Do not envy the violent
or choose any of their ways.
Summary: Understanding the meaning of words is as important as the context. Digging into the meaning of the word “violent” helps us understand what Solomon is telling us here.
This is a challenging passage.
“Why?” you ask?
I’m glad you asked! Let’s look closer.
What does it mean to be “violent”? Are we talking about football players or something more sinister?
The word “violent” in this passage is translated from the Hebrew “hamas.” (Yes, I found that interesting, too.) The word suggests cruelty, unrighteousness, and wrongdoing. So we are not talking about a football player (unless he intentionally hurts an opponent).
This is another one of those areas of life where only God and the person involved will ever know what was intended.
Imagine a situation where one person kills another. Is killing “violence” in the sense that this passage is referring to? If the person who did the killing intended to kill, it would likely qualify as a malicious murder. But what if they did not intend to kill or even hurt the other person?
Suppose the person had been killed in the act of endangering a small child? What if they entered a home with the intent of murdering the occupants and stealing what was valuable? Perhaps a person tries to steal a woman’s purse and ends up being tackled by a bystander. In falling to the ground, he cracks his head on the curb and dies.
The Hebrew word used does not refer to those who are engaging in combat for a noble purpose. The violence Solomon had in mind is the kind where someone enjoys hurting another person. But if this is a matter of the heart, how are we to envy them or avoid their “ways”?
Ah yes, we are back to the reason Solomon wrote these proverbs in the first place. If we seek wisdom and understanding, Solomon tells us we will “find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:5). It is this knowledge that allows us to discern the difference between the violent and the peacemaker.
The ways of the wicked are the same as the ways of the violent:
…men whose words are perverse,
who have left the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways. (Proverbs 2: 12b-15)
Application: Avoiding the violent requires that we recognize their ways.
Food for Thought: How did the Pharisees in Jesus’ day stack up against today’s passage?
This was a tough question this morning. I ended up reading a lot, a lot about the Pharisees and in the end I have to ask myself “where I have been my whole life” that I never read these passages from the Bible? (Luke 11:37–54 and Matthew 23:1–39) I also read a lot about what Jesus said in regards to violence, and found that he repeatedly offered solutions to common situations that offer a non-violent response while saving the offended person from humiliation or subjugation by/to the offender. Jesus also instructed us on how to live a life that does not invite violence, but instead invites peace and love. [Be Merciful (Luke 6:31 & 36, & Matthew 5:7), Forgiveness (Luke6: 37), Seek Goodness (Luke 6:45), Respect Others (Luke 14:11), Be Kind (Luke 6:31)]
Jesus really told the Pharisees where their attitudes, lifestyles and actions directly went against God’s Word. I would think this really made them angry. After reading Luke 11:37–54 and Matthew 23:1–39 I can see why the Pharisees were so enthusiastic about “getting rid of” Jesus. But that is where today’s question comes in (How did the Pharisees in Jesus’ day stack up against today’s passage?): the Pharisees chose the way of violence. They couldn’t silence Jesus with their words, so so they looked to the Romans to do it for them. The Roman’s were merciless, and the Pharisees wanted that kind of merciless action to deal with Jesus. They envied it, and they chose it.
I meant subjugation not sublimation in line 7 of my response.
Fixed! – je
Chris,
I deeply appreciate you taking time to wrestle with this question today. It sounds like your deep dive into the Word was very rewarding. Thank you for sharing what you have discovered!
Reading today’s blog started to get me excited at first. My old self kinda came to life hearing its native language, Violence. Violence may not be the best option…. but it is still an option!
“Avoiding the violent requires that we recognize their ways.”
I believe that the pharisees weren’t the only ones that would walk in dark ways and delighted in doing wrong. Even today it is a struggle for myself to let things go. I am no longer the violent man I use to be. I’m thankful for that, and theres a few people still walking that don’t know how much Jesus has done for them. I appreciate everyone’s comments and this blog from keeping me from leaving the straight paths. Thank you all for being a great reflection I guess I need to do the same no matter how much of my pride I need to swallow.
