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.