Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
Everyone has a neighbor. Whether it is the fellow laying alongside the road half-dead from being robbed (Luke 10:25-37) or the person who lives next door, all of us have had a neighbor sometime. So what does it mean to “deride” your neighbor?
In English, the word “deride” carries the connotation of scoffing at someone. Not surprisingly, that is because it comes from the Latin root word, “deridere” which means to ‘scoff at.’ The original Hebrew word is “bûz,” which Strong’s translates as “condemn” or “despise.”
So why would someone deride their neighbor? Perhaps they have done something we don’t like or approve of? Maybe the neighbor has broken your fence, dumped garbage on your property, or failed to return your tree trimmer.
Solomon is not telling us we do not confront them about the situation. We can ask for our tree trimmer back. We can complain about having garbage dumped in our yard. If your neighbor broke your fence, it is fair to ask for compensation or at the very least for him to make repairs.
The difference between confronting a person about a wrong they have done and deriding them is simple. One deals with the wrong behavior, and the other attacks the person. Holding our tongue does not mean we do not say anything. Holding our tongue means we don’t mouth off at them.
Application: Next time you are driving in heavy traffic practice holding your tongue at your “neighbors” traveling with you.
Food for Thought: Did the Pharisees of Jesus’ day follow this proverb? Did Jesus? Explain how Jesus’ confrontations with the Pharisees did or did not conform to this proverb.
When I read todays verse I also thought about how “deriding” your neighbor can mean peaking out the curtain and scoffing at how “they do this or that.” That type of behavior usually will manifest itself later again when talking to that neighbor or other neighbors. In a sense you are planting seeds of discord within yourself and your community.
Did the Pharisees of Jesus’ day follow this proverb? Did Jesus? Explain how Jesus’ confrontations with the Pharisees did or did not conform to this proverb.
Reading in Matthew 12: 1-14 the Pharisees came to Jesus with loaded questions and accusations, Jesus responded to them with scripture and examples of how God values obedience to Him over obedience to the law. In that exchange the Pharisees were definitely trying to deride Jesus by putting Him on the defensive, but Jesus’ response is calm and not personal. Jesus was not trying to put them on the defensive or escalate the situation, but provided answers that were in line with loving God and your neighbor.
Chris,
That is a great example of a “Christ-like” response! Thank you!
I like Chris’s response. There were also times when Jesus challenged the Pharisees out of love for them to get them to understand their need. The most classic example of that was probably Jesus’ interaction with Nicodemus in John 3. He was teaching a teacher of Israel and said some things that a teacher may find hard to hear. But Nicodemus appeared to be very open and so received the rebuke, instruction. Simon the Pharisee was another example. Jesus was not deriding them, but He was warning them of the eternal consequences and the need to repent.
Rich,
Jesus was very factual with the Pharisees. This stands out especially with the most antagonistic ones. At one point Jesus says, “Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.” (John 8:37)
No derision, just facts.
By the way, I think I groaned out loud with the pun in the cartoon 😊.
Mission Accomplished!
Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
05-24-2022, Proverbs 11:12, Did the Pharisees of Jesus’ day follow this proverb? Did Jesus? Explain how Jesus’ confrontations with the Pharisees did or did not conform to this proverb.
1.) Did Pharisees deride Jesus?
Accused Him of using the powers of demons to cast out demons. They came testing Jesus, plotted together to determine how to trap Him, asked Him for a sign or proof, argued with Him and tested Him to trap Him, Grumbled that He ate with sinners, Conspired how they might destroy Him, plotted to put Him to death, arrested Jesus at night, held an illegal trial, had the Roman soldiers beat, abuse and crucify Jesus.
Matthew 9:32-34, 12:38-42, 16:1-4, 22:15-22, Mark 8:11-12, Luke 15:1-2, Mark 3:6, John 11:47-53, John 18:3-12, Matthew 26:57-27:31,
Matthew 27:32-56.
2.) How did Jesus’ confrontations with the Pharisees deride or not deride them?
