Proverbs 15:1-15 – A Soft Answer over Wrath

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Is a soft answer better than a harsh word? There is a certain way that the wise speak. Learn today how to be wise in your speech today.

Introduction

There is a certain way in which the wise speak. Are you speaking wisely or are you using the words of a fool?

We are in the midst of a unit of lessons focusing on the way of the wise.  As we have seen in our most recent lessons, the wise move according to God’s way rather than the way of the world.  The wise choose to move in a manner that pleases and finds favor in the eyes of God.  In our lesson this week, we’ll see that there is a certain way that the wise should speak.  This week’s Sunday School commentary covers Proverbs 15:1-15.

The Speech of the Wise

The tongue is a powerful weapon.  As James said, though the tongue is small in size, it is like a spark that can set fire to an entire forest (Jas. 3:5).  So, we must take great care with the words we say, right?  Yes, the child of God ought to be wise when it comes to the words they say, and that is what Proverbs 15 brings to our attention as Solomon focused on the speech of the wise.

Speech that pursues peace

The proverb opens with the statement, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Prov. 15:1).”  

So, we have a comparison between the soft answer and a harsh word.  Does the proverb suggest one is better than the other?  I believe we first need to understand the context of the proverb, and then we need to understand what constitutes an answer being a soft answer or a harsh word.

For context, it seems that Solomon was speaking of one trying to keep the peace.  In general, when we think of a soft answer, we think of gentle and soothing words – words that will help to ease tensions.  Words that would ignite the flames of tension and create a blaze would be considered harsh, within the context of this proverb.

The proverb certainly falls in line with the teachings of Christ when it comes to how His disciples ought to behave in society.  The followers of Christ ought to love their neighbors as they love themselves (Matt. 22:37-39).

In Romans 12:18, Paul wrote, ‘If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”  The wise, those who fear God’s judgment, ought to heed His instructions are pursue peace, right?

Paul wrote, “Let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify (teach, train, uplift) another (Rom. 14:19).”  So, rather than being the instigator of conflict, we ought to strive to make for and keep the peace.

Speech seasoned with salt

Now, with that said, let me state that pursuing peace doesn’t mean that one does not stand their ground; it doesn’t mean that one just rolls over.  Proverbs 15:2 states that the tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly.

Do you know that Jesus used both gentle and harsh, or what I would say was fiery, speech?  We have created this image of Jesus being someone who was so harmless that He wouldn’t hurt a fly, nor would He ever get fiery.

Yet, the Jesus I know entered the temple on two occasions, turning over tables and driving sellers and money exchangers out.  Of the temple, Jesus said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves’ (Matt. 21:13).”  If you believe Jesus was gentle in doing and saying these things, I would tell you to think again.  

Yes, the Jesus I know didn’t share any kind words about the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23.  Jesus repeatedly called them hypocrites, as He rebuked their actions.  Jesus condemned them, saying, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in (Matt. 23:4, 13).”

Jesus condemned them, saying, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets … Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell (Matt. 23:31, 33)?”  Again, I wouldn’t say that Jesus was gentle in speaking against them, but was rather fiery.

May I say to you that the wise must know when and when not to be gentle or fiery in their speech?  Again, as the proverb said, we must learn to use knowledge rightly.  Jesus said of His disciples, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men (Matt. 5:13).”

From that teaching of Christ, Paul said, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one (Col. 4:6).”

This is what I believe Solomon was teaching; he was not saying that we are to be so gentle that we roll over.  The proverb teaches that we must be able to read a room, and know when and when not.  The last thing the believer ought to do is ignite conflict, but at the same time, we must know how to get our point across. 

Speech guided by the Spirit

Proverbs 15:3 states that the eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.  Yes, God is always watching because He is omnipresent, which means He is always present.  Because God is always watching, shouldn’t we feel moved to ensure that we speak wisely?

So, what should the wise do to ensure they are actually speaking wisely?  Let us keep in mind that the fear of God and His judgment is the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7).

To ensure that we are speaking wisely, we ought to know God’s word, correct?  Be diligent in your studying of God’s word if you are going to minister it to someone.

What else can we do to ensure that we are speaking wisely?  To the apostles, Jesus said, “When they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you (Matt. 10:19-20).”

The wise are to be led by the Holy Spirit in their speech.  So, to ensure that you are speaking wisely, let the Holy Spirit direct your tongue.  Do you think the Holy Spirit will lead you astray in your speech?

Once again, as James said, we must learn to be swift to hear and slow to speak.  When you are slow to speak, you open the doors to heed the Holy Spirit’s guidance as He directs your tongue, and will also call to remembrance what you have learned of the sound doctrine.  

