Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
(Proverbs 26:4-5)
The Bible teaches the godly wise person how to 'answer the fool'. This refers to how to address foolishness from those the Bible calls 'fools', that is, evil people who reject the counsel of God and seek after their own wisdom, thinking they are so wise. How does the godly person answer such foolishness, according to Proverbs 26:4-5?
By understanding his foolishness and attacking it accordingly. Rebuke him in accordance to the wisdom of God and principles of righteousness, and he will fall. The wisdom of God exposes his foolishness, his futile thoughts, manifesting in his works of darkness:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened (Romans 1:21).
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart (Ephesians 4:17-18).
Fools are full of foolishness because of their darkness of heart and futility of mind, which seeks not God, but the ways of the flesh.
He makes himself even more of a fool by trying to argue back. As Proverbs 17:28 says: Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
A fool does not become wise by being quiet. Rather, it is that he protects himself from looking even more by arguing back.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
(Proverbs 26:4-5)
The Bible teaches the godly wise person how to 'answer the fool'. This refers to how to address foolishness from those the Bible calls 'fools', that is, evil people who reject the counsel of God and seek after their own wisdom, thinking they are so wise. How does the godly person answer such foolishness, according to Proverbs 26:4-5?
By understanding his foolishness and attacking it accordingly. Rebuke him in accordance to the wisdom of God and principles of righteousness, and he will fall. The wisdom of God exposes his foolishness, his futile thoughts, manifesting in his works of darkness:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened (Romans 1:21).
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart (Ephesians 4:17-18).
Fools are full of foolishness because of their darkness of heart and futility of mind, which seeks not God, but the ways of the flesh.
He makes himself even more of a fool by trying to argue back. As Proverbs 17:28 says: Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
A fool does not become wise by being quiet. Rather, it is that he protects himself from looking even more by arguing back.
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