A Fool Despises Instruction

by Micky Galloway

“A fool despises his father’s instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent” (Proverbs 15:5 NKJV). The book of Proverbs has much to say about the wise man and the fool. In order for learning to take place, there must be a desire to learn. Many who heard Jesus’ teaching did not learn because they were fools, i.e. they would not listen. He warned after the parable of the sower, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 8:8). This statement is repeated in the letters to the seven churches of Asia (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). If we are to benefit from the revelation of God, we must willing to listen.

The Wise Man’s Attitude Toward Instruction. The wisdom writer said, “Buy the truth, and sell it not; (Yea), wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; And he that begetteth a wise child will have joy of him” (Proverbs 23:23-24). Jesus taught the same lesson in Matthew 13:44-46 describing a merchant who was seeking goodly pearls, “and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” The Bereans likewise illustrated their integrity in that they searched “the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Consider the attitude of the wise man toward the revelation of God. “Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee. Give (instruction) to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning” (Proverbs 9:8-9). “The wise in heart will receive commandments” (Proverbs 10:8). “He is in the way of life that heedeth correction; But he that forsaketh reproof erreth” (Proverbs 10:17). “Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge” (Proverbs 12:1). “The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life Shall abide among the wise” (Proverbs 15:31). “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end” (Proverbs 19:20). The wise man loves him who reproves him for his sin; he wants to be right to be well pleasing to the Lord.

The Foolish Man’s Attitude Toward Instruction. “... he who hates correction is stupid” (Proverbs 12:1 NKJV). This is translated from the Hebrew word “ba`ar — A verb meaning to be stupid, brutish. This root denotes being deluded, stupid for worshiping idols (Jer. 10:8), being without common religious sense Jer. 10:8,14) and led astray” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament). “… A scoffer heareth not rebuke” (Proverbs 13:1). More often than not the fool gets mad at the one who tells him the truth. Paul asked the Galatians when he exposed the false teachers among them, “So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16).

Is It A Waste Of Time To Continue Trying To Teach A Fool? The sad reality is expressed in the Scriptures. “Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words” (Proverbs 23:9). “Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him” (Proverbs 27:22 NASV). Pulpit Commentary notes, in this proverb, “is expressed the idea that the most elaborate pains are wasted on the incorrigible fool … an obstinate, self-willed, unprincipled man cannot be reformed by any means; his folly has become his second nature, and is not to be eliminated by any teaching, discipline, or severity.”

Jesus cautioned in the Sermon on the Mount, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you” (Matthew 7:6). He warned the apostles regarding the hypocritical Pharisees, “Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14).

Learning The Hard Way. Unfortunately, some will not learn until they endure the consequences of their foolishness. Again, the scriptures teach that “a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding” (Proverbs 10:13). “Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools” (Proverbs 19:29). Parents listen! “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; (But) the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15). It is better to learn the hard way than to not learn at all.

The End Of The Fool Is Destruction. “Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded” (Proverbs 13:13). “He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; (But) he that is careless of his ways shall die” (Proverbs 19:16). Knowing the end of a fool makes it difficult to watch as those we know and love insist on making foolish decisions.

More importantly, what is our attitude when someone lovingly tries to correct us? Do we get mad, offer a lame excuse or explanation, pout or point an accusing finger at them? Jesus said, “Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock …” On the other hand Jesus said, “every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand …” (Matthew 7:26). Simple isn’t it? Are we the wise man or the foolish man? Our actions speak louder than our words.