◄ Proverbs 28:5 ►
Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD comprehend fully.
Study Bible
Evil men do not understand justice
This phrase highlights the moral and spiritual blindness of those who are characterized as "evil." In biblical terms, "evil men" refers to those who live in opposition to God's laws and principles. The Hebrew word for "evil" often implies wickedness and moral corruption. The lack of understanding of justice among evil men can be seen throughout Scripture, such as in Psalm 82:5, where it is said that they "walk about in darkness." Justice, in the biblical sense, is rooted in God's character and law, as seen in Deuteronomy 32:4, where God is described as a "God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He." The inability of evil men to grasp justice is a result of their separation from God, who is the ultimate source of justice.

but those who seek the LORD comprehend fully
In contrast to evil men, those who "seek the LORD" are portrayed as having a full understanding of justice. Seeking the LORD implies a diligent pursuit of a relationship with God, characterized by prayer, study of Scripture, and obedience to His commandments. This pursuit is encouraged throughout the Bible, as in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." The promise of comprehension is tied to the idea that true wisdom and understanding come from God, as seen in Proverbs 2:6, "For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." This phrase also reflects the biblical theme that spiritual insight and moral clarity are granted to those who earnestly seek God, aligning their lives with His will.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Evil Men
Refers to individuals who live in opposition to God's laws and principles. In the context of Proverbs, these are people who act wickedly and are often contrasted with the righteous.

2. Those Who Seek the LORD
This phrase describes individuals who earnestly pursue a relationship with God, seeking His wisdom and guidance in their lives.

3. Justice
A central theme in the book of Proverbs, justice refers to the moral and legal principles that align with God's character and His laws.
Teaching Points
Understanding Justice Requires Seeking God
True comprehension of justice is not merely an intellectual exercise but a spiritual pursuit that begins with seeking the Lord.

The Contrast Between the Wicked and the Righteous
Proverbs often contrasts the paths of the wicked and the righteous, illustrating that a life apart from God leads to a lack of understanding.

The Role of Wisdom in Justice
Wisdom, which begins with the fear of the Lord, is essential for understanding and applying justice in our lives and communities.

The Importance of a Relationship with God
A personal relationship with God is foundational for discerning His will and understanding His principles of justice.

Practical Implications of Seeking God
Seeking God involves daily practices such as prayer, Bible study, and obedience, which lead to a deeper understanding of His justice.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the pursuit of God influence our understanding of justice in today's world?

2. In what ways can we actively seek the Lord in our daily lives to gain wisdom and understanding?

3. How does the contrast between "evil men" and "those who seek the LORD" challenge us in our personal walk with God?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to ensure that our understanding of justice aligns with God's principles?

5. How do other scriptures, such as Micah 6:8, reinforce the message of Proverbs 28:5 regarding justice and seeking God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 14:2-3
This passage highlights the contrast between those who seek God and those who turn away, emphasizing the understanding and wisdom that come from seeking the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:24
This verse underscores the importance of knowing and understanding God, which aligns with the idea that those who seek the Lord comprehend justice.

Micah 6:8
This scripture calls believers to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, reflecting the understanding of justice that comes from seeking the Lord.
Sermons
Canons of Moral TruthE. Johnson Proverbs 28:1-5
The Source of Disturbance and the Secret of SecurityW. Clarkson Proverbs 28:1, 13, 25
The Practice and Effect of Sin and RighteousnessW. Clarkson Proverbs 28:4, 5
People
Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Completely, Evil, Fully, Judgment, Justice, Seek, Seeking, Understand
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Proverbs 28:5

     8160   seeking God

Library
Two Coverings and Two Consequences
A Sermon (No. 3500) by C. H. Spurgeon, April 4th, 1875, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. Published February 24th, 1916. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper."--Proverbs 28:13. "Thou Hast covered all their sins."--Psalm 85:2. In these two texts we have man's covering, which is worthless and culpable, and God's covering, which is profitable and worthy of all acceptation. No sooner had man disobeyed his Maker's will in the garden of Eden than he discovered to his surprise and dismay …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Right Kind of Fear
A Sermon (No. 2971) published on Thursday, January 18th, 1906, delivered by C.H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington on Thursday evening, September 2nd, 1876. "Happy is the man that feareth alway."--Proverbs 28:14. But did not John say that "fear hath torment?" Then how can he be happy who hath fear, and especially he who hath it always. Did not John also say that "perfect love casteth out fear?" How is it then that he is happy in whom love is not made perfect, if so be that the fear …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

