Proverbs 26:23
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel
This phrase uses the imagery of pottery, a common craft in ancient Israel. Earthen vessels were everyday items, often used for storage and cooking. The glaze, a thin layer applied to pottery, would make the vessel appear more attractive and sometimes waterproof. However, the glaze could hide imperfections or weaknesses in the clay. This metaphor suggests a superficial beauty or integrity that conceals underlying flaws. In biblical context, this can be compared to Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27, where He calls them "whitewashed tombs," beautiful on the outside but full of decay within. The imagery emphasizes the danger of external appearances that mask internal corruption.

are burning lips
"Burning lips" refers to speech that is fervent, passionate, or persuasive, yet potentially harmful. In the cultural context of the Bible, speech was a powerful tool, capable of both blessing and cursing. Proverbs frequently warns against deceitful and harmful speech (Proverbs 10:18, 12:22). The "burning" aspect suggests intensity, which can be alluring but also destructive, much like fire. This aligns with James 3:6, where the tongue is described as a fire, capable of setting the course of life ablaze. The warning here is against being swayed by eloquent but deceitful words.

and a wicked heart
The heart, in biblical terms, represents the center of one's being, encompassing thoughts, emotions, and will. A "wicked heart" indicates a deep-seated moral corruption. Jeremiah 17:9 describes the heart as deceitful and desperately wicked, highlighting humanity's fallen nature. The connection between speech and heart is significant; Jesus teaches in Luke 6:45 that "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." Thus, burning lips are a reflection of the wickedness within. This phrase serves as a caution to discern the true nature of individuals, recognizing that outward expressions often reveal inner realities.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
- Traditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom.

2. Ancient Israel
- The cultural and historical context in which the Proverbs were written, reflecting the values and teachings of the time.

3. Earthen Vessel
- A common household item in ancient times, made of clay, symbolizing something ordinary and fragile.

4. Glaze
- A coating applied to pottery to make it appear more attractive, symbolizing superficial beauty or deception.

5. Burning Lips and Wicked Heart
- Metaphors for deceitful speech and malicious intent, highlighting the contrast between appearance and reality.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Deception
Just as a glaze can make a simple pot appear valuable, deceitful words can mask a wicked heart. We must be discerning and not be swayed by appearances alone.

The Importance of Integrity
True integrity involves aligning our words with our heart. We should strive for consistency between our internal values and external expressions.

Guarding Our Speech
Our words have the power to build up or destroy. We must be mindful of our speech, ensuring it reflects a heart aligned with God's truth.

Evaluating True Worth
Like an earthen vessel, our true value is not in outward appearances but in the purity and intentions of our heart. We should seek to cultivate inner beauty.

Seeking God's Wisdom
In a world full of deception, we need God's wisdom to discern truth from falsehood. Regular prayer and study of Scripture can guide us in this pursuit.
Bible Study Questions
1. How can we discern when someone is using "burning lips" to deceive us, and what steps can we take to protect ourselves from such deception?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our own words reflect a heart that is pure and aligned with God's will?

3. How does the metaphor of the "glaze covering an earthen vessel" challenge us to evaluate our own lives for areas where we might be prioritizing appearance over substance?

4. What practical steps can we take to cultivate a heart that is pleasing to God, avoiding the pitfalls of a "wicked heart"?

5. How can the teachings of Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament help us apply the wisdom of Proverbs 26:23 in our daily interactions with others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 23:27
- Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for being like whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside but full of dead bones inside, similar to the concept of external beauty hiding internal corruption.

James 3:6
- Discusses the destructive power of the tongue, aligning with the idea of "burning lips" that can cause harm.

Jeremiah 17:9
- Describes the heart as deceitful above all things, connecting to the "wicked heart" mentioned in Proverbs 26:23.

1 Samuel 16:7
- God looks at the heart rather than outward appearances, contrasting with the superficial glaze over an earthen vessel.

Psalm 55:21
- Describes words that are smoother than butter but harbor war, paralleling the deceitful nature of "burning lips."
A Wicked Heart Disguising ItselfProverbs 26:23
Putrefaction PhosphorescentScientific IllustrationsProverbs 26:23
Spite, Cunning, and DeceitE. Johnson Proverbs 26:20-28
On GuardW. Clarkson Proverbs 26:23-28
People
Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Ardent, Burning, Covered, Covering, Dross, Earthen, Earthenware, Evil, Fervent, Glaze, Heart, Lips, Overlaid, Plated, Potsherd, Silver, Smooth, Spread, Vessel, Waste, Wicked
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Proverbs 26:23

     5259   coat
     5445   potters and pottery
     8784   nominal religion

Proverbs 26:23-24

     5164   lips

Proverbs 26:23-25

     5016   heart, fallen and redeemed

Library
One Lion Two Lions no Lion at All
A sermon (No. 1670) delivered on Thursday Evening, June 8th, 1882, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets."--Proverbs 22:13. "The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets."--Proverbs 26:13. This slothful man seems to cherish that one dread of his about the lions, as if it were his favorite aversion and he felt it to be too much trouble to invent another excuse.
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Hebrew Sages and their Proverbs
[Sidenote: Role of the sages in Israel's life] In the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Jer. xviii. 18; Ezek. vii. 26) three distinct classes of religious teachers were recognized by the people: the prophets, the priests, and the wise men or sages. From their lips and pens have come practically all the writings of the Old Testament. Of these three classes the wise men or sages are far less prominent or well known. They wrote no history of Israel, they preached no public sermons, nor do they appear
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

We Shall not be Curious in the Ranking of the Duties in which Christian Love...
We shall not be curious in the ranking of the duties in which Christian love should exercise itself. All the commandments of the second table are but branches of it: they might be reduced all to the works of righteousness and of mercy. But truly these are interwoven through other. Though mercy uses to be restricted to the showing of compassion upon men in misery, yet there is a righteousness in that mercy, and there is mercy in the most part of the acts of righteousness, as in not judging rashly,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

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

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