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Proverbs 20:19

Proverbs 20:19

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Pastor Martin expounds Proverbs 20:19, which warns against tale-bearers and those who open wide their lips. He presents a two-pronged exhortation: to learn to keep secrets and to avoid those who cannot. Martin emphasizes the need for parents to instruct their children to be selective in their company, even if it means ostracizing peers and being accused of being 'Holier than thou.' He grounds this in the reality of moral contagion and the unconscious imitation among children, urging parents to prepare their children for suffering for righteousness' sake.

Primary Texts

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Proverbs 20:19 This is the sole primary text, directly quoted and expounded upon throughout the sermon.

Outline 6 sections · 3 min

  1. The Pivotal Principle of Proverbs 20:19 0:00
  2. Two-Pronged Exhortation: Keeping Secrets and Avoiding Tale-Bearers 0:26
  3. Avoiding Moral Contagion in Company 0:44
  4. Instructing Children to Ostracize Peers 1:15
  5. Preparing for Accusations and Suffering for Righteousness 1:38
  6. The Necessity of Teaching God's Truth Against Evil Influence 1:55

Key Quotes

“He that goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets. Therefore, company not with him that opens wide his lips.”
“Here is a two-pronged exhortation. On the one hand, it is an exhortation to learn how to keep a secret. And on the second, it is to avoid those who don't know how to keep secrets. Why? Because you'll end up being like them.”
“Namely, we must seek to have our children recognize those who would be instruments of moral contagion and contagion. And to avoid them.”
“Crucially, ostracize their peers? Yes. Well, they'll be accused of being Holier than thou. That's right.”
“That's fine, be prepared for that suffering for righteousness sake.”
“But, you must bring to bear upon the consciences of your children the Truth of God.”
“there is always the pull from the evil companion and his influence upon even the righteous one.”

Applications

All listeners

  • Bring home the principle of Proverbs 20:19 to the consciences of your children.
  • Learn how to keep a secret.
  • Avoid those who don't know how to keep secrets, because you'll end up being like them.
  • Seek to have your children recognize and avoid those who would be instruments of moral contagion.
  • Instruct your children to not keep company with someone who can't keep secrets and spills everything they know.
  • Instruct your children to ostracize their peers if necessary, even if they are accused of being 'Holier than thou'.
  • Be prepared for suffering for righteousness' sake when people accuse you of thinking your kids are better than everybody else's.
  • Bring to bear upon the consciences of your children the Truth of God, teaching them this great principle.

A full transcript is available on the tab. 7 paragraphs, roughly 3 minutes.

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