Bible Studies
"Wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Proverbs 20:1
In this Proverb God reveals something spiritual and those with spiritual eyes and ears, that is, the true believer in Jesus Christ, will understand the meaning when explained. In Proverbs 20:1 we see the destructive influence of false gospels of which wine and strong drink are but types.
How so you ask?
Let's compare scripture with scripture and see how God's word sheds light on this subject.
We know that anybody under the influence of a false gospel mocks those who are following the true gospel just as those who are under the influence of wine and strong drink mock those around them especially those not partaking with their sin of drunkeness.
"And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him again to Pilate." Luke 23:11
We know that Jesus Christ came to earth on a mission to do the will of His Father. He came to die for His sheep and gather them unto Himself by the Holy Spirit's effectual calling through the power of the gospel. John 6:40; 2 Thess. 2:13-14
Those who mocked Jesus and derided Him were the soldiers and Jewish rulers. If their desire had been granted, namely, if Jesus had saved Himself from death by coming down from the cross then there would be no salvation for anybody.
It was the purpose of Jesus to die on the cross and bear the sins of His people for so His name means a saviour. Matt. 1:21
We see similar language in the Old Testament in Psalm 69:21 where we read, "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."
Is vinegar considered strong drink? Anybody who has ever tasted just a tablespoon full of the stuff knows the pungency of this strong liquid. It dulls the senses and numbs the pain. This is something Jesus would never partake of because as a priest He was the sacrificial Lamb of God to make atonement and an offering for the sins of His people. He was to taste the full wrath of God. In addition it was contrary to the command of God that His people be sober minded. 1 Pet. 1:13; 5:8
Jesus as the Prophet, Priest and King was the most sober man who ever lived wouldn't you agree? A person under the influence of wine, or strong drink is not sober at the time they are drunk. They are intoxicated under another spirit, in this case, fermented grape juice. Contrary to what many Bible teachers teach there is no evidence that Jesus ever drank wine.
In fact it says in Proverbs 31:4 "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:" Jesus was both a king and a prince and not just any king but the King of Kings and Prince of Peace. Isa 9:6; John 18:37; Rev. 17:14
Now let's look at Matthew 27:39-44 where we read:
39. "They that passed by REVILED Him wagging their heads, saying,
40. Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save theyself, if thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41. Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42. He saved others; Himself he cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross and we will believe Him.
43. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said, I am the Son of God.
44. The thieves also, which were crucified with Him, cast the same in His teeth.
False gospels are infectious and contagious. Note the mocking spread from Herod with his men (Luke 23:11) to the malefactors or thieves who "railed on Him" saying, "if thou be the Christ, save thyself and us."
Matthew 27:44 The thieves also which were crucified with Him, cast the same in His teeth."
Isn't it just like the false gospels, which feature lying signs and wonders and those teaching man's free will as determinative,
to dictate to the Lord God and Creator of the universe?
Isn't it just like the many false gospels of today that work primarily off people's emotions and stir up the crowds and those next to them? Many large religous congregations today get large because the people love excitement, emotionalism and they love error and hate the truth. A lie travels around the world and back while truth is lacing up it's shoe strings
said a famous poet.
These false gospels mock and ridicule what is true in this case they mocked the Truth who is Jesus Christ. They doubt by saying "if thou be the Christ" do this or do that. The false gospel preachers today are of the same spirit. They are proud and haughty and speak foolishly by denying the sovereignty of God and His choice in electing certain sinners for salvation
according to the purpose of His will rather than their own will.
Ephesians 1:4-6
All those who surrounded Jesus who was the Truth and brought the true gospel mocked Him. This is the nature of false gospels in that they mock and ridicule the Truth and the gospel of Truth.
Remember the principle: A little leaven leaventh the whole lump and so remember the words of our Lord Jesus who said in Matt. 16:6 "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" which is the false teachings of both liberal and conservative Christianity (Pharisees=today's conservatives
Saducees=todays liberals who deny the doctrine of the resurrection and other fundamentals of the faith)
Now let's look at Hosea 4:11 and see what spiritual whoredom is.
11. "Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
12. My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God."
God is engaged to His people
Many people in the church and world see the sin of physical whoredom or fornication who do not see the sin of spiritual whoredom or fornication through the many false gospels permeating churches and religious assemblies.
Wine in Proverbs 20:1 represents the false gospel which we are not to drink and why aren't we to drink this? Because they which do so are NOT WISE, that is, they are not partaking of that Spirit of Wisdom which dwells in the redeemed of the Lord. Only the foolish drink the false gospel which leads to damnation.
This is why our Lord Jesus warned in Matthew 24:24 "There shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, and shall show great signhs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
False gospels are deadly poison because they lead to hell and damnation. Pelagianism and Arminianism both teach that man is either inherently good or not that bad whereas Holy Scripture affirms that the natural man is both dead in trespasses and sins(Eph 2:1) under the power of darkness (Acts 26:18;Col 1:13) under sin (Gal. 3:22) taken captive by Satan at his will (2 Tim 2:26) have minds blinded by the Devil (2 Cor. 4:3-4)and hearts that are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9)
The many false gospels of today deny the total depravity or inabiity of man by having a very low view of sin and a very high view of man in his natural, fallen state.
You might ask why is getting drunk on wine or beer or any other alcoholic beverage so bad and why does the Bible forbid it?
In 1 Corinthians 6:10 and Galatians 5:21 we are told that drunkards and drunkenness will keep people out of heaven, that is, these consumers of false gospels will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Remember the physical drunkenness is but a picture of the spiritual reality of being drunk on a false gospel.
Let's look at another pertinent verse to get a better picture of this reality. Ephesians 5:15 teaches us to be wise and to walk circumspectly not as fools. Who were the fools? Look at vers 14. The fools were those that slept spiritually speaking. They were dead. SPIRITUALLY DEAD and they needed the light that Christ gives.
5:18 We are told not to be drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.
Those only who are filled with the Holy Spirit and are continually controlled by the power of God give evidence of salvation and these obey God and they know God and keep His commandments because they love the Lord Jesus. "And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey Him." Acts 5:32; John 14:15; 1 John 2:3-4
Only the circumspect are wise because they see as God sees although not perfectly. In the Proverbs the fool is equated with the lost and those without spiritual wisdom.
Wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. The wise or saved person will avoid both the intoxicating drink of wine, beer and other strong drinks and will avoid the many false gospels which the unwise of the world drink to their own destruction.
Carlton Pruitt ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member)and junk removal expert he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns and poems and doing street preaching. See his videos on http://www.youtube.com Type LAStreetPreacher in the search bar. CONTACT at [email protected]
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