8, 9. The sacrifice [and] prayer—are acts of worship. way . . . followeth . . . righteousness—denote conduct. God's regard for the worship and deeds of the righteous and wicked respectively, so stated in Psalms 50:17; Isaiah 1:11. read more
8. Further advice for wise living chs. 14-15These proverbs are more difficult to group together under a general heading because there are fewer common ideas that tie them together. read more
1. Grievous] i.e. annoying. ’If one pour in hot water let the other pour in cold.’3. Beholding] RV ’keeping watch upon,’ as watching over a city (Isaiah 52:8), or the prophets over the people (Ezekiel 3:17). 4. Read, ’a soothing tongue.. a wound in the spirit.’7. Doeth not so] RM ’is not steadfast.’8. A costly offering from the one is unacceptable: the mere prayer of the other is accepted (Mark 12:42).11. Hell and destruction] RV ’Sheol and Abaddon.’ The latter means ’place of destruction’: cp.... read more
(8) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.—And their prayers also (Isaiah 1:11). The worthlessness of sacrifice without obedience (comp. 1 Samuel 15:22) may be here especially mentioned, because men are apt to think that what involves cost and trouble must be pleasing to God, even when not accompanied with what alone He cares for, a loving heart.The prayer of the upright is his delight.—Even when offered by itself, without sacrifice. read more
CHAPTER 16A PASSIONATE DISPOSITION"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but a grievous word stirreth up anger." In the LXX there is another clause inserted at the beginning.- Proverbs 15:1"A meek tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit."- Proverbs 15:4"A wrathful man stirreth up contention; but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife."- Proverbs 15:18BAD temper causes more suffering than the modified severity with which we judge it would imply. It is in a... read more
CHAPTER 15 The Better Things One can read through the proverbs recorded in this chapter and ask the question, What are the better things? A soft answer which turneth away wrath is better than grievous words Proverbs 15:1 . The tongue of the righteous which useth knowledge aright is better than the mouth of fools Proverbs 15:2 . Better is the prayer of the upright than the sacrifice of the wicked Proverbs 15:8 ). Better is he that followeth after righteousness than the way of the wicked, for... read more
15:8 The {b} sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright [is] his delight.(b) That thing is abominable before God, which the wicked think to be most excellent, and by which they think most to be accepted. read more
Some regard the division now entered upon as the original nucleus of the whole collection of proverbs (see the first sentence of verse one). The division extends really to the close of chapter 22, and contains “maxims, precepts and admonitions with respect to the most diverse relations of life.” In so much of it as is covered by the present lesson we have a contrast “between the godly and the ungodly, and their respective lots in life.” We have this contrast set before us, first in general... read more
The Soft Answer, Etc. Proverbs 15:1 , Proverbs 15:3 , Pro 15:10 Understand by "a soft answer," not a reply marked by intellectual feebleness, but one inspired by the very spirit of modesty and graciousness. Such an answer cannot be returned as a mere art, because the wrath to which it replies excites natural surprise and indignation, and may be supposed to necessitate a communication in its own key and temper. The soft answer is unique by contrast. It is so unexpected, so unlike the... read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 15:8
Proverbs 15:8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— Melancthon thinks that this is a caution against resting in ceremonious worship, without holiness and moral virtue. See his Treatise concerning the Method of Preaching. read more