Bridges on Proverbs 17:23
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 17:23
 
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23.  A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
 
Again we are warned of the corruption of gifts. (Verse 8.) No sin has a deeper stamp of wickedness; none a more awful mark of Divine visitation. (Isaiah 1:23, 24. Ezekiel 22:13.) The temptation is the test of principle. Sir M. Hale (as his Biographer writes) ‘had learned from Solomon, that a gift perverteth the ways of judgment.’† He always therefore rejected it with courteous integrity. Not even a good cause will justify the evil practice. The Apostle, though restrained in bondage from his great and blessed work, would not gratify his covetous judge by purchasing his release. (Acts 24:26.) The rules of the gospel are clear and decisive. Let us not “do evil, that good may come. Let not your good be evil spoken of. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (Romans 3:8; 14:16. 1 Thessalonians 5:22.)
Even a corrupt world is ashamed of this sin. The gift is in the bosom (Chapter 21:14), concealed from the eye of man. But how fearfully uncovered is it to the eye of God, who will not wink at the endeavor to pervert his ways of judgment! How will he one day ‘vindicate his Omniscience from all the insults put upon it in the world by those foolish men, who were not ashamed to do those things in the face of God himself, in which they would not have wished the meanest of his creatures to detect them!’†
Let every child of Abraham hear the command given to his father — “Walk before me, and be thou perfect.” (Genesis 17:1.) “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly — he that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes — he shall dwell on high.” (Isaiah 33:15, 16. Psalm 15.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 17:8
8 ¶ A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. {a precious...: Heb. a stone of grace}
 
 
Isaiah 1:23, 24
23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. 24 Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
 
Ezekiel 22:13
13 Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.
 
 
Footnote:
Bishop Burnet's Life. What a degrading contrast did Lord Bacon's character display!
 
 
Acts 24:26
26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
 
 
Romans 3:8
8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
 
Romans 14:16
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
 
1 Thessalonians 5:22
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
 
 
Proverbs 21:14
14 ¶ A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
 
 
Footnote:
Lawson in loco.
 
 
Genesis 17:1
1 ¶ And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. {perfect: or, upright, or, sincere}
 
 
Isaiah 33:15, 16
15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; {righteously: Heb. in righteousnesses} {uprightly: Heb. uprightnesses} {oppressions: or, deceits} {blood: Heb. bloods} 16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. {high: Heb. heights, or, high places}
 
Psalm 15.
1 ¶ [A Psalm of David.] LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? {abide: Heb. sojourn} 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. {taketh...: or, receiveth, or, endureth} 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.