11But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
John 20:11-18
"The first time she had met Jesus, He had cast seven demons out of her."1 Prostitutes, someone who is a sister of the gods or demon-possessed, or an adulteress can be restored and given Eternal Life. It would surely be better to teach our children well and have things so wrong choices are not made to their harm. That is not the case for everyone, some of us learn the hard way and suffer loss and pain. Even so, there is a Way and that Way is Jesus.
Read the scriptures and the witnesses below and see for yourself which choice is better, Lady Wisdom- Wisdom or Lady Stupidity- Folly.
Proverbs 9:13 Those who reject Wisdom’s feast are prime prospects for Folly’s fast. Notice the obvious contrast between Wisdom’s elegant offer (vv. 1–6) and Folly’s tawdry proposition (vv. 13–18).
The foolish woman is loudmouthed, empty-headed, and brazenfaced.
Proverbs 9:14–16 She sits outside her front door or on conspicuous heights of the city, not as a gracious lady, but as the shameless harlot she is.
She is out to seduce men who are easily led, simple fellows who have no sense.
Proverbs 9:17 Her line is, "Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." Basically she means that illicit intercourse is attractive because it is forbidden and because there is the intrigue of secrecy about it.
When fallen human nature is forbidden to do a certain thing, that prohibition stirs up the desire to do it all the more (see Rom. 7:7, 8). The harlot appeals to this depraved instinct in man. She invites the gullible and the "easy touches" in for a visit.
Proverbs 9:18 But she doesn’t tell them the other side of the story. Following the moment of pleasure and passion is the lifetime of remorse and the eternity in the depths of hell.
Even the world sometimes recognizes the truth of this verse. A very popular French song of the past century, speaking of the world’s idea of "love," put it well:
Love’s pleasure lasts only for a night;
Love’s chagrin lasts for a lifetime.
The French text is as follows:
2Plaisir d’amour ne dure qu’une nuit;
Chagrin d’amour dure toute la vie
13–18. A foolish woman is clamorous. Wisdom counsels complete separation from the scorner. Wisdom also counsels complete separation from the foolish woman. The man who would embrace wisdom must eschew them both. She, like wisdom, has a house. She, like wisdom, is particularly interested in the simple youth. She sits at her door and clamors forth a message to all who pass by. The primary emphasis here is on the nature of the invitation that she extends. Wisdom invites men as a teacher, while the foolish woman invites men as a lover, wishing to use them for her own personal pleasure. Those who heed wisdom’s plea are led into life (vs. 6), while those who accept the invitation of the foolish woman to partake of her water and bread are led to death. Her house is the very vestibule of sheol, the very throat of hell which, when entered, leads one irresistibly down into hell.3
THE SCHOOL OF THE FOOLISH WOMAN
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing [Proverbs 9:13].
You see, foolishness runs a school also. There are a lot of those around today.
For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city [Proverbs 9:14].
She doesn’t have to go out on the highways and byways to invite folk in; they come to her. Thousands are going to schools like this!
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell [Proverbs 9:16–18].
Oh, how many so-called wise men have turned in there and found a tragic end! It was Lord Byron who wrote toward the end of a life of debauchery:
My days are in the yellow leaf;
The flowers and fruits of love are gone;
The worm, the canker, and the grief
Are mine alone!
Byron had everything this world can offer—good looks, genius, fame, wealth, and yet he said, "the worm, the canker, and the grief are mine alone!" That is what the school of the foolish woman did for him.
A famous movie star here in California had been married to several of the beauties of the world during his life. The other day, as an old man, he committed suicide, leaving this note: "I am bored with life." How tragic.
May I say to you, foolishness still runs a college, and there is a long waiting list of those who clamor to enter. "But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell." 4
Proverbs 9:1–18. Chapter 9 serves as an epilogue to the 10 exhortations of the first eight chapters. One last time the father sets before the son the ultimate choice the son must make between wisdom and folly. Wisdom invites the son to her feast (vv. 1–6), but Folly, pictured as the foolish, adulterous woman, likewise invites the listener to her feast (vv. 13–18). The latter passage is the fifth and final warning against sexual immorality. The response to these two invitations can be that of the scoffer or mocker (vv. 7, 8) or that of the wise man (vv. 9–11). To listen to Wisdom is to live (v. 6), or gain abundant life; to listen to Folly is to die (v. 18), or tragically miss out on what life is all about. The father has properly taught the son. It is now the son’s decision as to whom to follow. One way leads to life; the other, to death.5
this is part of a larger study that is in progress... direct any questions to dougoxleg@yahoo.com
1, 2 William MacDonald; edited with introductions by Arthur Farstad, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1995 by William MacDonald.
3 Jerry Falwell, executive editor; Edward E. Hinson and Michael Kroll Woodrow, general editors, KJV Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1994.
4 J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee.
5 Thomas Nelson, Inc., King James Version Study Bible [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1988 by Liberty University.
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01/29/04 11:35:48 AM