Speech that brings life rather than destruction.

In Proverbs 15:4, Solomon likens the wholesome tongue to a tree of life, while the perverse tongue breaks the spirit.  

Now, the tree of life was a tree found in Eden and is shown to be present in New Jerusalem (Gen. 2:9; Rev. 22:2,14).  As shown in Revelation 22:2, the tree of life will bear twelve different fruits and leaves that will be for the healing of the nations, not the bride of Christ.  The fruit of the tree of life won’t be needed to provide or sustain life, but rather, will be consumed out of joy rather than need.

Repeatedly in His teachings, Jesus taught that God’s children are to bear good fruit.  The fruit that you and I bear is of the word of God, and therefore, it is fruit that will be life-giving to those who consume it.  

Let us keep in mind that in Matthew 13, in Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, He explained that He, like a farmer or gardener, has sown seed.  The seed sown by Christ was sown through His teachings.  Sadly, many souls are like surfaces that His seed couldn’t germinate in and take root.  

Yet, others are like fertile ground where the word of God germinated and took root to grow into a tree that bears good fruit.  So, again, we bear the fruit of God because the word of God dwells in us.  As the proverb says, “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble (Prov. 15:6).”  

The treasure within you is the word of God because you opened your heart to receive the word.  However, the wicked have chosen to disregard the word of God for a different doctrine – a worldly doctrine.  The worldly doctrine is a poisonous doctrine that corrupts the soul, and from such a soul can spring no good fruit.

Jesus taught this same thing when He said that it is not what goes in the mouth that defiles a man, but that which comes from within him and pour out (Matt. 15:11)

Carrying a great responsibility

So, because souls are at stake, we carry a great responsibility with our tongue, don’t we?  Do you understand now why Solomon spoke of God watching both the good and the bad?  

The Lord is concerned about the soul of man.  Let’s remember that the Father’s will is not for souls to be lost but to be raised with His Son at the last day (John 6:38-40).  Yet, as important as the soul is to the Lord, God is not going to snap His fingers and make someone believe in Him.  God desires to be freely chosen. 

Therefore, we must be truthful to the will of God and, therefore, offer the free choice to all people.  Let’s be clear: God didn’t use His words to demand faith but to persuade and encourage faith.  You and I are to use our words in like manner.

The proverb states, “The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but the heart of the fool does not do so (Prov. 15:7).”  The fool will say they know what is right, and will either demand or persuade others to follow their way.  Yet, their way is a way that leads to death (Prov. 14:12).  

The wise have been made stewards (administrators) of the truth, and again, we must be faithful in dispensing the truth so that others can fully know the choice they will make when it comes to salvation.

The Rebuke of Correction 

In Proverbs 15:8-9, let us note that Solomon circles back to God’s judgment – God’s judgment is central to the Book of Proverbs.  Again, fearing God’s judgment is the beginning of one moving wisely.

Solomon pointed out that the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.  

Then, in Proverbs 15:10-11,  Solomon said, “Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, and he who hates correction will die.  Hell and Destruction are before the Lord; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.”  

One who forsakes (abandon/turn from) God’s way is one who has made a final choice.  You see, God rebukes those who stray from the way, and He will chasten if one has ignored His rebuke.  God rebukes and chastens out of love so that one will get back on the path.  However, one who has made their final choice not to walk in God’s way will face the harshest discipline – they will be judged and condemned.

So, the proverb essentially points to this:  How will you choose to minister the word of God?  I feel that this is a question that believers ought to take into serious consideration because we cannot minister in our own way.  God has directed us to minister out of grace.

So, let us keep in mind that whether we are gentle or fiery in our ministering of the way of God, we must minister out of grace.  To go back to what we saw earlier in this proverb, we must minister in a way that uplifts rather than stirs up strife and contention.  The fool stirs up strife and contention, which is actually mentioned in Proverbs 15:18.

Consider Your Heart With Every Choice

Proverbs 15:12-15 closes out with a focus on the heart, which is speaking of the soul.  I have spoken quite a bit recently about how we must have a greater concern for our soul than we do.  Some choose to value the health of their flesh and their pockets more than they do their soul–this must change.

So, Solomon brings up the scoffer in Proverbs 15:12 to remind us that the scoffer is a fool because he does not love correction (Prov. 1:7).  Once again, I remind you, do not keep company with a scoffer who mocks the way of God. 

As Proverbs 15:14 states, “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge.”  With the gaining of that knowledge, the wise will move in it so that they continue to find favor in the eyes of God.

Then, Proverbs 15:15 tells us that all the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.  God blesses those who put forth the effort to keep His way.  So, let us do our very best to walk in God’s way, beginning with the way that we speak with all of those who are around us.