seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Proverbs 6:12 A troublemaker and a villain,
who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13 who winks maliciously with his eye,
signals with his feet
and motions with his fingers,
14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart—
he always stirs up conflict.
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13 who winks maliciously with his eye,
signals with his feet
and motions with his fingers,
14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart—
he always stirs up conflict.
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
This is from the easy English site.
Sometimes, an evil person is easy to identify. At other times, we must be careful. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 mentions a ‘secret’ evil power. The evil man in verses 12-15 is dangerous because his evil plan is secret. His signals are small, but these signals might help us to identify him.
Matthew 7:15-20 explains how to identify evil people. We must look for the results of these people’s actions. ‘A good tree cannot have bad fruit. A bad tree cannot have good fruit.’ (Matthew 7:18) If we see a poisonous tree, its fruit is poisonous. If we see a good tree (for example, an apple tree), its fruit is good.
Consider the actions of the man in Proverbs 6:12-15. In verse 12, he speaks false words. Such behaviour is not good. It warns us about the man’s true character. In verse 14, he starts arguments. This man’s behaviour is evil. We should not trust him.
We cannot see that the man is plotting an evil plan in his heart. However, we can already hear his arguments. And we can hear his false words. The results of his actions are wrong. He is like the bad tree in Matthew 7:18. The man’s actions are evil, so his plan will also be evil.
Matthew 7:15-20 explains how to identify evil people. We must look for the results of these people’s actions. ‘A good tree cannot have bad fruit. A bad tree cannot have good fruit.’ (Matthew 7:18) If we see a poisonous tree, its fruit is poisonous. If we see a good tree (for example, an apple tree), its fruit is good.
Consider the actions of the man in Proverbs 6:12-15. In verse 12, he speaks false words. Such behaviour is not good. It warns us about the man’s true character. In verse 14, he starts arguments. This man’s behaviour is evil. We should not trust him.
We cannot see that the man is plotting an evil plan in his heart. However, we can already hear his arguments. And we can hear his false words. The results of his actions are wrong. He is like the bad tree in Matthew 7:18. The man’s actions are evil, so his plan will also be evil.
I'm trying to find a good example but I don't want to step on toes... too much....
Sometimes you just can't spot an evil person. I took in a homeless person and they had a friend with a truck. They took everything I had while I was at work. I agreed to go to a "church" meeting on the Baltimore block [where all the strip clubs are] and that created grief for me that I am still trying to clean up after decades. I'm a very trusting person.... "gullible" I would say more than a few of the viewers of these threads would agree. My mother was a wicked woman. She use to brag about it... she use to tell a story about how she would goad the little girl across the style to come and play with her... and when the little girl came over the style... my mother would sic a mean goat on her. She also told everyone that at the age of 3 I picked up my baby sister and slung her across the room. It was her...not me... and when I told on her.... she called me the liar.... it took a lot of years for me to convince the right people and stop it. I've known a lot of evil people.
As for Solomon... the author of Proverbs.... I figure he would know a evil person when he saw them. Most successful businessmen can... they have to deal with evil people at times... so it's a good tool to have in the belt.
A bad tree can't bear good fruit.... that's the part that always throws me... I look for the good fruit... and I always find that one apple on the tree that hasn't been tainted.... but there is a lot of rotten fruit in the way... if that tree can make one good fruit... then it's not a bad tree.... and sometimes it takes a while to clean it all away again.... know what I mean?
