Proverbs 12:1

Proverbs 12:1

Whose loveth instruction loveth knowledge
That loves the instruction of Wisdom, or Christ, ( Proverbs 4:13 ) ( 8:10 ) ; the means of instruction, the Scriptures, which are profitable for instruction in righteousness, and are written for our learning; the Gospel, which instructs into the person, office, and grace of Christ; the ministers of the word, who are so many instructors in Christ; and even the rod of afflictions, by which men are taught their duty, and the will of God: and these are to be loved; and he that loves them clearly shows that he loves knowledge; since the means of instruction, making use of them, and getting instruction by them, are attended with labour, trouble, and difficulty; which a man would not choose, had he not a love unto and a desire after knowledge, and an increase of it; as the knowledge of God, of Christ, and of his truths. Aben Ezra inverts the words;

``he that loves knowledge loves instruction;''

but the sense is much the same; but he that hateth reproof [is] brutish;
or a "beast" ^F11: as the man that is willing to be instructed, in order to gain knowledge, shows himself to be a wise and understanding man; so he that hates the reproof the word of God gives, or the ministers of it, or God by them, appears to be no better than a brute, than the horse or mule that want understanding: so the man of sin hates the Scriptures, the Gospel, and the ministers of it, and the reproofs and convictions they give of his idolatry, superstition, and will worship; nor does he care that his doctrines and practices should be brought to this test, or that the people should have knowledge of them; but keeps them from them, and sets up his own infallibility as the rule of judgment; and it is one character of his followers, that they "receive not the love of the truth", ( 2 Thessalonians 2:10 ) ; and both he and they are represented by a beast, ( Revelation 13:1 Revelation 13:11 ) ( 17:3 ) ; and are more brutish than any man; see ( Proverbs 5:11 Proverbs 5:12 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 (reb) "instar bruti indocilis est", Michaelis.