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Proverbs 20:9
Verse
Context
Sermons
Zac Poonen
C.H. Spurgeon
Samuel Alexander Danford
St. Augustine
St. John Chrysostom
Edward PaysonSummary
Commentary
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
9 Who can say I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sins? It is the same thought that Solomon expresses in his prayer at the consecration of the temple, Kg1 8:46 : there is no man who sinneth not. To cleanse his heart (as Psa 73:13), is equivalent to to empty it, by self-examination and earnest effort after holiness, of all impure motives and inclinations; vid., regarding זכה, to be piercing, shining brightly, cloudlessly pure, Fleischer in Levy's Chald. Wrterbuch, i. 424. The consequence of זכּות is, becoming pure; and the consequence of זכּות לב, i.e., of the purifying of the heart, the being pure from sinful conduct: I have become pure from my sins, i.e., from such as I might fall into by not resisting temptations; the suffix is not understood as actual, but as potential, like Psa 18:24. No one can boast of this, for man's knowledge of himself and of his sins remains always limited (Jer 17:9.; Psa 19:13); and sin is so deeply rooted in his nature (Job 14:4; Job 15:14-16), that the remains of a sinful tendency always still conceal themselves in the folds of his heart, sinful thoughts still cross his soul, sinful inclinations still sometimes by their natural force overcome the moral resistance that opposes them, and stains of all kinds still defile even his best actions.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
The interrogation in the affirmative strengthens the implied negation (compare Job 15:14; Ecc 7:20).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Who can say, I have made my heart clean,.... The heart of than is naturally unclean, the mind, conscience, understanding, will, and affections; there is no part clean, all are defiled with sin; and though there is such a thing as a pure or clean heart, yet not as made so by men; it is God that has made the heart, that can only make it clean, or create a clean heart in men; it is not to be done by themselves, or by anything that they can do; it is done only by the grace of God, and blood of Christ: God has promised to do it, and he does it; and to him, and to him only, is it to be ascribed; I am pure from my sin? the sin of nature or of action: such indeed who are washed from their sins in the blood of Christ; whose sins are all pardoned for his sake, and who are justified from all things by his righteousness; they are pure from sin, none is to be seen in them, or found upon them in a legal sense: they are all fair and comely, and without fault in the sight of God; their iniquities are caused to pass from them; and they are clothed with fine linen, clean and white, the righteousness of the saints: but then none are pure from indwelling sin, nor from the commission of sin; no man can say this, any more than the former; if he does, he is an ignorant man, and does not know the plague of his heart; and he is a vain pharisaical man; yea, a man that does not speak the truth, nor is the truth in him, Jo1 1:8.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
This question is not only a challenge to any man in the world to prove himself sinless, whatever he pretends, but a lamentation of the corruption of mankind, even that which remains in the best. Alas! Who can say, "I am sinless?" Observe, 1. Who the persons are that are excluded from these pretensions - all, one as well as another. Here, in this imperfect state, no person whatsoever can pretend to be without sin. Adam could say so in innocency, and saints can say so in heaven, but none in this life. Those that think themselves as good as they should be cannot, nay, and those that are really good will not, dare not, say this. 2. What the pretension is that is excluded. We cannot say, We have made our hearts clean. Though we can say, through grace, "We are cleaner than we have been," yet we cannot say, "We are clean and pure from all remainders of sin." Or, though we are clean from the gross acts of sin, yet we cannot say, "Our hearts are clean." Or, though we are washed and cleansed, yet we cannot say, "We ourselves made our own hearts clean;" it was the work of the Spirit. Or, though we are pure from the sins of many others, yet we cannot say, "We are pure from our sin, the sin that easily besets us, the body of death which Paul complained of," Rom 7:24.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
20:9 Wise people recognize their own weaknesses. Pride prohibits people from seeing their faults (6:17-18; 11:2; 13:10; 15:33; 16:18; 18:12; see also 1 Jn 1:8-10).