Brother Tim,
You are defined by Christ’s love for you and his power to redefine who you are through spiritual rebirth, his Word, and the presence of his Holy Spirit.
When I read your words today, I think of the Apostle, Paul. He was a violent man, too, before Jesus sat him down and talked with him.
I am blessed to know you, brother. You encourage me because God’s light shines bright through you.
T – I appreciate your words brother. I know you have a past (we all do), but your present reflects the love and service of Christ. Just trying to encourage you with some truth.
As for the Pharisees, I liked Chris’s response. They had a premeditated plan to murder Jesus. John 5: 18; John 7: 19; John 7: 25; John 8: 59; John 10: 32 – 33. It appears this was their custom for their enemies. Their violence went after God Himself. And they used the bloody and corrupt Roman system as their assassin.
Rich,
You make a great point. They were not just being violent against their fellow men, but against God. Not that they were not capable of violence against men. They plotted to kill Lazarus, too (John 12:10).
02-17-2022, Proverbs 3:31, How did the Pharisees in Jesus’ day stack up against today’s passage?
Jesus expressed anger toward both the Pharisees and the Sadducees, because they misrepresented God to advance themselves.
An intentional act of violence toward God as they sought to destroy His truths and replace them with their lies.
The Pharisees added to the Scriptures with their traditions, and the Sadducees took away from them by excluding large portions of God’s Word. Their teachings obscured the grace and goodness of God from people that needed to know him. They misled the people and sought to destroy the work God was doing in their lives.
One of Jesus’ strongest rebukes of the religious leaders, collectively called “the Jews” in John’s gospel.
“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”
John 5:39-40
Both groups denied themselves eternal salvation as they rejected Jesus as Messiah and conspired to kill Him. The Pharisees because He challenged their elevating and teaching mans rules as being equal to God’s law, and the Sadducees because He challenged their authority to increase their standing by taking away from God’s Laws.
Thank you, Ron.
You remind me of one of those “invisible” characteristics of Jesus – his divinity. Unlike you and me, he knows what is in men’s hearts. He knows now and he knew then. There were no mysteries that Jesus did not know the answer to.
Great stuff Jeff!
It’s interesting how these people responded in violent ways to God’s written word first, then His Son, the Incarnate Word of God, Jesus, then to this day the body of Christ on earth, His Church.
John 1:14, Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:21-23; Ephesians 4:15
God has a great love for all mankind to put up with this monkey business for so long.
Blessings Brother!
Ron
How did the Pharisees in Jesus’ day stack up against today’s passage?
For the most part, pre-Jesus I’d say they did good with this verse. (Although we know how mostly good works with the law) When they got physical, it was because of Jesus’ claims of being equal with God. Since they didn’t believe Him, it is actually the correct action to take according to the law.
The part that is malicious is when they are tired of dealing with Him and SET HIM UP to be crucified. They arrest Him with a BRIBE. It is by FALSE witnesses that they accuse Him. It is the religious leaders who got the crowd to NOT release Jesus as the one person pardoned.
Matthew 26:3-4, 26:47-48, 26:59, 27:20
Although, after Jesus’ resurrection, the religious leaders remained pretty violent. I mean, look at Saul. He was approved by his higher ups and he was violent until Jesus blinded him and then he became Paul, the wise man of God we trust. And other Pharisees after Jesus seem to have varying reactions. Some come to faith, and others just become more violent (along with the Sadducees).
I again forgot to send this when I actually wrote it….. Blessings…. It looks like I have some passages to look up that y’all shared.
I guess the hard part with this question is that violence is both intention and action. There are plenty of times where they are not physically violent but are at the very least not well intentioned (wicked and/or arrogant). There are plenty of times they are well intentioned but do the wrong thing out of tradition. And some are just in it for status and money.
Jesus’ coming forced them to choose. Choose peace, forgiveness, and love, or choose anger, hatred, and rules. No more in between.
A —
“violence is both intention and action”
Well said!
Yes, the human heart is inclined toward evil (Genesis 6:5).
And yes, Jesus forces us to choose…