Commentary - Proverbs 18:23

Bird's-eye view

The book of Proverbs is a collection of divine wisdom, given to us so that we might learn how to navigate the world in the fear of the Lord. These are not sentimental platitudes; they are sharp, observant, and often uncomfortable truths about the way the world actually works under the sun. This verse, Proverbs 18:23, is a prime example of this candid realism. It sets up a stark contrast between the speech of the poor and the speech of the rich. This is not a command, but rather a description of a common pattern in our fallen world. It reveals the posture of the human heart as it relates to dependency and self sufficiency. The poor man, knowing his need, speaks softly. The rich man, confident in his position, speaks harshly. As with all of Proverbs, we are meant to see this, evaluate it in light of God's law, and apply the wisdom that results, recognizing that the ultimate reality behind this verse is spiritual, not merely economic.

The verse forces us to confront the spiritual dangers of wealth and the potential spiritual blessings of poverty. It is a snapshot of human interaction apart from grace. The supplication of the poor man reflects a posture of dependence, which is the proper posture of all men before God. The harshness of the rich man reflects a posture of arrogance and self reliance, which is the native language of the fool. Ultimately, this proverb drives us to the Gospel, where we see the truly Rich One who became poor for our sakes, and who, though He had every right to answer us harshly, instead speaks a word of grace.

Outline

Context In Proverbs

Proverbs 18 is a chapter filled with observations about wisdom and folly, particularly as they manifest in our relationships and our speech. We find verses on the dangers of isolation (v. 1), the fool's delight in his own opinion (v. 2), the power of the tongue (v. 21), and the value of a good wife (v. 22). Verse 23 fits squarely within this context. It is another sharp observation that uses a common social dynamic, the interaction between rich and poor, to teach a deeper lesson about the heart.

This proverb is not an isolated comment on economics. It follows a celebration of finding a wife as a good thing from the Lord (v. 22) and precedes the famous statement about a friend who sticks closer than a brother (v. 24). This placement suggests that our manner of speaking, whether with supplication or with harshness, is deeply connected to our most fundamental relationships, first with God and then with our neighbor. The way a man speaks reveals whether he understands his own need for fellowship and grace, or whether he foolishly believes he can stand alone.

Key Issues

Commentary

23 The poor man speaks supplications,

The first clause gives us a picture of dependence. The word for "supplications" carries the idea of entreaties, of pleading for favor. The poor man understands his position. He has no leverage, no power, no resources to compel a favorable outcome. All he can do is ask. His speech is necessarily humble because his circumstances are humble. He knows he is at the mercy of the one he is addressing. Now, in a fallen world, this is often a position of great vulnerability, and can be exploited. But from a theological standpoint, this is the proper posture of every human being before God. We are all, in the final analysis, spiritual paupers. We have nothing to offer God, nothing with which to bargain. We come to Him with empty hands. As Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:3). The man who knows he is poor is the man who is ready to receive grace. His supplications are the beginning of wisdom, because they acknowledge reality. He is not trying to maintain a facade of self sufficiency. He simply asks.

But the rich man answers with strong words.

Here is the contrast, and it is a stark one. The rich man answers "roughly" or with "strong words." Why? Because he can. His wealth has insulated him from the need to be gentle. He feels no sense of dependence on the man before him, and so his words are hard, dismissive, and arrogant. This is the great spiritual peril of wealth. It creates the illusion of independence, not just from other men, but ultimately from God. The rich man in Jesus' parable addressed his own soul, saying, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry" (Luke 12:19). He felt no need for God, and that very night his soul was required of him. The "strong words" here are the overflow of a proud heart, a heart that has forgotten that every good gift comes from God and that he is but a steward. This is the speech of a fool, because it is out of touch with reality. He may have a great deal of money, but he is spiritually destitute and doesn't even know it. His harsh answer reveals a heart that is hard toward his neighbor because it is fundamentally hard toward God. He does not see the poor man as a fellow creature made in God's image, but as an annoyance or an obstacle. This is the opposite of the gospel. Christ, who was truly rich, did not answer our desperate supplications with harshness, but with the ultimate gentleness, laying down His life for us while we were yet sinners. The Christian who has money must therefore be on constant guard against this temptation, actively cultivating a spirit of gentleness and generosity, remembering the grace that was shown to him when he had nothing.

Application

This proverb is a mirror. When we read it, we must ask ourselves which person we are. And the answer, in our flesh, is that we are both. We are all tempted to be the rich man, to answer harshly when we are in a position of power, whether that power is financial, positional, or intellectual. We are tempted to forget our own constant dependence on God for our very next breath.

At the same time, we are all the poor man. Before the throne of God, we have no standing. We can only speak supplications. Our only hope is that the King is gracious. The good news of the gospel is that He is. God in Christ does not answer our pleas for mercy with "strong words" of condemnation, but with words of pardon and adoption, purchased by the blood of His Son.

Therefore, the application is twofold. First, we must cultivate a deep awareness of our spiritual poverty before God. We must come to Him daily with nothing but supplications, pleading the merits of Christ. This is what it means to be "poor in spirit." Second, out of that posture of humility, we must deal graciously with others. If we are in a position of wealth or authority, we are commanded to reject the world's pattern of harshness and instead imitate our Savior. Our words to those who are in need should be marked by gentleness, compassion, and a generosity that flows from a heart that knows it has received mercy it did not deserve. We must see every poor man as a representative of our own state apart from grace, and as an opportunity to display the kindness of the God who heard our own desperate cry.