Proverbs 20:9
Wine Is a Mocker
8A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes. 9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
- Scripture
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- Commentary
(Basics) 5. the Function of Conscience
By Zac Poonen3.5K12:37GEN 3:6PRO 20:9MAT 9:12ROM 3:231TI 1:151PE 2:241JN 1:9In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of conscience as God's greatest gift to humanity. He explains that conscience serves as a warning signal, much like pain in our physical bodies, indicating when we fall short of God's standards. The speaker highlights how children naturally exhibit selfish tendencies and a propensity for wrongdoing, which stems from the sinful nature inherited from Adam and Eve. He also points out that even religious individuals can possess selfishness masked by external displays of goodness. Ultimately, the sermon teaches that our selfishness is the root cause of all our problems and that we must strive to align ourselves with God's standards.
Sin Immeasurable
By C.H. Spurgeon1.9K36:19PSA 19:12PRO 20:9JON 1:3MAT 7:3ROM 3:23EPH 2:81JN 1:9In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the sinful nature of humanity and the extent of our guilt. He uses the analogy of a heated bar of iron being struck by hammers, with the sparks representing our sins. The preacher highlights that our sinful nature is like the iron, and temptations are the hammers that bring forth our sins. He emphasizes that it is every person's duty to believe in and trust Jesus Christ, not because of anything we are or do, but because God commands it. The preacher also encourages listeners to come to Christ, no matter how hard-hearted or sinful they may feel, as He is able to save and transform them.
Inbred Sin
By Samuel Alexander Danford0GEN 5:3GEN 6:5JOB 14:4JOB 15:14PRO 20:9Samuel Alexander Danford preaches about the sinful nature of man inherited from Adam, emphasizing the impossibility of producing purity from impurity and the continuous evil in man's heart. He questions the ability of man to be clean or righteous on his own, highlighting the innate sinfulness that plagues humanity and the inability to cleanse oneself from sin.
Exposition on Psalm 149
By St. Augustine0PSA 149:1PSA 149:4PRO 20:9MAT 10:34MAT 19:6MAT 19:212CO 5:1HEB 4:12REV 18:6St. Augustine preaches about the importance of praising the Lord in voice, understanding, and good works, emphasizing the need to sing a new song unto Him. He contrasts the old song of earthly desires with the new song of eternal love and charity. Augustine highlights the Church of the saints as a spiritual union that transcends earthly boundaries, calling for unity and charity among believers. He delves into the joy of seeing God and the eternal glory of the saints, encouraging believers to exult in God's love and salvation. Augustine also discusses the power of the Word of God as a two-edged sword and the role of saints in executing God's judgment with love and righteousness.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
By St. John Chrysostom0PSA 73:7PRO 20:9ISA 1:18JER 7:17JHN 14:211CO 3:1John Chrysostom preaches to the Corinthians about the dangers of being carnal and not spiritual, highlighting the need to grow in faith and knowledge of God's wisdom. He emphasizes the importance of building our foundation on Jesus Christ and being united in Him to avoid division and jealousy. Chrysostom encourages believers to be vigilant in their faith, to repent of sins, and to seek God's mercy and forgiveness, knowing that God desires our salvation and is willing to forgive. He warns against falling into despair but urges believers to confess their sins, mourn over their offenses, and turn away from worldly temptations to secure their place in the eternal kingdom.
Our Sins Infinite in Number and Enormity
By Edward Payson0PRO 20:9ISA 53:5MAT 12:36JHN 3:16ROM 3:23ROM 6:23EPH 1:7JAS 4:171JN 1:9Edward Payson preaches about the infinite wickedness and iniquities of humanity, emphasizing that every individual, regardless of outward appearances, is guilty of numerous sins in their hearts, thoughts, words, and actions. He delves into the sinful nature of human hearts, thoughts, and tongues, highlighting the pervasive sinfulness that stems from disobedience to God's law and the gospel's precepts. Payson stresses the necessity of recognizing the infinite evil and criminality of sin, deserving of an everlasting punishment, and the crucial role of Christ's atonement in providing salvation for those burdened by their sins.
