Bridges on Proverbs 23:6-8
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 23:6-8
 
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6.  Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7.  For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. 8.  The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
 
Kindly intercourse with our neighbors is a part of the courtesies of life. Yet we ought not to entertain the invitation of a niggardly man, who grudges the very food we eat, or of a deceitful man, whose friendship is a cloak for selfish purposes. The evil eye will peep through the covers of his dainty meats, and betray him, in spite of his effort for concealment. We judge him not by his words; for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. And while he saith, Eat and drink, it is but too plain, that his heart is not with us. (Luke 11:37.) “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,” than his dainty meats. “A poor man is far better than such a liar.” Every morsel at his table is loathsome; and gladly would we retract, and lose the sweet words, with which we had unworthily complimented our host.
No such danger attaches to the invitations of the Gospel. There is no evil eye, no grudging — “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.” (Isaiah 55:1.) The table is set. The herald is sent to make the proclamation. (Compare chapter 9:2, 3.) Hunger is the only qualification. While he saith — “Eat, O friends; yea, drink abundantly, O beloved” (Song of Solomon 5:1), his whole heart is with us. There are no repentings, no disappointments here. Every taste increases the appetite for more. And the prospect is near at hand, when we “shall be abundantly” and eternally “satisfied with the fatness of his house.” (Psalm 36:8; 16:11.)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
1 Corinthians 5:10, 11; 10:27.
 

 
1 Corinthians 5:10, 11
10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
 
1 Corinthians 10:27
27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
 
 
Luke 11:37
37 ¶ And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 15:17; 19:22.
 

 
Proverbs 15:17
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
 
Proverbs 19:22
22 ¶ The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
 
 
Footnote:
2 Samuel 11:13; 13:26-28.
 

 
2 Samuel 11:13
13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
 
2 Samuel 13:26-28
26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? 27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant. {have...: or, will you not, since I have commanded you?} {valiant: Heb. sons of valour}
 
 
Isaiah 55:1
1 ¶ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
 
 
Proverbs 9:2, 3
2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. {her beasts: Heb. her killing} 3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
 
 
Song of Solomon 5:1
1 ¶ I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. {yea...: or, and be drunken with loves}
 
 
Psalm 36:8
8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. {abundantly...: Heb. watered}
 
Psalm 16:11
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.