Bible Commentaries
James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary
Proverbs 17
‘ARCADES AMBO’
‘He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.’
Proverbs 17:15
These words may serve to show us that our estimate of other men is a matter of very solemn responsibility in God’s sight.
I. I will first insist on the general duty of conscientiousness in forming all our estimates of other men.
II. ‘He that justifieth the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.’—Unprincipled life, wherever found, ought to be protested against by the servants of God.
III. ‘He that condemneth the just.’—Here undoubtedly our fault is much more common, much more recklessly committed. We are always more prone to condemn than to justify. Notice a few ways in which we may, with God’s help, guard against this prevailing tendency of our day. (1) Look ever at the life, which is palpable, rather than at the motive of the creed, which is usually mere matter of surmise. (2) Avoid, and refuse to use, and protest against the use of, all party names. (3) Form your opinions of others, not at the prompting of the world, but as under the eye of God.
—Dean Alford.
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