Proverbs 24:26

Driving home: He kisses the lips, or kisses with the lips, who gives the right answer.

The central metaphor of Proverbs 24:26 is used to illustrate that giving a correct and appropriate answer is a beautiful and affectionate act, conveying warmth and sincerity.

Chapter 24, verse 26. This is a beautiful imagery. You see, the writer of Proverbs and our Lord, they range over the full spectrum of legitimate analogies to try to get truth through to us. He kisses the lips, or kisses with the lips, who gives the right answer.

0:00 - 0:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Prepare your mind and heart with divine wisdom to give appropriate answers in difficult situations.

This example illustrates how a person, distressed and 'tied up in knots,' can be helped by someone whose mind and heart are furnished with divine wisdom, enabling them to give a right answer, which is as tender as an affectionate kiss.

So whichever translation is right, he kisses the lips, which would be an indication of a warm, sincere expression of affection, or he kisses with the lips, would make it a little bit less intense, but no matter which way you cut it, it's obvious that to give a right answer, that is, to have a mouth and a tongue prepared to give an appropriate answer in a given situation, is as lovely and gentle and tender a thing as an affectionate kiss. Someone comes all tied up in knots. What's the problem? And because the mind and heart have been furnished with divine wisdom, you give a right answer.

0:20 - 1:03 Read in full sermon