Proverbs 28:24

Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(24) It is no transgression.—Because all would in time come to him.

The companion of a destroyer.—Comp. Proverbs 18:9. Though the deed may be done secretly, yet he is no better than one who by open violence and wrong assails his neighbour.

Benson Commentary

Proverbs 28:24. Whose robbeth his father or his mother — Who openly or secretly, by force, fraud, or deceit, by arts or threats, or by negligent or wilful wasting, deprives them of their property, or runs in debt and leaves them to pay it; and saith — In his heart; It is no transgression — Supposing that he hath a right to his parents’ goods; the same is the companion of a destroyer — Not only shows that he associates with spendthrifts, who will lead him to his ruin, but is wicked enough to be a highwayman, and murderer of others, for the satisfaction of his own lusts: he is indeed a thief and a robber, because he hath no right to the actual possession of his parents’ goods before their death, or without their consent.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

28:24. Here is the wickedness of those who think it no sin to rob their parents, by wheedling them or threatening them, or by wasting what they have, and running into debt. 25. Those make themselves always easy, that live in continual dependence upon God and his grace, and live by faith. 26. A fool trusts to his own strength, merit, and righteousness. And trusts to his own heart, which is not only deceitful above all things, but which has often deceived him. 27. A selfish man not only will not look out for objects of compassion, but will look off from those that call for his attention. 28. When power is put into the hands of the wicked, wise men decline public business. If the reader will go diligently over this and the other chapters, in many places where at first he may suppose there is least of Christ, still he will find what will lead to him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Is the companion of a destroyer - i. e., he stands on the same footing as the open, lawless robber. Compare this with our Lord's teaching as to Corban Mark 7:10-13.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

24. (Compare Mt 15:4-6). Such, though heirs, are virtually thieves, to be ranked with highwaymen.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Saith in his heart, supposing that he hath a right to his father’s goods.

Is the companion of a destroyer; either,

1. He hereby showeth that he is fallen into such wicked society, from whom he hath such counsel or example. Or,

2. He is no less guilty than a thief who robs and destroys men upon the highway; he is a thief and robber, because he hath no right to the actual possession of his father’s goods before his death, or without his consent.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Whoso robbeth his father or his mother,.... As Micah did of eleven hundred shekels of silver, Judges 17:2;

and saith, it is no transgression; what is his father's or his mother's is his own, or as good as his own, it will come to him at their death; and if he wants it before, he thinks he ought to have it; and if they are not willing to give it him, it is with him no sin to rob them of it; and this he says within himself, to quiet his conscience when he has done it; or to others who may charge him with it: but, whatever such a man thinks, sins against parents are greater than against others; as parricide is a greater sin than any other kind of murder, so robbing of parents is greater than any other kind of theft; it is more aggravated, especially when parents are aged, and cannot work for themselves, but depend on what they have for their livelihood; whereas a young man can, and ought, and should rather give to his parents than rob them of what they have;

the same is the companion of a destroyer; of a murderer; either he has got into such company which have put him upon such wicked practices; or he will soon get into such a society, and, from a robber of his father and mother, become a robber on the highway, and a murderer; and he has wickedness enough to be a destroyer of the lives of his parents, as well as of their substance; and sometimes the one sin leads to the other.

Geneva Study Bible

Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

24. a destroyer] “That is the deliberate villain who is prepared for any crime. Comp. Matthew 15:4; Matthew 15:6.” Rel. Tr. Soc. Comm. Comp. Proverbs 18:9.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 24. - Whoso robbeth his father or his mother (comp. Proverbs 19:26); taking from them what belongs to them. Septuagint, "He who casts off (ἀποβάλλεται) father or mother." And saith, It is no transgression. He salves his conscience by thinking all would be his ere long in the course of nature; or he uses the plea of Corban denounced by our Lord (Mark 7:11, etc.). The same is the companion of a destroyer (Proverbs 18:9); is no better than, stands in the position of, one who practises openly against his neighbour's life and property. He is a thief, and fails in the simplest duty. Vulgate, particeps homicidae est. There may be an allusion to the guilt incurred by a witness in concealing his knowledge of a crime, which is denounced in Leviticus 5:1 (comp. Judges 17:2). Proverbs 28:24

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

24 He who robbeth his father and mother, and saith:

     It is no wrong, Is a companion of the destroyer.

The second line is related to Proverbs 18:9. Instead of dominus perditionis there found, there is here אישׁ משׁחית, vir perdens (perditor); the word thus denotes a man who destroys, not from revenge, but from lust, and for the sake of the life of men, and that which is valuable for men; thus the spoiler, the incendiary, etc. Instead of אח there, here we have חבר in the same sense. He who robs his parents, i.e., takes to himself what belongs to them, and regards his doing so as no particular sin,

(Note: Accentuate ואמר אין פשׁע without Makkeph, as in Codd. 1294 and old editions.)

because he will at last come to inherit it all (cf. Proverbs 20:21 with Proverbs 19:26), to to be likened to a man who allows himself in all offences against the life and property of his neighbour; for what the deed of such a son wants in external violence, it makes up in its wickedness, because it is a rude violation of the tenderest and holiest demands of duty.