Proverbs 1:10

Letters to the Faithful - Proverbs 1:10

Berean Standard Bible

My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.

King James Bible

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Hebrew Text:

בְּנִ֡י אִם־יְפַתּ֥וּךָ חַ֝טָּאִ֗ים אַל־תֹּבֵֽא׃

Transliteration:

B'ni im-yeftukha chatta'im al-tove.

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My son

This phrase indicates a paternal or mentoring relationship, suggesting wisdom being passed from a father to a son. It reflects the familial structure of ancient Israelite society, where the family was the primary unit of education and moral instruction. The use of "my son" is common in wisdom literature, emphasizing the personal and intimate nature of the guidance being offered. It also mirrors God's relationship with His people, portraying Him as a loving Father who desires the best for His children.

if sinners entice you

The term "sinners" refers to those who live in opposition to God's laws and moral standards. In the context of ancient Israel, this could include idolaters, thieves, or those who engage in corrupt practices. The word "entice" suggests a temptation or lure, often appealing to one's desires or weaknesses. This reflects the ever-present danger of being led astray by those who reject God's ways. The Bible frequently warns against the influence of the wicked, as seen in Psalm 1:1, which advises against walking in the counsel of the ungodly.

do not yield to them

This is a clear directive to resist temptation and maintain one's integrity. The call to "not yield" implies an active decision to stand firm in one's convictions, despite external pressures. This echoes the broader biblical theme of resisting evil, as seen in James 4:7, which encourages believers to resist the devil. The instruction aligns with the teachings of Jesus, who resisted temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), serving as a model for believers to follow. The emphasis is on personal responsibility and the strength found in adhering to God's wisdom.

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Beloved brothers and sisters, called by God and sanctified in Christ Jesus, let us incline our hearts this day to the voice of wisdom. Let us silence the noise of this present age and open our ears to the ancient cry that still echoes through the streets of time. For from the mouth of the Lord, through the pen of Solomon, by the breath of the Spirit, we hear the warning: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.”

This is the voice of a father to a son. But more than that, it is the voice of a Father to His children—God speaking through His Word to each of us, regardless of age or status, gender or experience. It is the cry of heaven that seeks to keep us from the snares that have caught many. It is the loving caution of the Most High, who knows the end from the beginning and desires not the death of the sinner, but that all should turn and live.

“If sinners entice you…”—and they will. Make no mistake, Church. The enticement of sin is not rare, nor subtle, nor slow. It is persistent, persuasive, and patient. It does not always wear a mask of evil; it often comes clothed in charm, wrapped in familiarity, appealing to desire, ambition, pleasure, or belonging. The enticement may come through friends, through culture, through voices that sound kind, through opportunities that look harmless, but at the core it is the same: an invitation to depart from the way of wisdom, to leave the fear of the Lord, and to walk in a path that leads to death.

Notice that the Scripture does not merely say, “Flee from sinners,” but rather addresses the moment of persuasion: “if sinners entice you.” It is not the mere presence of the wicked that is the danger, but their persuasion—what they offer, what they promise, what they whisper in the ear of the soul. Sin rarely kicks down the door; it knocks, softly, cunningly, persistently. It appeals to curiosity. It offers shortcuts. It mocks holiness as boring, outdated, or extreme. And it always asks for one thing first: consent.

“Do not consent.” This is where the battle is waged—in the heart, in the will, in the moment of decision. The power of temptation is not in its existence, but in our agreement. The serpent in the garden had no authority over Eve until she consented. David was not destroyed by a glance, but by his agreement. Judas was not condemned for being tempted, but for yielding to it. The enemy of your soul cannot force you to sin; he must persuade you. He must make you say yes. And the Word of God is clear: say no. Turn. Walk away. Refuse. Stand.

This is not the voice of legalism. This is not the oppressive cry of cold religion. This is the voice of a Father who loves His children, who knows the destruction that waits on the other side of that consent. For the sinner entices not for your good, but for your ruin. The world may offer pleasure, but it never tells you the price. The devil may show you the crown, but he hides the chains. And the flesh will cry out for indulgence, but it will not tell you how hollow you will feel when it is over.

O Church, this is the hour when we must teach our hearts to say no. Not with bitterness, but with wisdom. Not in pride, but in humility. Not because we are strong, but because God is good. To refuse the enticement of sin is not to embrace emptiness, but to cling to fullness. It is to choose the better portion, to drink from the living well, to walk in light rather than stumble in darkness. God never calls us from something unless He is calling us to something greater.

Young people, hear the Word of the Lord: the world will entice you with false freedom, with counterfeit love, with cheap thrills. It will call you away from purity, from prayer, from purpose. Do not consent. Middle-aged and weary in the faith—when compromise seems easier than conviction, when shortcuts seem appealing—do not consent. Elders in the Church, examples to the next generation—let your life say, “I did not consent, and God was faithful.”

