Pro 10:18 | KingComments | STEP | “Conceal” or cover up “hatred”, hiding the wrong, is hypocritical and bears witness to “lying lips” ( ). He who covers up hatred is a liar, for he hides his true intentions. He acts sweetly, but in his heart hatred burns. Such a person was Absalom in his approach to Amnon ( ). The second line of verse speaks of a possibly even greater evil. That concerns spreading “slander”. Whoever does that breaks someone down among all to whom he tells slander. Whoever does that is a fool. In the first line of verse, something is concealed or covered up or hidden; in the second, something is spread or made public. Someone who talks a lot cannot possibly be one hundred percent truthful in everything he says ( ). Especially true for him is what James says of the words a man speaks: “For we all stumble in many ways” ( ). A fool uses many words ( ). “Transgression” means to cross a line, to trespass. It shows intelligence when we hold back our lips. It is wise not always and certainly not immediately to say everything we think. Every person must be “quick to hear, slow to speak” ( ). “The tongue of the righteous”, meaning what the righteous says, is worth much more than “the heart of the wicked”, meaning his best intentions ( ). The contrast between the two expressions is that between the outward and the inward. The outward is the tongue, or what is said. The inward is the mind of the heart, or what one plans. There should be a healthy balance between these. What the righteous says has the value of “choice silver”, while what the wicked intends has no value at all. The Lord Jesus had a tongue of “choice silver”, for He used His tongue after He had received teaching. As a result, He “how to sustain the weary one with a word” ( ). Silver is a picture of the price to be paid for salvation ( ). The words of the Lord Jesus were for the purpose of redeeming people. The value of the righteous one’s words is that many are fed (spiritually) by them and kept alive by them ( ). To feed means to pasture, as a shepherd does. It is not just about food; it is about caring for the right food. The words are passed on with care. This is especially true of the words of the Lord Jesus. He is the Bread of life. Also the prophets who spoke in His Name fed the people with their words, they gave the good spiritual food ( ). Those words build up. The task of the shepherd and teacher in the church is also to build up the church. The fools lack understanding. They do not want to be fed by the lips of the Righteous One; they despise His words. Thus they reject life and die. Those who reject Him and do not accept His words will be judged by the word He has spoken ( ).

‏ Proverbs 10:18

The Use of the Lips

“Conceal” or cover up “hatred”, hiding the wrong, is hypocritical and bears witness to “lying lips” (Pro 10:18). He who covers up hatred is a liar, for he hides his true intentions. He acts sweetly, but in his heart hatred burns. Such a person was Absalom in his approach to Amnon (2Sam 13:22-29). The second line of verse speaks of a possibly even greater evil. That concerns spreading “slander”. Whoever does that breaks someone down among all to whom he tells slander. Whoever does that is a fool. In the first line of verse, something is concealed or covered up or hidden; in the second, something is spread or made public.

Someone who talks a lot cannot possibly be one hundred percent truthful in everything he says (Pro 10:19). Especially true for him is what James says of the words a man speaks: “For we all stumble in many ways” (Jam 3:2a). A fool uses many words (Ecc 5:2). “Transgression” means to cross a line, to trespass. It shows intelligence when we hold back our lips. It is wise not always and certainly not immediately to say everything we think. Every person must be “quick to hear, slow to speak” (Jam 1:19).

“The tongue of the righteous”, meaning what the righteous says, is worth much more than “the heart of the wicked”, meaning his best intentions (Pro 10:20). The contrast between the two expressions is that between the outward and the inward. The outward is the tongue, or what is said. The inward is the mind of the heart, or what one plans. There should be a healthy balance between these.

What the righteous says has the value of “choice silver”, while what the wicked intends has no value at all. The Lord Jesus had a tongue of “choice silver”, for He used His tongue after He had received teaching. As a result, He “how to sustain the weary one with a word” (Isa 50:4). Silver is a picture of the price to be paid for salvation (Exo 30:11-16). The words of the Lord Jesus were for the purpose of redeeming people.

The value of the righteous one’s words is that many are fed (spiritually) by them and kept alive by them (Pro 10:21). To feed means to pasture, as a shepherd does. It is not just about food; it is about caring for the right food. The words are passed on with care. This is especially true of the words of the Lord Jesus. He is the Bread of life. Also the prophets who spoke in His Name fed the people with their words, they gave the good spiritual food (Jer 3:15). Those words build up. The task of the shepherd and teacher in the church is also to build up the church.

The fools lack understanding. They do not want to be fed by the lips of the Righteous One; they despise His words. Thus they reject life and die. Those who reject Him and do not accept His words will be judged by the word He has spoken (Jn 12:48).