Pro 11:21 | KingComments | STEP | One who is “merciful” to other people will experience the beneficial consequence “himself”, personally ( ). A “merciful man” has love for his neighbor, for those who are related to him or with whom he comes into contact. Such a person is a follower of God, Who is merciful and demonstrates His mercy to people ( ). Rahab showed mercy to the spies and thereby did good to her own soul and also to the souls of those belonging to her father’s house ( ). Similarly, this works for “the cruel man”, but in reverse. One who is without compassion works his own misfortune. Such a person is a cruel one in whom all love for his neighbor is lacking, both in his thoughts and actions. He plunges himself into misfortune. This is what Ahab and Jezebel experienced ( ; ). “The wicked” is engaged in a work that is “deceptive”, that is, in work that produces nothing, that is without results ( ). “He who sows righteousness” (cf. ) fares differently. Such a person leads others to do righteousness in their life, which is a benefit to yet others. What is sown will bear fruit ( ; ). The resulting harvest is here called “true reward”. When righteousness is sown ( ), it is “to life” ( ). By life here is meant life in its deepest and richest form, that is, life in communion with God, eternal life. Doing righteousness and life belong together. Opposed to this is “he who pursues evil”, the pursuit of evil with the effort of all one’s powers in order to do it. This always and inevitably leads to “death”. Just as righteousness and life belong together, so do evil and death, “for the wages of sin is death” ( ). “The perverse in heart” ( ) are those who have a crooked, twisted mind. Their whole spiritual life is affected by evil and permeated with it. They are “an abomination to the LORD” because they devise devious things in their heart and have no regard for God’s will in any way. But “the blameless in [their] walk”, that is, those who are inwardly focused on Him and therefore go His way, “are His delight”. As in , it is about what is “an abomination to the LORD” and in contrast, what is “His delight”. In it is about honest or dishonest business, the practice of life. Here it is about the mind of the heart, whether it is wrong or upright. It is not just about outward behavior, but more importantly about the motives behind it. God watches our ways and also sees what is in our heart ( ). We can be honest, but in doing so we can only have our own interests in mind. Then we are not His delight. “Assuredly”, there will be a day of retribution, you can be sure of that, there can be “hand to hand” on that, as something is confirmed with striking hands ( ). Each one will be placed before the judgment seat of God and will have to answer for his deeds there ( ; ). Then the evildoer will not be able to declare himself ‘innocent’ and go “unpunished” The Judge sees through him completely. But “the descendants of the righteous”, which is all who belong to the generation of the righteous, will escape judgment (cf. ).

‏ Proverbs 11:21

The Results of Righteous or Wicked Conduct

One who is “merciful” to other people will experience the beneficial consequence “himself”, personally (Pro 11:17). A “merciful man” has love for his neighbor, for those who are related to him or with whom he comes into contact. Such a person is a follower of God, Who is merciful and demonstrates His mercy to people (Tit 3:4). Rahab showed mercy to the spies and thereby did good to her own soul and also to the souls of those belonging to her father’s house (Jos 2:12 ; 14).

Similarly, this works for “the cruel man”, but in reverse. One who is without compassion works his own misfortune. Such a person is a cruel one in whom all love for his neighbor is lacking, both in his thoughts and actions. He plunges himself into misfortune. This is what Ahab and Jezebel experienced (1Kgs 22:37-38; 2Kgs 9:36-37).

“The wicked” is engaged in a work that is “deceptive”, that is, in work that produces nothing, that is without results (Pro 11:18). “He who sows righteousness” (cf. Jam 3:18) fares differently. Such a person leads others to do righteousness in their life, which is a benefit to yet others. What is sown will bear fruit (1Cor 9:11; 2Cor 9:6). The resulting harvest is here called “true reward”.

When righteousness is sown (Pro 11:18), it is “to life” (Pro 11:19). By life here is meant life in its deepest and richest form, that is, life in communion with God, eternal life. Doing righteousness and life belong together. Opposed to this is “he who pursues evil”, the pursuit of evil with the effort of all one’s powers in order to do it. This always and inevitably leads to “death”. Just as righteousness and life belong together, so do evil and death, “for the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23).

“The perverse in heart” (Pro 11:20) are those who have a crooked, twisted mind. Their whole spiritual life is affected by evil and permeated with it. They are “an abomination to the LORD” because they devise devious things in their heart and have no regard for God’s will in any way. But “the blameless in [their] walk”, that is, those who are inwardly focused on Him and therefore go His way, “are His delight”.

As in Pro 11:1, it is about what is “an abomination to the LORD” and in contrast, what is “His delight”. In Pro 11:1 it is about honest or dishonest business, the practice of life. Here it is about the mind of the heart, whether it is wrong or upright. It is not just about outward behavior, but more importantly about the motives behind it. God watches our ways and also sees what is in our heart (1Sam 16:7). We can be honest, but in doing so we can only have our own interests in mind. Then we are not His delight.

“Assuredly”, there will be a day of retribution, you can be sure of that, there can be “hand to hand” on that, as something is confirmed with striking hands (Pro 11:21). Each one will be placed before the judgment seat of God and will have to answer for his deeds there (Rom 14:10b-12; 2Cor 5:10). Then the evildoer will not be able to declare himself ‘innocent’ and go “unpunished” The Judge sees through him completely. But “the descendants of the righteous”, which is all who belong to the generation of the righteous, will escape judgment (cf. Jn 5:24).