Bridges on Proverbs 22:10
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 22:10
 
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10.  Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
 
This is a word to rulers. The scorner is a firebrand of contention in the church. (3 John 10.) He must be restrained. If restraint be ineffectual, he must, if possible, be cast out. If “his seat” be allowed in the family, strife and reproach must be the issue. A jeer or biting taunt is more provoking than a blow. If therefore “peace is to the house,” and “the love of peace is to abide there,” — cast out the scorner, and the contention will cease. He must not be argued with. We must keep no terms with him. We must meet him with bold and open rebuke, lest his influence should overthrow the faith of the simple. If God “scorneth the scorner,” what less can we do, than banish him from our society? Yet if we cast him out, cast him not off. Pray for him. Remember “such were some of you.” (1 Corinthians 6:11.) While we abhor the sin, pity the sinner.
But what if we should not be able to cast him out? He may be a husband or a child. At least give a protest. Shew that you stand not on the same ground. Turn away from his scorning. This will mortify, if not silence. Turn from him to your God. This will bring peace. Dwell with him sighing, as David in Mesech. One greater than David teaches us by his example. Honor your Divine Master by “enduring,” as he did, year after year, “the contradiction of sinners.” (Hebrews 12:3.) And who knoweth, but this meek and silent endurance, with a loving, bleeding heart, may have power to cast out the scorning, and to mold the scorner into the lowliness of the cross? Then who would be a more welcome member of the church or of the family? Strife and reproach would cease in both, should the persecutor of the faith become a monument of grace (1 Timothy 1:13-16), a shining witness to the truth. (Galatians 1:23, 24.)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 John 10.
10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
 
 
Footnote:
2 Timothy 3:8, 9.
 

 
2 Timothy 3:8, 9
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. {reprobate: or, of no judgment} 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Timothy 1:20. Titus 3:10, 11.
 

 
1 Timothy 1:20
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
 
Titus 3:10, 11
10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 1:1.
 

 
Psalm 1:1.
1 ¶ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. {ungodly: or, wicked}
 
 
Footnote:
Luke 10:5, 6.
 

 
Luke 10:5, 6.
5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 21:9, 10. Compare chapter 15:18; 16:28.
 

 
Genesis 21:9, 10
9 ¶ And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. 10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
 
Compare
Proverbs 15:18
18 ¶ A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
 
Proverbs 16:28
28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. {soweth: Heb. sendeth forth}
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 26:4. 2 Kings 18:36.
 

 
Proverbs 26:4
4 ¶ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
 
2 Kings 18:36
36 But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
 
 
Footnote:
2 Timothy 3:1-7.
 

 
2 Timothy 3:1-7
1 ¶ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, {false...: or, one who foments strife} 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 3:34.
 

 
Proverbs 3:34
34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 119:115. Compare Nehemiah 13:28.
 

 
Psalm 119:115
115 ¶ Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
 
Compare
Nehemiah 13:28
28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.
 
 
1 Corinthians 6:11
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 35:21-24; 69:11-13.
 

 
Psalm 35:21-24
21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. 22 This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. 23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. 24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
 
Psalm 69:11-13
11 I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them. 12 They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards. {drunkards: Heb. drinkers of strong drink} 13 ¶ But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
 
 
Footnote:
Ib. 120:5-7.
 

 
Psalm 120:5-7
5 ¶ Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! 6 My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. 7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war. {for peace: or, a man of peace}
 
 
Hebrews 12:3
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
 
 
1 Timothy 1:13-16
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
 
 
Galatians 1:23, 24
23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 24 And they glorified God in me.