Pro 19:27 | KingComments | STEP | It seems in to be about a situation where the father and mother are dependent on the son and that this son abuses the situation to his own advantage. A sharp judgment is passed on this. It should deter children from misbehaving in this way toward their elderly parents. This goes beyond mere disobedience to parents. Disobedience is bad enough in itself. It is a violation of the commandment to honor father and mother ( ). But here it is the abandonment of the natural love a child should have for his parents. He is going against the most basic laws of nature. The son described here not only fails to do what is commanded, but he treats his parents with contempt. God lets the Levites say of this: “Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother!” ( ). This son not only disobeys his parents, but exploits them. This is increasingly common in an increasingly cold social climate. It was, as evidenced by what Solomon says here, already happening then, and it is very current today. Children are verbally or physically abusing their parents in an increasing number of cases with the intention of enriching themselves rather than caring for them (cf. ). A Dutch newspaper headline reported: ‘Exploitation of elderly by own children – underestimated form of elder abuse’ (Reformed Newspaper, 15-06-2015). A son can steal from his father. He can make life so unbearable for his mother that she leaves home. He makes ashamed because he acts disgracefully. It is a special bitterness for parents when a son acts this way. This is how Israel behaved toward God ( ). There is a certain irony in the proverb of . What the father says to his son is not an advice not to listen. The father only wants to make it clear that there is no point for his son to listen to his instruction if he is not willing to act accordingly anyway. Let his son stop listening to the instruction if he intends to stray “from the words of knowledge” anyway. The discipline consists of words of knowledge, which are words with the knowledge of God’s will for his life. By listening to these and obeying them, the son will walk the right path. The way the father approaches his son here confronts the son with his responsibility. Does he want to take a different path than the one presented to him in the words of knowledge? Then let him stop listening to discipline. Hopefully, this approach will lead the son to listen carefully and not stray.

‏ Proverbs 19:27

A Son Who Acts Shamefully

It seems in Pro 19:26 to be about a situation where the father and mother are dependent on the son and that this son abuses the situation to his own advantage. A sharp judgment is passed on this. It should deter children from misbehaving in this way toward their elderly parents.

This goes beyond mere disobedience to parents. Disobedience is bad enough in itself. It is a violation of the commandment to honor father and mother (Exo 20:12). But here it is the abandonment of the natural love a child should have for his parents. He is going against the most basic laws of nature. The son described here not only fails to do what is commanded, but he treats his parents with contempt. God lets the Levites say of this: “Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother!” (Deu 27:16). This son not only disobeys his parents, but exploits them.

This is increasingly common in an increasingly cold social climate. It was, as evidenced by what Solomon says here, already happening then, and it is very current today. Children are verbally or physically abusing their parents in an increasing number of cases with the intention of enriching themselves rather than caring for them (cf. Mt 15:4-7). A Dutch newspaper headline reported: ‘Exploitation of elderly by own children – underestimated form of elder abuse’ (Reformed Newspaper, 15-06-2015).

A son can steal from his father. He can make life so unbearable for his mother that she leaves home. He makes ashamed because he acts disgracefully. It is a special bitterness for parents when a son acts this way. This is how Israel behaved toward God (Isa 1:2-3).

There is a certain irony in the proverb of Pro 19:27. What the father says to his son is not an advice not to listen. The father only wants to make it clear that there is no point for his son to listen to his instruction if he is not willing to act accordingly anyway. Let his son stop listening to the instruction if he intends to stray “from the words of knowledge” anyway.

The discipline consists of words of knowledge, which are words with the knowledge of God’s will for his life. By listening to these and obeying them, the son will walk the right path. The way the father approaches his son here confronts the son with his responsibility. Does he want to take a different path than the one presented to him in the words of knowledge? Then let him stop listening to discipline. Hopefully, this approach will lead the son to listen carefully and not stray.