Proverbs 20:9

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about our nature:

Proverbs 20:9 (ESV)

Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;

I am clean from my sin”?

This proverb almost seems out of place in the book of Proverbs. Most of the other proverbs have taught some important “practical” lesson, as most do. Here, however, is a simple statement of a doctrinal truth, stated in question form. The question is meant to be rhetorical; it is asked simply for effect not to solicit a reply. It is stating that no one could answer that question with a positive statement. No one has “kept their heart pure or have been clean and without sin.” The proverb has been given to us to remind us of our state of being. We are not sinless creatures. We each have a bent for sin. When man has been given a path to follow righteousness or follow sin, but he will naturally chose sin. That is why we need the regeneration of the Spirit through the work of Christ on the cross. It is why we must be saved.  We can’t have the wisdom taught in Proverbs unless we first embrace the truth of this one single proverb.   Wisdom begins with the Fear of the Lord.  But you can not FEAR the Lord (have a holy reverence for Him) if we don’t come to grips with our natural bent to sin.   Each proverb tells us how the “righteous” will act, should act, can act or the path “righteousness” will take us.   But if we don’t come to admit the truth of this one proverb, we can’t receive the righteousness that comes from faith in Christ.