Cultivating Discernment and Wisdom in Evaluating Teachings
Cultivating discernment and wisdom in evaluating teachings is a recurring theme throughout biblical literature, emphasizing both intellectual engagement and spiritual grounding. The book of Ecclesiastes highlights the role of a wise teacher who "pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs" to impart knowledge [1]. Similarly, Proverbs opens with the purpose of knowing "wisdom and instruction" and discerning "the words of understanding" [2]. This suggests an active process of seeking and processing information.
The development of wisdom is presented as an ongoing journey. Proverbs states that giving teaching to a wise person will make them wiser, and training an upright person will increase their learning [3]. This implies that wisdom is not a static state but grows through continuous instruction and application. Parents are exhorted to diligently teach their children God's commandments, "whetting or sharpening" these words through frequent repetition and instruction [12]. This diligent teaching is intended to bring children up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" [12].
A foundational element in cultivating discernment is the "fear of the Lord." This concept is not about terror, but rather a profound reverence and awe for God [5, 9]. It is described as a "healthy fear" that counteracts inner turmoil and brings inner peace [8]. The prophet Isaiah emphasizes that the issue is often a choice between fearing the Lord and fearing people [6]. When individuals fear people, the Lord can become a trap, leading to destruction, whereas fearing the Lord makes Him a sanctuary and assures salvation [6]. This fear of the Lord frees believers from the fear of human threats and persecution [7, 10]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown interpret "sanctify" in Isaiah 8:13 as honoring God's holy name by regarding Him as the only hope of safety, warning against provoking His wrath through fear of man and distrust [10].
The pursuit of wisdom also involves actively seeking God early and making it a primary concern [4]. Matthew Henry, commenting on Proverbs, stresses that the purpose of wisdom's discourse is to bring individuals into "entire subjection to the laws of religion," rectifying hearts and lives rather than merely filling minds with speculations [13]. This requires diligence in hearing and obeying the voice of wisdom, discerning the voice of Christ in God's word [13]. Even correction, when necessary, is presented as a means to impart wisdom, as "vexation sharpens the intellect" [11].
Sources
- Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 12:9 (BSB) — Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.”
- Proverbs “to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; -- Proverbs 1:2”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 9:9 (BBE) — Give teaching to a wise man, and he will become wiser; give training to an upright man, and his learning will be increased.”
- Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 8:5: seek unto God betimes--early. Make it the first and chief anxiety (Psa 78:34; Hos 5:15; Isa 26:9; Pro 8:17; Pro 13:24).”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 65:8: 65:8 All over the world (Job 38:13; see Ps 50:1-3), people should stand in awe of the Lord.”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 8:11: 8:11-15 This text reveals the heart of Isaiah’s message. The issue was fear of the Lord versus fear of people (see 7:9; 8:6). When an individual fears people, the Lord becomes a trap and destruction is certain (cp. Prov 29:25; see “Fearing People” Theme Note). For those who fear the Lord, he becomes a sanctuary; their salvation is assured.”
- 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 3:14: 3:14-15 or be afraid of their threats: See Isa 8:13, where God exhorts the prophet to fear nothing except the Lord. • worship Christ as Lord: By fearing Christ, they will be free from fear of their human persecutors.”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 15:16: 15:16 A healthy fear for the Lord counteracts inner turmoil and brings inner peace. • Better to have little: See also 16:8.”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 9:10: 9:10-12 Fear of the Lord: See study note on 1:7.”
- Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 8:13: Sanctify--Honor His holy name by regarding Him as your only hope of safety (Isa 29:23; Num 20:12). him . . . fear--"fear" lest you provoke His wrath by your fear of man and distrust of Him.”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:15: Parents, in educating their children, must consider, 1. The benefit of due correction. They must not only tell their children what is good and evil, but they must chide them, and correct them too, if need be, when they either neglect that which is good or do that which is evil. If a reproof will serve without the rod, it is well, but the rod must never be used without a rational and grave reproof; and then, though it may be a present uneasiness both to the father and to the child, yet it will give wisdom. Vexatio dat intellectum - Vexation sharpens the intellec”
- Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 6:7: And thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children,.... Care and diligence are to be used, and pains taken, to instruct children, as soon as they are capable, in the knowledge of God, and of his commandments; that they are to love him, fear him, serve, and worship him; this is to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Eph 6:4, it may be rendered "thou shalt whet or sharpen them" (s), the words or commandments; it is expressive of diligence and industry in teaching, by frequent repetition of things, by inculcating them continually into their m”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 8:32: We have here the application of Wisdom's discourse; the design and tendency of it is to bring us all into an entire subjection to the laws of religion, to make us wise and good, not to fill our heads with speculations, or our tongues with disputes, but to rectify what is amiss in our hearts and lives. In order to this, here is, I. An exhortation to hear and obey the voice of Wisdom, to attend and comply with the good instructions that the word of God gives us, and in them to discern the voice of Christ, as the sheep know the shepherd's voice. 1. We must be dilig”