A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure. A wicked man hardens his faceThis phrase suggests a deliberate and stubborn resistance to correction or change. In biblical context, the "face" often symbolizes one's attitude or disposition. A hardened face indicates a refusal to acknowledge wrongdoing or to repent. This imagery is consistent with other scriptures, such as Isaiah 48:4, which speaks of Israel's obstinacy: "Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead brass." The hardening of one's face can also be seen as a metaphor for pride and defiance against God, similar to Pharaoh's hardened heart in Exodus. Culturally, in ancient Near Eastern societies, facial expressions were significant indicators of one's inner state, and a hardened face would be perceived as a sign of rebellion or defiance. but the upright man makes his way sure
In contrast, the upright man is characterized by integrity and righteousness. The phrase "makes his way sure" implies careful consideration and a commitment to walking in accordance with God's will. This aligns with the wisdom literature's emphasis on the path of righteousness, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." The upright man's way is secure because it is founded on divine guidance and moral principles. This reflects the biblical theme of the righteous being blessed and protected by God, as seen in Psalm 1:6: "For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction." The upright man's life is a type of Christ, who is the ultimate example of righteousness and whose path was ordained by God. Persons / Places / Events 1. Wicked ManRepresents those who are morally corrupt or evil, often characterized by stubbornness and defiance against righteousness. 2. Upright ManSymbolizes individuals who live in accordance with God's laws, demonstrating integrity and righteousness in their actions. Teaching Points The Nature of WickednessThe hardening of the face signifies a deliberate choice to resist correction and persist in sin. This reflects a heart that is closed to God's guidance. The Path of the UprightThe upright man seeks to make his way sure, indicating a life of intentionality and alignment with God's will. This involves seeking wisdom and understanding. Moral IntegrityLiving uprightly requires a commitment to truth and righteousness, even when faced with challenges or opposition. The Consequences of ChoicesThe proverb highlights the outcomes of our moral choices—stubbornness leads to downfall, while righteousness leads to stability and assurance. Seeking God's GuidanceThe upright man’s sure path is a result of seeking and following divine guidance, emphasizing the importance of prayer and scripture in decision-making. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the hardening of one's face reflect an inner spiritual condition, and what are the dangers of such an attitude? 2. In what ways can we ensure that our path is sure and aligned with God's will, as described for the upright man? 3. How do the contrasting paths of the wicked and the upright in Proverbs 21:29 relate to the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament? 4. What practical steps can we take to avoid the stubbornness of the wicked and cultivate the integrity of the upright? 5. How can we apply the lessons from Proverbs 21:29 to our daily decision-making and interactions with others? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 1Contrasts the way of the wicked with the way of the righteous, similar to the distinction made in Proverbs 21:29. Proverbs 4:26Encourages making one's path straight, aligning with the idea of the upright man making his way sure. Isaiah 48:4Describes the obstinacy of the wicked, akin to the hardening of the face mentioned in Proverbs 21:29. James 1:8Discusses the double-minded man, contrasting with the surety and stability of the upright. Matthew 7:13-14Jesus speaks of the narrow and wide gates, paralleling the paths of the upright and the wicked. People SolomonPlaces JerusalemTopics Bold, Considers, Directeth, Displays, Establishes, Establisheth, Evil-doer, Face, Front, Gives, Hardened, Hardeneth, Hardens, Makes, Prepareth, Puts, Sure, Upright, WickedDictionary of Bible Themes Proverbs 21:28 5350 injustice, hated by God
5625 witnesses, false
5951 slander
8751 false witness Library Definition of Actual Grace
1. GENERAL NOTION OF GRACE.--The best way to arrive at a correct definition of actual grace is by the synthetic method. We therefore begin with the general notion of grace. Like "nature,"(3) grace (gratia, {GREEK SMALL LETTER CHI}{GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA WITH OXIA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER RHO}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA}) is a word of wide reach, used in a great variety of senses. Habert(4) enumerates no less than fourteen; which, however, may be reduced to four. a) Subjectively, …
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and HabitualEpistle xxi. To Constantina Augusta .
