NOTES for Pro 15:3

The sacred writer's statement about God, who sees the evil and the good alike, can be interpreted in different ways. There will be, perhaps, some whom this thought confirms either in complacency, if they openly or deep down realize that in God's eyes they will turn out to be evil rather than good, or in despondency, if they count themselves among the good and hope for swift heavenly justice. Meanwhile, the author of the aphorism, it appears, says nothing about God's attitude toward what He sees. The author only states the fact that nothing is hidden from God.

Of course, this statement itself was needed most of all because, for many, what is said is not obvious at all. Sometimes it can really seem that God has no concern for people and their good and evil deeds. But what if the sacred writer is right? Then the most natural thing is to suppose that justice is only being postponed. And why it is being postponed is something we can only surmise.

From the point of view of New Testament revelation, much is explained by the Savior's parable of the wheat and the weeds sown in one field: until the time of harvest they grow together, otherwise there is a chance of pulling up the ears of grain along with the weeds. Indeed, it is hardly possible to change a person radically without the complete transformation of human nature, just as it is impossible to change human society radically. In that case, every attempt at the radical destruction of sin will inevitably turn into something resembling a worldwide flood. And God waits for the day of harvest. And we wait for the day of Judgment and final transformation.

Once again, the proverbs remind us that great deeds begin with words, and the saying that a gentle answer turns away anger, while an insulting word stirs up rage seems to raise no objections. Yet for two thousand years now, many people have found it hard to accept Christ's words about turning the other cheek. They seem so paradoxical that following them appears impossible even to many Christians who strive to keep the commandments. But if we see the words about a gentle answer as a threshold to this Gospel principle, we will begin to approach an understanding of it. The ability to master oneself is where a change in relations with others begins: if you want to change the world, start with yourself.

The Lord sees everything, so there is no point in pretending before him. A sinner dislikes reproof and would like to appear attractive, but reproof is not always explicit. The Lord silently reproves the evil we do simply by seeing it, and mysteriously troubles the sinner through the voice of conscience that the sinner suppresses.

Years will pass, and the Lord will say through the prophet that he hates hypocritical sacrifices, that he desires mercy, not sacrifice. But long before that, it was already proclaimed that both the sacrifice of the wicked and their way are an abomination before the Lord. The little a person has brings more joy if they live in peace with the Lord than an abundance does if they live without him, and still more so if they live in opposition to him.