Proverbs 23:9
The Fool Will Not Listen
1. This is the 9th of 30 wise sayings in this section of Proverbs.
2. Unlike most of the rest of this section, this proverb stands alone. The other wise sayings appear in clusters of two or three verses.
3. The theme of this proverb is simple: fools don’t listen.
4. There is nothing ambiguous, nuanced, or mysterious about this proverb.
5. It is straight forward and simple: fools don’t listen to advice! Even a fool could understand this proverb if he wanted to.
6. This theme has been mentioned several times before in this book. Evidently God felt it was a truth worth repeating – something we need to be reminded of.
7. The proverb consists of two parts: (1) the command and (2) the reason.
1. The command is addressed to the reader in the form of a warning.
a. Assuming Solomon wrote this section of the book, this proverb comes from the wisest man who ever lived.
b. No doubt he encountered many fools in his day.
c. People from the kingdom would come before the king with their requests and suggestions… many of which were probably quite foolish.
d. As King and judge he would also have had opportunity to discuss issues with many people.
e. Solomon learned from experience, that there are some people who just don’t listen. It is a waste of time to give words of wisdom to a fool.
f. 22:17 – Solomon was giving words of wisdom to his son. He encouraged his son to (1) bow down his ear, (2) hear the words, (3) and apply it to his heart.
g. 23:9 – Now he states that there are some people who will NOT (1) bow down their ears, (2) hear the words, (3) and apply words of wisdom to their hearts.
h. This is given as a “heads up” or a warning to young men who are learning to become wise.
i. The warning is this: “Don’t assume that everyone you talk to will have the same desire for wisdom as you do!”
j. In fact, the warning here is “Don’t waste your time even talking to such people!”
k. Don’t bother speaking in the ear of a fool. It is a waste of time and energy.
l. Nothing good will come of it.
2. FOOL:
a. Strong’s: Stupid fellow; dullard; simpleton; arrogant one.
b. Dictionary of Biblical Languages: The state of being in complete lack of understanding, implying rebellion.
c. This Hebrew term appears 71 times in the Old Testament; 3 times in the Psalms and the rest are found in the writings of Solomon – Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. (mostly in Proverbs)
d. Solomon wants his readers to be wise. One of the ways of obtaining wisdom is to be able recognize and deal with fools and folly in a right and sensible way.
3. Speak not in the ears of a fool.
a. The wording implies more than just talking TO a fool in ordinary conversation.
b. The second part of the proverb tells us that the words spoken in the ear were words of wisdom… words which a foolish person OUGHT to want to hear!
c. Yet, this proverb says, “Don’t bother speaking words of wisdom in the ear of a fool.”
d. Perhaps you work with a fool in the office. Perhaps you work FOR a fool!
e. It is not always possible to avoid talking TO a fool.
f. The wording implies offering him personal advice and counsel… quietly whispering it in his ears.
1. The point of the command is not that it is sinful to speak words of wisdom to a fool. It’s just that it is a waste of time.
a. There is a time to speak and a time to keep silent.
b. Commands in the Bible addressed to us are to be obeyed—always. Normally, to disobey a command is sin.
c. Remember, this is a Proverb. It is a short, concise nugget of truth. Proverbs do not cover every possible situation. They are generalities of truth. There are exceptions to some of the proverbs.
d. This is not a command to NEVER speak words of wisdom to a fool. On some rare occasions, the fool may be in the process of reconsidering his folly. He may be willing to listen.
e. Prov. 28:23 – We say that it is not always wrong to speak words of wisdom to a fool, because in Proverbs 28:23, Solomon speaks highly of reproving a man who needs reproof. This man may not like it at first, but afterwards will appreciate it.
f. But with determined fools, that is very rare. Normally, fools will NOT listen—hence, the command: Don’t waste your time giving him advice. He won’t follow it.
g. Plato believed that if a person only knew the good, he would invariably choose it. He believed in an innate goodness in man.
h. The Bible says just the opposite – there are fools who might HEAR with their ears words of wisdom, but choose NOT to follow it. The Bible speaks of the innate sinfulness of man.
i. The heart that is hardened against God will also be hardened against God’s wisdom.