To Constantina Augusta [1593] . Gregory to Constantina, &c. Almighty God, who holds in His right hand the heart of your Piety, both protects us through you and prepares for you rewards of eternal remuneration for temporal deeds. For I have learnt from the letters of the deacon Sabinianus my responsalis with what justice your Serenity is interested in the cause of the blessed Prince of the apostles Peter against certain persons who are proudly humble and feignedly kind. And I trust in the bounty …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great Epistle Cvi. To Syagrius, Ætherius, virgilius, and Desiderius, Bishops .
To Syagrius, Ætherius, Virgilius, and Desiderius, Bishops [65] . Gregory to Syagrius of Augustodunum (Autun), Etherius of Lugdunum (Lyons), Virgilius of Aretale (Arles), and Desiderius of Vienna (Vienne), bishops of Gaul. A paribus. Our Head, which is Christ, has to this end willed us to be His members, that through the bond of charity and faith He might make us one body in Himself. And to Him it befits us so to adhere in heart, that, since without Him we can be nothing, through Him we may …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great How the Slothful and the Hasty are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 16.) Differently to be admonished are the slothful and the hasty. For the former are to be persuaded not to lose, by putting it off, the good they have to do; but the latter are to be admonished lest, while they forestall the time of good deeds by inconsiderate haste, they change their meritorious character. To the slothful therefore it is to be intimated, that often, when we will not do at the right time what we can, before long, when we will, we cannot. For the very indolence of …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great How those are to be Admonished who Desire not the Things of Others, but Keep their Own; and those who Give of their Own, yet Seize
(Admonition 22.) Differently to be admonished are those who neither desire what belongs to others nor bestow what is their own, and those who give of what they have, and yet desist not from seizing on what belongs to others. Those who neither desire what belongs to others nor bestow what is their own are to be admonished to consider carefully that the earth out of which they are taken is common to all men, and therefore brings forth nourishment for all in common. Vainly, then, do those suppose …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great The Heavenly Footman; Or, a Description of the Man that Gets to Heaven:
TOGETHER WITH THE WAY HE RUNS IN, THE MARKS HE GOES BY; ALSO, SOME DIRECTIONS HOW TO RUN SO AS TO OBTAIN. 'And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain: escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.'--Genesis 19:17. London: Printed for John Marshall, at the Bible in Gracechurch Street, 1698. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. About forty years ago a gentleman, in whose company I had commenced my …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 "And the Life. " How Christ is the Life.
This, as the former, being spoken indefinitely, may be universally taken, as relating both to such as are yet in the state of nature, and to such as are in the state of grace, and so may be considered in reference to both, and ground three points of truth, both in reference to the one, and in reference to the other; to wit, 1. That our case is such as we stand in need of his help, as being the Life. 2. That no other way but by him, can we get that supply of life, which we stand in need of, for he …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life How Christ is the Way in General, "I am the Way. "
We come now to speak more particularly to the words; and, first, Of his being a way. Our design being to point at the way of use-making of Christ in all our necessities, straits, and difficulties which are in our way to heaven; and particularly to point out the way how believers should make use of Christ in all their particular exigencies; and so live by faith in him, walk in him, grow up in him, advance and march forward toward glory in him. It will not be amiss to speak of this fulness of Christ …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life An Analysis of Augustin's Writings against the Donatists.
The object of this chapter is to present a rudimentary outline and summary of all that Augustin penned or spoke against those traditional North African Christians whom he was pleased to regard as schismatics. It will be arranged, so far as may be, in chronological order, following the dates suggested by the Benedictine edition. The necessary brevity precludes anything but a very meagre treatment of so considerable a theme. The writer takes no responsibility for the ecclesiological tenets of the …
St. Augustine—writings in connection with the donatist controversy. Paul's Departure and Crown;
OR, AN EXPOSITION UPON 2 TIM. IV. 6-8 ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR How great and glorious is the Christian's ultimate destiny--a kingdom and a crown! Surely it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive what ear never heard, nor mortal eye ever saw? the mansions of the blest--the realms of glory--'a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' For whom can so precious an inheritance be intended? How are those treated in this world who are entitled to so glorious, so exalted, so eternal, …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Proverbs 21:29 NIVProverbs 21:29 NLTProverbs 21:29 ESVProverbs 21:29 NASBProverbs 21:29 KJV
Proverbs 21:29 Commentaries
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