Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.

In my experience my earthly father had no commandments and my mother never taught me anything. In order for me to have a proper understanding of this part of the proverb I need to relate to someone else’s life, not my own.

At the time of the writing of this proverb the people who might read it were Jewish and living under the commandments of God. Their history showed a sequence of non-compliance that resulted in rulers that followed other gods and false prophets. Not the best example, but one that fits my parents who did not raise me in a manner related in any way in believing in anything except perhaps life is a struggle.

Since this is part and parcel to our bible perhaps I should look to the author of the writing and not my earthly parents.

God is the author, so my father would be Father God. My mother who teaches might be best described as the church, that is where I can find bible teachings. But what is the lesson for today? The title assigned to this section is “Warnings Against Adultery”, plural, warnings not just a warning.

The proverb lists reasons why it is a good thing to follow the advice of mom and dad, but considering they didn’t give me advice, then let us leave it to the bible to advise us. 

“Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you. For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,”

Then we find the words in Proverbs 6:24 “to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.” These words make it sound like it is the woman’s fault. Wow, adultery is one sided, men are trapped by women, not the other way around? Seems wrong to me.

Oh, I get it now, women were treated differently than men.

Proverbs 6:16-19 English Standard Version

16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Since Life Lesson 6 was about being warned, then number 7 seems appropriate in the sense that it is about avoiding those things that make our Lord angry.

1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

When we walk with Christ He shares His thoughts, He shares His heart. This new covenant makes all the difference in knowledge and understanding. 

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son”

We get our knowledge of Him directly from Him, not someone else. Letting Him into our hearts places Him in our lives is not unlike getting married and leaving mother and father and making a life with a spouse. This life with Christ becomes a cooperative, we do things together because of love not because of the law. We avoid doing things that our espoused hates because He is with us in a real, loving relationship.

Doxology

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Living by faith is living with Christ in our hearts that makes all things possible.