Bridges on Proverbs 23:22

Charles Bridges on Proverbs 23:22


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22. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

“We have had fathers of our flesh, and we gave them reverence.” (Hebrews 12:9.) Such is the rule of nature. Such is the law of God.† The wise man here enforces its special application to an aged parent — thy mother when she is old. Then surely love and reverence are doubly due. ‘A thing comely and pleasant to see’ — says Bishop Hall — ‘and worthy of honor from the beholder, is a child understanding the eye of his parent.’† More lovely still is this filial exercise, when the age of the child has naturally loosened the restraints of authority. Respect is then the effect of principle and gratitude. The child no more feels at liberty to despise his parent's wishes, than if he were subject to their early discipline. The Scripture examples are beautiful patterns for our imitation. Isaac with Abraham;† Jacob with both his parents;† Joseph's deference to his aged father, and desiring his blessing on his own children;† Moses with his father-in-law;† Ruth with her mother-in-law;† Solomon in the grandeur of royalty paying respect to his mother;† the Rechabites hearkening to their deceased father's command;† and — above all the rest — the Savior's tender care for his mother in his own dying agonies.†

The contrary conduct is marked with the most awful reprobation.† It forms a part of the dark mass of heathen depravity,† and one of the signs of the “perilous times in the last days.” (2 Timothy 3:1, 2.) The spectacle will ever bring a blot upon the child's name and character. (Chapter 19:26.)

But is not this trial of neglect the Lord's chastening of foolish fondness of our children when young, of our unwise treatment, or inconsistent conduct? Sinful indulgence will always in the end make us despised in their eyes, and lay our authority in the dust for them to trample under foot. Christian dignity and consistency, on the other hand, command respect, even where they fail of producing the full practical results. (Chapter 31:28.) Oh! what need have we of Divine grace and wisdom, honorably to maintain parental responsibility!

Hebrews 12:9

9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Footnote:

Exodus 20:12. Leviticus 19:3. Ephesians 6:1, 2. Compare chapter 1:8; 6:20.

Exodus 20:12

12 ¶ Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Leviticus 19:3

3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

Ephesians 6:1, 2

1 ¶ Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

Compare

Proverbs 1:8

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

Proverbs 6:20

20 ¶ My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

Footnote:

Holy Observations, v.

Footnote:

Genesis 22:9.

Genesis 22:9

9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

Footnote:

Genesis 28:1-5.

Genesis 28:1-5

1 ¶ And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. 3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; {a multitude...: Heb. an assembly of people} 4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. {wherein...: Heb. of thy sojournings} 5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.

Footnote:

Genesis 48:9-14.

Genesis 48:9-14

9 And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. {dim: Heb. heavy} 11 And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed. 12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

Footnote:

Exodus 18:13-24.

Exodus 18:13-24

13 ¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. 14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? 15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: 16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. {one...: Heb. a man and his fellow} 17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. {Thou wilt...: Heb. Fading thou wilt fade} 19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. 23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. 24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

Footnote:

Ruth 2:22, 23.

Ruth 2:22, 23

22 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. {meet...: or, fall upon thee} 23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.

Footnote:

1 Kings 2:19.

1 Kings 2:19

19 Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.

Footnote:

Jeremiah 35:6.

Jeremiah 35:6

6 But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:

Footnote:

John 19:26, 27. Dr. Taylor's ‘godly exhortations to his son,’ as Foxe writes in his exquisite Biography, ‘is worthy of all youth to be marked’ – ‘When thy mother is waxed old, forsake her not; but provide for her to thy power, and see that she lack nothing; for so will God bless thee, give thee long life upon earth, and prosperity, which I pray God to grant thee.’ Vol. vi. 692. Compare Ecclesiasticus 3:8-14.

John 19:26, 27

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Compare

Ecclesiasticus 3:8-14

And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up treasure. Whoso honoureth his father shall have joy of his own children; and when he maketh his prayer, he shall be heard. He that honoureth his father shall have a long life; and he that is obedient unto the Lord shall be a comfort to his mother. He that feareth the Lord will honour his father, and will do service unto his parents, as to his masters. Honour thy father and mother both in word and deed, that a blessing may come upon thee from them. For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children; but the curse of the mother rooteth out foundations. Glory not in the dishonour of thy father; for thy father's dishonour is no glory unto thee. For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father; and a mother in dishonour is a reproach to the children. My son, help thy father in his age, and grieve him not as long as he liveth.

Footnote:

Chapter 20:20; 30:17. Deuteronomy 21:18-21; 27:16. Isaiah 3:5.

Proverbs 20:20

20 ¶ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. {lamp: or, candle}

Proverbs 30:17

17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. {the valley: or, the brook}

Deuteronomy 21:18-21

18 ¶ If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Deuteronomy 27:16

16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Isaiah 3:5

5 And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

Footnote:

Romans 1:30.

Romans 1:30

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

2 Timothy 3:1, 2

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,

Proverbs 19:26

26 ¶ He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

Proverbs 31:28

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.