He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself
shame
Intimating, that though the simple, and such as want
understanding, and of whom there is hope of doing them good, are
to be invited into Wisdom's house; yet not the haughty scorner,
the abandoned sinner, the scoffer at all religion, who walks
after his own lusts, and is quite irreclaimable; it is but
casting pearls before swine, and giving that which is holy to
dogs, to reprove and exhort such persons; though the Gospel is to
be preached to every creature, yet when men despise it, and make
a mock at it, they are to be turned from, and no more is to be
said to them; as the Jews of old, they were the first invited to
the Gospel feast, the same that is described in the context; they
made light of it, contradicted and blasphemed the word, and so
judged themselves unworthy of it; wherefore Wisdom's maidens, or
Christ's ministers, were bid to turn from them, and go to the
Gentiles, and preach it to them; for it is to no purpose to
address such persons; "shame" is the sure consequence of it,
because a man is disappointed of the end he has in view, which is
doing good; and he that rebuketh a wicked [man getteth]
himself a blot;
this shows who is meant by a scorner, a very profligate man, bent
on his wicked ways, and quite incorrigible; to rebuke such an one
is not only labour lost, and in vain, but the rebuker getteth
himself an ill name, and is sure to have the dirt of reproach and
scandal cast upon him; though this a man might patiently bear, if
there was any hope of doing good.
Proverbs 9:7
