“He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.” Proverbs 9:7,8

Overall Theme – Differentiating a Wise Man and a Scorner

• Before considering what the passage says, ask yourself these questions:
  • What are some words you would use to differentiate between a wise man and a scorner?
  • Are you wise or a scorner according to your descriptive words?
• God’s Differentiation
  • Wise man willingly accepts rebuke
  • Wise man loves the person who gives the rebuke
    • Because the rebuker loved enough to run the risk of incurring wrath
    • Because his own foolishness was pointed out to him
    • Because he values wisdom more than his own pride
  • Scorner hates rebuke.
    • He seeks to shame and injure (verbally, mentally, or even physically) the one who brings rebuke
    • He resists anyone who tells him he is wrong
• God’s conclusion – At some point, there is no point in continuing to rebuke the scorner because it simply will not do any good. Read Proverbs 1, especially the last half to see this idea expanded.

With this differentiation defined by God for you, ask yourself the same question we started with: