There had been no time for thought…his reaction had been instantaneous, the result of years of practice and awareness of danger.”
–Louis L’Amour (Taggart)
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
–Matthew 5:8 (NIV)
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Again we see the warning from the father. Interestingly it is to the son from the father, but looking back at verse 20 we see that he is not to forsake the law of his mother. Remember that the father was responsible for the training, education, and upbringing of the child while the mother was responsible for their nurturing. It might be better in today’s culture that the warning would go to both children. As we look at Proverbs 6:25-29, we need to review: “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (4:23, NKJV).
25 — Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids.
26 — For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; and an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.
27 — Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
28 — Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared?
29 — So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; whoever touches her shall not be innocent. (NKJV)
Oh, the fluttering and flirting of a woman’s eyelashes. We’ve seen the movies, and the cartoons that make use and fun of this idea, but here Solomon is giving valid advice. The ESV translates verse 25, “Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes.” Outward sin always begins in the mind; therefore, it is imperative to guard the heart with diligence. The words of Jesus come to mind, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28, NIV)
Warren Wiersbe writes, “The Word of God in the mind and heart is like a guide who leads us on the safe path and protects us from attacks. It’s also like a friend who talks to us and counsels us along the way.” To wander off the path is dangerous and think of it–the “strange woman”, the immoral life, can reduce a person to a crust of bread. This means to be degraded to the lowest level of poverty. A person is taking chances with health and life. McGee states, “The presence of a desire isn’t the same as the privilege to satisfy that desire.”
Notice the analogy with fire. Fire, under control and used properly is a good thing. However, fire can be dangerous. How many times have we heard, “you play with fire and you’re going to get burned”? “Fire is a good thing if it’s confined and controlled. It can keep us warm, cook our food, drive our turbines, and manufacture our electricity. Sex is a good gift from God, but like fire, if it gets out of control, it becomes destructive. What begins as a ‘warm’ experience soon becomes a burning experience, like holding a torch in your lap or walking on burning coals.” (Wiersbe) Verses 27 and 28 ask some pointed questions, and J.L. Flores reminds us that, “The scar of the burn will remain even after the wound is healed.”
Blisters, scars, wounds that bring pain and often it remains for a long time. The warning is here–there is a danger of flirting with disaster. Dan Dick says, “There is nothing to be gained by seeing how close we can come to sin without feeling its heat.” We should pray this little prayer: “Guard me from the fire which consumes, and cover me with the fire which cleanses. Make me pure in the fire of your love, removing from my life the ash and soot of the fires of sin.” (Dick)