He Does Battle for the Faith; He Restores Peace among those who were at Variance; He Takes in Hand to Build a Stone Church.
57. (32). There was a certain clerk in Lismore whose life, as it is said, was good, but his faith not so. He was a man of some knowledge in his own eyes, and dared to say that in the Eucharist there is only a sacrament and not the fact[718] of the sacrament, that is, mere sanctification and not the truth of the Body. On this subject he was often addressed by Malachy in secret, but in vain; and finally he was called before a public assembly, the laity however being excluded, in order that if it were …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

"If we Confess Our Sins, He is Faithful and Just to Forgive us Our Sins",
1 John i. 9.--"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins", &c. The current of sin dries not up, but runs constantly while we are in this life. It is true, it is much diminished in a believer, and it runs not in such an universal flood over the whole man as it is in the unbeliever. Yet there is a living spring of sin within the godly, which is never ceasing to drop out pollution and defilement, either upon their whole persons, or, at least, to intermingle it with their …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"When Solomon was Old. "
"It came to pass when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other Gods." 1 KINGS xi. 4. Who could have predicted that this would come to pass? And yet it is often so, for it is still true that NO AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE WILL SAVE FROM BACKSLIDING THOSE WHO REFUSE TO LISTEN TO GOD. We learn from verse 10 that God had taken pains to save Solomon from idolatry, (see 1 Kings vi. 12, and xi. 6). But what good is it for even God to try to save a man who will have his own way? And …
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

Letter xxiv (Circa A. D. 1126) to Oger, Regular Canon
To Oger, Regular Canon [34] Bernard blames him for his resignation of his pastoral charge, although made from the love of a calm and pious life. None the less, he instructs him how, after becoming a private person, he ought to live in community. To Brother Oger, the Canon, Brother Bernard, monk but sinner, wishes that he may walk worthily of God even to the end, and embraces him with the fullest affection. 1. If I seem to have been too slow in replying to your letter, ascribe it to my not having …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Epistle xxv. To Gregoria.
To Gregoria. Gregory to Gregoria, Lady of the Bed-chamber (cubiculariæ) to Augusta. I have received the longed for letters of your Sweetness, in which you have been at pains all through to accuse yourself of a multitude of sins: but I know that you fervently love the Almighty Lord, and I trust in His mercy that the sentence which was pronounced with regard to a certain holy woman proceeds from the mouth of the Truth with regard to you: Her sins, which are many, are forgiven her, for she loved …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

"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

"And There is None that Calleth Upon Thy Name, that Stirreth up Himself to Take Hold on Thee,"
Isaiah lxiv. 7.--"And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee," &c. They go on in the confession of their sins. Many a man hath soon done with that a general notion of sin is the highest advancement in repentance that many attain to. You may see here sin and judgment mixed in thorough other(315) in their complaint. They do not so fix their eyes upon their desolate estate of captivity, as to forget their provocations. Many a man would spend more affection, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

How to be Admonished are those who Give Away what is their Own, and those who Seize what Belongs to Others.
(Admonition 21.) Differently to be admonished are those who already give compassionately of their own, and those who still would fain seize even what belongs to others. For those who already give compassionately of their own are to be admonished not to lift themselves up in swelling thought above those to whom they impart earthly things; not to esteem themselves better than others because they see others to be supported by them. For the Lord of an earthly household, in distributing the ranks and …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Authority and Utility of the Scriptures
2 Tim. iii. 16.--"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." We told you that there was nothing more necessary to know than what our end is, and what the way is that leads to that end. We see the most part of men walking at random,--running an uncertain race,--because they do not propose unto themselves a certain scope to aim at, and whither to direct their whole course. According to men's particular …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Adoption
'As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.' John 1:12. Having spoken of the great points of faith and justification, we come next to adoption. The qualification of the persons is, As many as received him.' Receiving is put for believing, as is clear by the last words, to them that believe in his name.' The specification of the privilege is, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.' The Greek word for power, exousia, signifies …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

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 28:5 NIV
Proverbs 28:5 NLT
Proverbs 28:5 ESV
Proverbs 28:5 NASB
Proverbs 28:5 KJV

Proverbs 28:5 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Proverbs 28:4
Top of Page
Top of Page