2. The fool will DESPISE your words of wisdom.
a. Despise: To despise; hold in contempt; hold as insignificant; scorn; deride; ridicule; mock.
b. Generally speaking fools despise words of wisdom… because wisdom exposes their folly, as light exposes the darkness.
c. John’s gospel tells us that darkness hates the light.
d. Prov. 1:7 – fools despise wisdom and instruction.
e. Because he does not fear God, he does not listen to godly counsel or to the Word of God. Hence, he reaps the awful fruit of such rejection of truth. (Prov.1:30-31)
f. If you think there is some glimmer of hope that he might listen, then give him advice, as led of the Lord. No one wants to see a fool end up being filled with his own devices!
3. Prov.13:1 – A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
a. That scorner is doomed to a life of failure and faults that NEVER get corrected… because he won’t listen to correction.
b. If the person refuses correction and instruction, then he will never correct those faults… they are his for life.
c. That means serious lifelong consequences for not hearing rebuke and not listening to the words of wisdom.
d. Prov. 13:18 – Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction…
e. Very often those bad behaviors that lead to poverty and shame could have been easily corrected, if nipped at the bud. Instead, they develop into life dominating habits.
f. Refusing to hear instruction is a serious issue.
g. Young people sometimes HATE being rebuked by their parents.
h. Older folks sometimes despise the chastening of the Lord.
i. This is the same heart problem… despising authority… self rule… stubbornness… pride… a terrible heart attitude towards God Himself.
j. But no matter how uncomfortable it FEELS… no matter how embarrassing… humbling… the right response is to listen to the rebuke and to submit! Make corrections where necessary.
k. It is our nature to despise correction. But as Christians, we are not to live according to our old nature. The new man in Christ delights in the law of God after the inward man; he delights in light, truth, and wisdom from God and His Word… even when it convicts, reproves, and corrects.
4. Prov. 18:2 – A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
a. The fool does not delight in understanding. He takes no pleasure in it… even in the words of wisdom.
b. Don’t assume that everyone you seek to give good advice to will enjoy truth and wisdom as much as you do. Don’t assume that once he hears the truth that he will delight in it. You will be very disappointed with the fool.
c. This fool has no delight in understanding.
• He is not fond of learning;
• He is not eager to obtain true knowledge;
• Wisdom is not the object of his inward affection;
• He has no inner hunger for learning; no drive for wisdom; no taste for good reason or even common sense.
d. Prov. 17:16 – He has no heart for wisdom.
e. Prov. 18:2b – “That his heart may discover itself.”
• BUT — Solomon’s point: this kind of fool has no DELIGHT in learning.
• BUT he DOES delight in discovering (lit = exposing; revealing; making known) his OWN inner thoughts and opinions.
• He delights in telling others his own views and opinions, but he does not delight in learning FROM others.
• Prov. 29:11 – The fool “uttereth all his mind.”
• He’s not interested in listening and learning. He thinks he’s too smart to listen. He knows everything already.
• One commentator summarized the folly of this fool this way: He has a “closed mind” and “open mouth.”
5. Prov. 9:7-8 – Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee
a. Vs. 7 – Solomon warns here that when you TRY to reprove a scorning fool, you might end up shaming (disgracing) yourself—or getting a blot.
b. By constantly trying to reprove fools and speak words of wisdom to them, we very well may be provoking an argument… stirring up trouble unnecessarily…
c. Vs. 8 – The fool will hate you for it.
d. Others will begin to think of us as a troublemaker, agitator, or argumentative.
e. It is an art knowing when to speak and when not to speak.
f. There are times when rebuke will be helpful and necessary.
g. There will be times when rebuke does more harm than good.
h. His point: avoid irritations. Wait for a favorable circumstances to reprove. Be discerning—not everyone can handle reproof. Some men are hardened fools! Don’t speak in his ears.
6. Prov. 16:22 – the instruction of fools is folly.
a. Some take this to mean the instruction FROM a fool is folly. (Which is certainly true…)
b. But it is more likely Solomon had in mind instruction FOR fools is folly… trying to teach and instruct a fool is a foolish endeavor!
c. You may have words of wisdom to share; but in some cases, it is not wise to share words of wisdom.
d. Jesus explained WHY it is foolish to do so in some situations.
7. Matt. 7: 6 – Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine.
a. Pearls of sacred wisdom are not appreciated by dogs or pigs.
b. They care not for those pearls.
c. They might bite into it and then spit it out—and come after you—bite you out of anger for not giving them what they want… namely, pig slop!
1. Learn to discern when to speak and when not to speak.
2. Oftentimes, the fool will despise what you have to say—and he may hate you and get angry at you.
3. When you sense a man has no heart to listen or learn, don’t waste your time—or your reputation. It could backfire on you.