Worse than a fool

Proverbs 26:12 KJV

Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

The Bible has no good to say of the fool:

·         He says in his heart there is no God[1]

·         He refuses instruction[2]

·         So low is a fool that Jesus warned the disciples of the sin of accusing a man of being one[3]

Gill calls the fool a profane person. He is lost in his sin and he generally refuses the message of the gospel.

But this proverb tells us that there is one more hopeless than the fool; He is the self-conceited, self-righteous man. That man who cannot see that he is a shameful sinner is in far worse shape than the man who cannot see that God is. God will always reveal Himself, but the self righteous man may very well admit that God is, he just thinks that everything is well between him and God.

This delusional sin can take on many forms:

·    It might be the religious man who, believing his deeds of religion have earned him admittance before God, refuses to see a need for a Saviour

·    It might be the minister or priest, who has convinced himself that his service to his church has purchased his way into the holiest

·     It could be the worldly good man who sees himself as being better than most men

But whatever for it takes, it has the same consequences; there is no hope of salvation for the man who cannot see his need of salvation.

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[1] Psalms 14:1 KJV

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

[2] Proverbs 23:9 KJV

Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

[3] Matthew 5:22 KJV

But I say unto you, …. but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.