Bridges on Proverbs 11:12
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 11:12
 
 1 
 2 
 3-7 
 8 
 9 
 10-11 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 15 
 16 
 17 
 18-19 
 20-21 
 22 
 23 
 24-25 
 26 
 27 
 28 
 29 
 30 
 31 
 
12. He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. {void...: Heb. destitute of heart}
 
Pride and uncharitableness show a man to be void of wisdom; ignorant alike of himself, his neighbour, and his God. For could he delight in magnifying “the mote in his neighbour's eye,” had he wisdom to “consider the beam that is in his own eye”? (Matthew 7:3-5.) Could he despise his neighbour, did he really know him to be his own flesh (Isaiah 58:7. Malachi 2:10. Acts 17:26); perhaps even “a member of the body, and of the flesh, and of the bones of his Lord”? (Ephesians 5:30.) Could he look down upon him in the plenitude of pride, did he realize the consciousness, that, if he differs, it is God — not himself, “that hath made him to differ”? (1 Corinthians 4:7.) Surely this blindness is to be void of wisdom, and destitute of heart. ‘It denotes the want of a right state of mind, judgment, and affections. Such a man is without heart to what is wise and good.’†
A man of understanding may see much in his neighbour to excite his pity, and stir up his prayers, but nothing to despise. He may be called openly to condemn him. But his general course will be loving forbearance; holding his peace; ‘keeping himself from speaking or doing anything in scorn of another;’† “considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1.) Self-knowledge shows the man of understanding, and forms the man of love.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Matthew 7:3-5
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isaiah 58:7
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? {cast...: or, afflicted}
 
Malachi 2:10
10 ¶ Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
 
Acts 17:26
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ephesians 5:30
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Corinthians 4:7
7 ¶ For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? {maketh...: Gr. distinguisheth thee}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Scott in loco — Compare chapter 14:21. John 7:47-49.
 
 
Proverbs 14:21
21 ¶ He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
 
John 7:47-49
47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? 49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Diodati.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Galatians 6:1.
1 ¶ Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. {if: or, although}