The Contagion of Violence Text: Proverbs 16:29
Introduction: The Company You Keep
The book of Proverbs is intensely practical. It does not float in the ethereal realms of abstract theology; it comes down to the street where we live. It is concerned with how we walk, who we walk with, and where that path ultimately leads. In our modern, therapeutic age, we are often told that we are autonomous individuals, islands unto ourselves. We are told that we can associate with anyone, dabble in any philosophy, and entertain any idea without being substantially affected by it. This is a lie from the pit, and it is a lie that has shipwrecked countless souls.
The Scriptures, in stark contrast, teach that we are porous. We are deeply and profoundly shaped by our relationships. The company we keep is not a neutral matter; it is a matter of spiritual life and death. As Paul says, quoting a pagan poet who stumbled on a biblical truth, "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals'" (1 Corinthians 15:33). This is not a suggestion; it is a law of the spiritual universe, as fixed as the law of gravity.
Our proverb today addresses one of the most dangerous forms of this relational contagion. It speaks of the "man of violence" and his recruitment efforts. We must understand that this is not simply a warning against hanging out with street thugs or joining a gang. The biblical concept of violence is much broader and deeper than that. It is about a fundamental orientation of the heart, a rebellious and destructive posture toward God's created order. And this posture, this worldview, is not content to remain private. It is evangelistic. It seeks converts. It entices, it lures, and it leads others down its own ruinous path.
Therefore, we must approach this text with our eyes wide open. We need to learn to identify the modern man of violence, to recognize his seductive sales pitch, and to understand the grim destination to which he is leading his followers. This is a matter of basic spiritual discernment, a crucial skill for navigating the treacherous terrain of our late modern world.
The Text
A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good.
(Proverbs 16:29 LSB)
The Character: A Man of Violence
First, we must define our terms. Who is this "man of violence"?
"A man of violence..." (Proverbs 16:29a)
The Hebrew word here is hamas. This should ring a bell for anyone familiar with the Genesis account of the flood. The world in Noah's day was destroyed because "the earth was filled with hamas," with violence (Genesis 6:11). This is not just talking about fistfights. The word encompasses a whole range of sinful behavior: injustice, oppression, cruelty, corruption, and a destructive disregard for God's law and for the well being of one's neighbor. It is the external manifestation of a heart in rebellion against the Creator.
The man of violence is the man who wants to get his way, and he is willing to break God's boundaries to get it. He might use physical force, but he is just as likely to use verbal intimidation, emotional manipulation, financial oppression, or political coercion. The man of violence is the abusive husband, the corporate tyrant, the godless revolutionary, the race baiter, the abortionist, and the sneering intellectual who seeks to tear down the foundations of faith and family. He is anyone whose life is governed by a spirit of coercion and destruction rather than a spirit of service and cultivation.
At its root, this violence is theological. It is a rejection of the lordship of Jesus Christ. Christ's kingdom advances through Word and Spirit, through persuasion, love, and self sacrifice. The kingdom of Satan, in contrast, advances through lies, coercion, and destruction. The man of violence is, whether he knows it or not, an agent of that dark kingdom. He has rejected the Prince of Peace and has therefore embraced a fundamental principle of conflict with God's reality.
The Method: Seductive Enticement
Next, the proverb describes the man's methodology. He doesn't always use a club; he often uses bait.
"...entices his neighbor..." (Proverbs 16:29b)
The word "entices" means to seduce, to lure, to persuade by offering a deceptive promise. This is the strategy of the serpent in the garden. He didn't threaten Eve; he enticed her. He made the forbidden fruit look attractive. He suggested that God was holding out on her, that disobedience was the pathway to enlightenment and godhood (Genesis 3:4-5). This is the oldest trick in the book, and it still works.
The man of violence makes his way look appealing. He dresses it up as freedom, as progress, as justice, or as fun. The young man in Proverbs 1 is enticed by sinners with the promise of easy money and camaraderie: "Come with us... We will all have one purse" (Proverbs 1:11, 14). The adulterous woman entices the simple youth with the promise of stolen pleasures and secret thrills (Proverbs 7:18). The modern revolutionary entices the discontented with promises of a utopian paradise, if only they will join him in tearing down the existing order.
This enticement works because it appeals to the sin that is already resident in our hearts. It appeals to our pride, our greed, our lust, our envy, and our desire for autonomy. The enticer is a skilled marketer. He knows his audience. He knows which buttons to push. He offers a shortcut, a way to get the desired result without the hard work of obedience and faithfulness. He is selling a path that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12).
The Destination: A Road to Nowhere Good
Finally, the proverb reveals the ultimate destination of this enticement.
"...and leads him in a way that is not good." (Proverbs 16:29c)
This is a classic piece of biblical understatement, a figure of speech called meiosis. To say the way is "not good" is like saying that hell is "not pleasant." The path of violence, the path of rebellion against God, is a path to utter ruin. It is a dead end street. It leads to destruction, both in this life and the next.
Notice the active role of the enticer: he "leads" his neighbor. This is a deliberate act of misdirection. He is a false guide, a spiritual con man. He takes his neighbor by the hand and walks with him, step by step, further and further away from the path of life. This is why our associations are so critical. We tend to become like those we walk with. If you walk with the wise, you will become wise. If you walk with fools, you will suffer harm (Proverbs 13:20). If you walk with the man of violence, you will end up in his disastrous destination.
The way that is "not good" is any path that deviates from the way of God's revealed will. It is the way of folly, sin, and death. It is a way that is out of sync with the grain of God's universe. To walk in it is to invite friction, chaos, and eventual collapse. It promises freedom but delivers slavery. It promises life but delivers death. It is, in short, a bad deal.
Conclusion: Choosing Your Guide
So what is the takeaway for us? This proverb is a stark warning, but it is also an implicit invitation. If there is a "man of violence" who leads people down a bad path, then there must be a Man of Peace who leads people down a good one. And of course, there is.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate anti-type to the man of violence. The man of violence is characterized by hamas; Jesus is characterized by shalom, by peace, wholeness, and flourishing. The man of violence entices with lies; Jesus invites with the truth. The man of violence leads to a way that is not good; Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).
The choice before every one of us is a choice of guides. Who will you follow? Whose voice will you listen to? Will you be enticed by the empty promises of the violent men of this age, the revolutionaries and rebels who promise a man made heaven but deliver a man made hell? Or will you heed the call of the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for the sheep and who promises to lead you in paths of righteousness for His name's sake?
This means we must be ruthless in evaluating our influences. What books are you reading? What podcasts are you listening to? What men are you admiring? Who are your closest friends? Are they leading you toward the good way, or are they enticing you down a path that is "not good"? We must cultivate a deep suspicion of the world's sales pitch. We must learn to recognize the seductive lure of sin and to flee from it.
And we must saturate ourselves in the good way. This means being in the Word, being in fellowship with the saints, and being in constant prayer. It means choosing our company with care, seeking out those who are further down the path of righteousness than we are and asking them to lead us. The Christian life is not a solo journey. We need guides. Let us make sure we are following the right one, the one who does not entice but invites, who does not lead to ruin but to everlasting life. For His path is the only one that is truly good.