Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
and spreads slander is a fool.
Summary: Today’s passage is like a puzzle box. There are several parts that make it interesting. With a few deft strokes of the pen, Solomon paints another portrait of the fool in a new pose.
The opposite of being wise is to be a fool. Solomon is teaching us about wisdom with his proverbs. Sometimes the best way to show what something is, is to point to what it isn’t. So let’s review what we have learned so far.
- The wise are hungry for instruction, but fools despise being told what to do. (Proverbs 1:7)
- Fools hate knowledge! (Proverbs 1: 22)
- Fools are complacent. (Proverbs 1: 32)
- Fools are not honored and instead end up in shame. (Proverbs 3: 35)
- Fools bring grief to their parents. (Proverbs 10:1)
- A chattering fool comes to ruin. (Proverbs 10: 8, 10 – repeated twice!)
- The mouth of the fool invites ruin. (Proverbs 10: 14)
Are you getting the picture? Fools have a bad attitude toward learning, they like to run their mouth, and in the end, they come to no good.
Fortunately, being a fool does not have to be a permanent condition. We can learn from our mistakes and from Solomon’s wisdom. In fact, doing something foolish is like sampling a bit of questionable food. If it tastes bad, we don’t want to eat it anymore. If doing something foolish leads to shame and embarrassment, we can avoid more of the same by turning to wisdom.
Today’s passage adds a proverb that touches on three things: concealing hatred, lying about our feelings, and spreading slander.
Proverbs 6: 16 tells us about “six things the Lord hates.” If God hates certain things, we should probably hate them, too, so today’s proverb is not an admonition against hate. However, God does not hide his feelings from us. If he hates a lying tongue (Proverbs 6: 17) he tells us about it. A fool doesn’t only conceal his hatred, something that can be a wise course of action, but he lies about his feelings. Then he does something that takes this situation over the top. He slanders the object of his hatred.
There will always be things we hate about what others do. The fool conceals his hate by lying to the person he hates and then badmouthing him behind his back.
As I read this, I have to wonder, do I do the same thing? Have I ever been afraid to confront someone about their behavior and instead complained to others behind their back? I want to say, “No, I’ve never done that!” but the truth is, I probably have. Of course, Jesus has something to say about that:
“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” (Matthew 5: 22)
I think I’ll tread lightly in this area from now on.
Application: It is okay to conceal our opinions about other, but not okay to lie about our feelings and then slander the people we disagree with.
Food for Thought: What does it mean to hate something and when is hatred a good thing?
As I meditate on this question I thought about whether it is right to hate. Looking in Scripture I can see that God does express that emotion toward sin.
Psalm 11:5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
To hate something means just being around creates an abhorrence to it. You cannot stand to even be near it or think about it. Following Gods example, the only thing we should hate is sin and the separation that sin brings. We should feel compassion for the sinner, but hate the sin. This means for ourselves too.
1 John 4:20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
Romans 5:8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Chris,
Your definition of hate is a good one. Thank you! It is a bit like the word agapé. God’s love is not based on emotional attraction, but on a larger concern for the wellbeing of others. In a similar way, “hate” is not an emotion as much as it is the kind of repulsion to evil that you describe.
Chris got to what I was thinking. Our goal is to be right in God’s eyes. God is the definer of what is right or wrong, good or bad, loved or hated. We listen to His command and watch His example of what love is and what we should apply love to, so then we should also listen and watch Him in regards to hate as well.
Thank you, A —
We can’t go wrong if we keep our eyes on Jesus and do what he tells us to do. 🙂
Since God hates sin and it is an abomination to Him, it is not only ok to hate sin, it is good to hate sin. The best place to start hating sin is in our own lives. Psalm 5: 5 – 7 is a glimpse of how God hates sin but His love allows us into His presence – that love ultimately expressed at the cross. Psalm 36: 1 – 4 teaches us to hate our own sin.
Rich,
Thank you! Great verses! The “hating our own sin” part is difficult and a bit painful, but ultimately it draws us closer to our Lord.
04-28-2022, Proverbs 10:18, What does it mean to hate something and when is hatred a good thing?
Hate is defined as, to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest.
God gives us a whole list of things to hate and tells us to hate what is evil. So hate is appropriate when we direct it toward that which is in direct opposition to God. Let the Spirit leads us.
Proverbs 6:16-19, Psalm 97:10, Romans 12:9
God also tell us, Do not love the world system or its temporary treasures. All that is in this world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, are not from the Father. We know we are children of God and the entire world is under control of the evil one. We live in it but not as part of it.
1 John 2:15-16, 1 John 5:19
As He gave eternal life to sinners, Jesus also rebuked the false teachers, rebuked satan and cast demons out of people, cleansed the Temple, His Father house, so there is a time to confront those who spread evil.
Luke 16:14-16, Luke 4:34-36, Matthew 4:10, 8:32, John 2:13-23
Jesus asked the Father to not take believers out of this world, but to sanctify us, set us aside for a special purpose. This special purpose is to allow Him to minister to the lost of this world through each of us. As we read the four gospels, we read words, but as we allow the Spirit to lead us, we will see Jesus in action, see Him as He ministers to the poor, the blind, lame, diseased people around Him. Those considered worthless to the world. We see His great patience with others. We see His compassion and love for others as He weeps with the sister of Lazarus before He raised Him from the dead. Wept over the Jerusalem in anguish over the future of the city. And can feel His great love for all mankind as He gave His life so that we might live.
John 17:15-21, 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Peter 2:9, Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 4:4, John 11:35, Luke 19:41, John 3:16
The question we should ask ourselves is: Do I hate evil and the eternal consequences for mankind enough to allow Jesus to take control of my heart, my life, and live according to His will toward others as He ministers through me to save the unsaved?
Ron,
You present us with an interesting picture. Our Lord hates sin’s corrosive effect on his creation so much that he was driven to an act of love much greater than the sin.
Amazing!
Calls out to imperfect beings to submit and participate in fulfilling His perfect will!