The Proud and Scornful Incapable of Attaining Wisdom
J. Abernethy, M.A. Proverbs 14:6 A scorner seeks wisdom, and finds it not: but knowledge is easy to him that understands. I. THE CHARACTER OF A SCORNER. The following ingredients in it: 1. Pride. An undue desire of honour, or an overvaluing one's self, and undervaluing of others. It is the source of undutiful behaviour towards God. It is discovered by affecting a pre-eminence above their fellows. Some claim honour on account of their actual knowledge or their capacity of investigating and discerning truth. To some religion is itself the subject of glorying and vain elation of mind. 2. Contempt of religion and virtue (2 Peter 3:3, 4). II. THE OBSTRUCTION WHICH ARISES FROM SCORNING TO MEN'S BECOMING WISE. 1. Pride is a great hindrance both to the attainment of knowledge and virtue. Especially is the man who is proud of his wisdom and his religion the farthest off from becoming truly wise and religious. 2. This perverse disposition rendereth men obnoxious to the displeasure of God, and entirely disqualified for receiving favour from Him. Only application is to exhort you to humility, as a most necessary qualification for your increase in useful knowledge, and in every Christian virtue. There may be mistaken notions of humility. It is far from consisting in any such sentiments as disparage human nature, or any such temper and behaviour as are unworthy its dignity. We must not degrade ourselves into a lower species that we may be humble men. With respect to God, it consists in a just sense of our own subjection and dependence, of our own weakness and guilt. This disposition will entitle us to the favour of God and the approbation of all good men. (J. Abernethy, M.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. WEB: A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.