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
9 Who can say I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sins? It is the same thought that Solomon expresses in his prayer at the consecration of the temple, Kg1 8:46 : there is no man who sinneth not. To cleanse his heart (as Psa 73:13), is equivalent to to empty it, by self-examination and earnest effort after holiness, of all impure motives and inclinations; vid., regarding זכה, to be piercing, shining brightly, cloudlessly pure, Fleischer in Levy's Chald. Wrterbuch, i. 424. The consequence of זכּות is, becoming pure; and the consequence of זכּות לב, i.e., of the purifying of the heart, the being pure from sinful conduct: I have become pure from my sins, i.e., from such as I might fall into by not resisting temptations; the suffix is not understood as actual, but as potential, like Psa 18:24. No one can boast of this, for man's knowledge of himself and of his sins remains always limited (Jer 17:9.; Psa 19:13); and sin is so deeply rooted in his nature (Job 14:4; Job 15:14-16), that the remains of a sinful tendency always still conceal themselves in the folds of his heart, sinful thoughts still cross his soul, sinful inclinations still sometimes by their natural force overcome the moral resistance that opposes them, and stains of all kinds still defile even his best actions.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
The interrogation in the affirmative strengthens the implied negation (compare Job 15:14; Ecc 7:20).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Who can say, I have made my heart clean,.... The heart of than is naturally unclean, the mind, conscience, understanding, will, and affections; there is no part clean, all are defiled with sin; and though there is such a thing as a pure or clean heart, yet not as made so by men; it is God that has made the heart, that can only make it clean, or create a clean heart in men; it is not to be done by themselves, or by anything that they can do; it is done only by the grace of God, and blood of Christ: God has promised to do it, and he does it; and to him, and to him only, is it to be ascribed; I am pure from my sin? the sin of nature or of action: such indeed who are washed from their sins in the blood of Christ; whose sins are all pardoned for his sake, and who are justified from all things by his righteousness; they are pure from sin, none is to be seen in them, or found upon them in a legal sense: they are all fair and comely, and without fault in the sight of God; their iniquities are caused to pass from them; and they are clothed with fine linen, clean and white, the righteousness of the saints: but then none are pure from indwelling sin, nor from the commission of sin; no man can say this, any more than the former; if he does, he is an ignorant man, and does not know the plague of his heart; and he is a vain pharisaical man; yea, a man that does not speak the truth, nor is the truth in him, Jo1 1:8.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
This question is not only a challenge to any man in the world to prove himself sinless, whatever he pretends, but a lamentation of the corruption of mankind, even that which remains in the best. Alas! Who can say, "I am sinless?" Observe, 1. Who the persons are that are excluded from these pretensions - all, one as well as another. Here, in this imperfect state, no person whatsoever can pretend to be without sin. Adam could say so in innocency, and saints can say so in heaven, but none in this life. Those that think themselves as good as they should be cannot, nay, and those that are really good will not, dare not, say this. 2. What the pretension is that is excluded. We cannot say, We have made our hearts clean. Though we can say, through grace, "We are cleaner than we have been," yet we cannot say, "We are clean and pure from all remainders of sin." Or, though we are clean from the gross acts of sin, yet we cannot say, "Our hearts are clean." Or, though we are washed and cleansed, yet we cannot say, "We ourselves made our own hearts clean;" it was the work of the Spirit. Or, though we are pure from the sins of many others, yet we cannot say, "We are pure from our sin, the sin that easily besets us, the body of death which Paul complained of," Rom 7:24.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
20:9 Wise people recognize their own weaknesses. Pride prohibits people from seeing their faults (6:17-18; 11:2; 13:10; 15:33; 16:18; 18:12; see also 1 Jn 1:8-10).