These were men who claimed to represent our one true righteous God to His people. They were seated in Moses’ seat, and were called to be His obedient servants teaching truth. Their positions called for them to live with pure hearts, teach righteousness, as recorded in the written word of God by their words and actions. Jesus was speaking the truth regarding these men as He told the Pharisees they were “hypocrites,” “blind guides,” “blind fools,” “snakes” and “a brood of vipers” Matthew 23:1-19, 23, 26, 27, 29, 33, Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-47. Jesus made it very clear, these men did not accurately reflect the words of God.
At the same time, Jesus stressed their position must be recognized as He told the people, “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do” Matthew 23:3.
James 3:1, Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. As I have often heard, If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Ron,
Thank you for the great reverence verses. Your research raises a question in my mind.
The definition of “deride” and “scoff” suggests that there is an intent to mock or ridicule the object of the derision. I understand that to mean putting someone down, or publicly shaming them.
In the examples of Jesus’ names for the Pharisees that you list, I wonder if the mocking element is present or missing? It is hard to tell. In one sense of looking at his words I see no derision, but rather a harsh illustration of a truth.
If you have more thoughts on this I would be interested.
Derision: : the use of ridicule or scorn to show contempt
: a state of being derided
: an object of ridicule or scorn
: a state of being laughed at or ridiculed
Actions or statements showing that you think someone or something is ridiculous or of no value.
These men are standing before God who sees their hearts, their every thought and intention for His eventual physical death, so they could continue their ungodly lives falsely representing God.
As God, Jesus was clearly speaking the truth regarding these men who had no value. Men who were in truth the exact beings He revealed and were being judged accordingly.
Jesus is God:
1.) He forgave sin, something only God could do Mark 2:5
Jesus had power to raise the dead John 5:25-29, Matthew 9:18-26
He claimed to be honored as God John 5:18, 23 as well as to be equal with the Father John 10:30
2.) John 8:58 states, “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. This “I Am” reference is made in connection with Exodus 3:14 where God revealed His name to Moses as “I Am.” Jesus’ statement, then, is a biblical claim for the deity of Christ.
3.) His claim to be judge of all humanity John 5:27
His claim to be the Good Shepherd John 10:11
His claim to be the Bridegroom Matthew 25:1; Isaiah 62:5
His claim to be the light of the world John 8:12; Psalm 27:1
4.) Lord Psalm 110:1 and Matthew 22:43-44
Ancient of Days Daniel 7:9 and Mark 14:61-64
As Messiah the John 4:26
5.) Jesus accepted worship as God. Though the Old Testament commanded not to worship anyone but God alone, Jesus accepted worship on many occasions. Some of these included the healed leper who worshipped Him Matthew 8:2
The ruler who knelt before Jesus after his son had been healed Matthew 9:18
The Canaanite woman Matthew 15:25,
The mother of James and John Matthew 20:20
A demon-possessed man Mark 5:6
The disciples even prayed in His name John 14:6; 15:7
6.) Jesus’ followers recognized Jesus as God and called Him God on John 20:28
They referred to Jesus by other names used only of deity, such as Savior of the world John 4:42
They prayed to or worshiped Jesus as part of the Godhead Matthew 28:19
John taught He was with God in the beginning as “the word” and that “the word was God” John 1:1
7.) As He cleansed the Temple near the time of the Jewish Passover, He scattered the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” John 2:13-16
I know that’s a lot being said, but Jesus is God and His words were facts being expressed by God. Anyway that is where I was coming from.
Derision: : the use of ridicule OR scorn to show contempt
: a state of being derided
: an object of ridicule OR scorn
: a state of being laughed at OR ridiculed
Actions or statements showing that you think someone or something is ridiculous OR of no value.
These men are standing before God who sees their hearts, their every thought and intention for His eventual physical death, so they could continue their ungodly lives falsely representing God.
As God, Jesus was clearly speaking the truth regarding these men who actions had no value. Men who were in truth the exact beings He revealed and were being judged accordingly.
John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 2:13-16, As He cleansed the Temple near the time of the Jewish Passover, He scattered the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! STOP TURNING MY FATHER’S HOUSE INTO A MARKET.