Sin, Tillage, WickedDictionary of Bible Themes Proverbs 21:4 5016 heart, fallen and redeemed
5149 eyes
5961 superiority
8302 love, abuse of
8803 pride, evil 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 HabitualEpistle 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 Links Proverbs 21:4 NIVProverbs 21:4 NLTProverbs 21:4 ESVProverbs 21:4 NASBProverbs 21:4 KJV
Proverbs 21:4 Commentaries
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