And what of those who have consented? What of those who gave in to the voice of the tempter, who said yes when they should have fled? Take heart, for the mercy of God is greater than your failure. Though sin enticed you and you gave in, grace now calls louder: “Return to Me,” says the Lord. He who was enticed in the wilderness but did not sin—Jesus Christ, the Son of God—He now stands ready to receive all who repent. His cross is the place where every sinful consent is canceled, and every willing soul is cleansed.

Let us also remember that Jesus Himself was enticed—not by sinners only, but by Satan himself. He was tempted in the wilderness with power, with glory, with bread, with identity. But He did not consent. And because He did not yield, He now gives us the strength to say no. You are not left to your own willpower; the Spirit of God empowers you to walk in holiness. You do not fight alone; Christ fights in you.

Let us then take this simple word from Proverbs and engrave it on our hearts. In a world of many voices, let us cling to the voice of the Father. In the moment of enticement, let us remember this command: “Do not consent.” Let our yes be for righteousness, our no be for sin. Let our lives be marked not by compromise, but by consecration.

May the Church rise in purity. May the saints walk in wisdom. May the sons and daughters of God refuse the path of the wicked and instead walk the narrow road that leads to life.

To the glory of God the Father, through the Son who was tempted and overcame, and by the power of the Holy Spirit who keeps us from falling—

Amen.

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O Holy and Righteous Father,

God of wisdom and light, who dwells in majesty unapproachable and yet stoops to speak to Your children, we lift our voices to You in humility and trembling. You are the Fountain of all truth, the Giver of every good and perfect gift, the Keeper of those who fear Your name. We come before You, not in our own strength, but in the name of Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word made flesh, who was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.

We thank You, O Lord, for Your holy Word, which speaks not only to the ancient ones, but to us now. You have not left us to wander in the dark, but You have given us a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. And today, by the voice of wisdom in the Book of Proverbs, You speak to us as a loving Father speaks to His children: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.” What mercy, Lord, that You warn before we fall. What kindness, that You cry aloud before the snare is sprung.

Gracious Father, we confess that our hearts are often too easily drawn toward the enticements of sin. We are weak, and our flesh is vulnerable. The voices of temptation surround us in this age. They come not with horns and fury, but with smiles and false promises, speaking words that appeal to pride, to pleasure, to comfort, to greed. They offer shortcuts, counterfeit identities, false freedoms, and momentary thrills, yet they lead only to chains. And still, Lord, too often we listen. Too often we hesitate. Too often we consent.

Forgive us, O God. Forgive us for every time we yielded to temptation. Forgive us for silencing the voice of the Spirit and entertaining the whispers of sin. Forgive us for loving the approval of the world more than the presence of the Holy One. Wash us clean in the blood of the Lamb. Restore our discernment. Rekindle our reverence. Give us a heart that hates what You hate and loves what You love.

We pray now, Almighty God, give us the strength to say no when the tempter comes. Give us ears to hear Your warning above the noise of compromise. Give us spiritual eyes to see the hook behind the bait, the pit behind the promise. Let us not be fooled by the smooth tongue or the crooked path. Let us not mistake rebellion for freedom, or shame for pleasure. Give us clarity, conviction, and courage to stand when others fall.

Empower us, Lord, by Your Holy Spirit, that we may not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Let the mind of Christ govern our thoughts. Let the fear of the Lord be the guard over our decisions. Let the love of Christ compel us to holiness. Let the fire of devotion burn brighter than the lure of sin. Let us be a people who consent only to righteousness, only to truth, only to what brings glory to Your name.

We pray for the young among us—sons and daughters who are growing up in a crooked and perverse generation. Guard them, Lord. Let them not be enticed by the call of the wicked, by the seduction of this world, by the snares of peer pressure, or the illusion of acceptance. Raise up a generation with clean hands and pure hearts, who will not lift up their souls to falsehood.

We pray for those who walk in hidden temptation even now, those in secret battles, those wearied by the constant pull of sin. Strengthen them in the inner man. Visit them with holy fear and holy love. Let them know that no temptation has overtaken them except what is common to man—and You are faithful, and You will provide a way of escape. Lord, open that way. Show it clearly. Lead Your sons and daughters out of the shadow and into the light.

We pray for the Church, Your Bride, Your chosen people. Let us be a holy people, set apart, unmoved by the pressures of a world that entices and accuses. Let our witness be strong, our lives blameless, our message untainted by compromise. Let our pulpits declare the truth without fear, and let our lives adorn the gospel with integrity. Let us be a people who know how to say no—not out of pride, but out of love for our King.

And we thank You, Father, that even when we fail, You are the God who restores. You are the Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to pursue the one. You are the Redeemer who buys back the broken. You are the Advocate who pleads for us before the throne. We rest in Your mercy, and we rise in Your grace.

Let Your name be exalted, O Lord. Let sinners be warned. Let saints be strengthened. Let the Son of God be glorified in our obedience and magnified in our resistance. And when the day of testing comes, let us stand—clothed in righteousness, filled with the Spirit, and holding fast to the Word of Life.

In the matchless and mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord,

Amen.