Bible Commentary

Proverbs 20:1

Matthew Henry on Proverbs 20:1

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible · Matthew Henry · Public domain; electronic edition by Christian Classics Ethereal Library

Here is, 1. The mischief of drunkenness: Wine is a mocker; strong drink is raging. It is so to the sinner himself; it mocks him, makes a fool of him, promises him that satisfaction which it can never give him.

It smiles upon him at first, but at the last it bites. In reflection upon it, it rages in his conscience. It is raging in the body, puts the humours into a ferment. When the wine is in the wit is out, and then the man, according as his natural temper is, either mocks like a fool or rages like a madman.

Drunkenness, which pretends to be a sociable thing, renders men unfit for society, for it makes them abusive with their tongues and outrageous in their passions, . 2. The folly of drunkards is easily inferred thence.

He that is deceived thereby, that suffers himself to be drawn into this sin when he is so plainly warned of the consequences of it, is not wise; he shows that he has no right sense or consideration of things; and not only so, but he renders himself incapable of getting wisdom; for it is a sin that infatuates and besots men, and takes away their heart.

A drunkard is a fool, and a fool he is likely to be.

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commentaryMatthew Henry on Proverbs 20:1It seems hard to believe that men of the greatest abilities, as well as the ignorant, should render themselves fools and madmen, merely for the taste or excitement produced by strong liquors.Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Proverbs 20:1-5Evils to be avoided I. SOME SPECIAL EVILS AND DANGERS. 1. Drunkenness. (Proverbs 20:1.) The spirit or demon of wine is spoken of as a personal agent. It leads to frivolity, scoffing, profane and senseless mirth. To be d…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Proverbs 20:1Strong drink: four delusions That may be said to mock us which first professes to benefit us, and then proceeds to injure and even to destroy us. This is what is done by strong drink. First it cheers and brightens, puts…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Proverbs 20:1Wine the mocker Intemperance was not so common a vice in biblical times as it has become more recently, nor did the light wines of the East exercise so deleterious an effect as the strong drink that is manufactured in E…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Proverbs 20:1-30EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Proverbs 20:1Wine is a mocker; or, scorner, the word (luts) being taken up from the last chapter. The liquor is, as it were, personified, as doing what men do under its influence. Thus inebriated persons scoff at what is holy, rejec…Joseph S. Exell and contributors