Proverbs 20: 1 Commentary

Here’s my two cents:

It is often thought that “responsible drinking” refers to the many ill consequences that can occur when the one doing the drinking over-indulges and becomes drunk (irresponsible). This is certainly true and I agree that in and of itself, drinking alcohol is not a sin.

But the more often overlooked aspect of “responsible drinking” has to do with the very act itself; and not over-indulgence. In other words, a Christian can easily become guilty of drinking irresponsibly at the very first sip simply because his example is perceived by weaker, less mature Christians as a license to drink without restraint or any number of other erroneous interpretations. For a Christian, the decision to drink or not to drink in any given situation ought to be carefully weighed for, in reality, we are drinking unto the Lord and the saint of God ought always to be aware of his surroundings.

The world may always call such a one a “wine bibber” and let them do so; but our concern has more to do with the Spirit in which our drinking takes place among our brethren. See Romans 14; especially verses 15-23.

By Scott Dale (wrote 581 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 8/1/2011 00:21 am

James - again, you posted against my post so quickly, that NO DOUBT you already had your response in some pre-written ‘ready to go’ form, but it LACKS horribly.

I won’t even take the time to respond to ALL your verse you mention, but let’s, gee, just a couple of them.

Num 6:3 has to do with a JEW taking a NAZARITE vow - not a blanket condemnation of alcohol in general.

Judges 13:4 - once again, a DIRECT command not to drink and a NAZARITE situation mentioned.

Eph 5:18 ‘and be not DRUNK with wine wherein is EXCESS, but be filled with the Spirit.’

Where in this verse do you see wine is blatantly not OK to drink??? This verse does not PROHIBIT wine, but it states that DRUNKENNESS is the issue, not merely drinking it.

James - you truly need to get a proper BIBLICAL hermeneutic and stop this ‘ready, shoot, aim’ philosophy you presently have when you make comments. You are BETTER than this James - now show us you are!

By Tractorman (wrote 3584 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/31/2011 21:36 pm

James R. I AGREE WITH YOU BUT I ALSO AGREE WITH TRACTORMAN. What you said and what he said regarding the drinking of wine are both right. Moderation and balance is the key. as you said “Dogmatic rules arise out of this debate which both sides are right and wrong. If you say it is O.K., you are binding laws on people. If you say it is not O.K., you are binding laws on people.”

Or in Tractorman’s word”1. Drinking alcohol is NOT a sin…They … have NO scriptural basis… For the wholesale condemnation And prohibition of alcohol consumption
7. I believe it is wrong to ADD to scripture
a. By “building fences” around God‘s Word
b. Which the Hebrews call it “GEZEIRAH”
8. Gezeirah can be described as the following:
a. Since alcohol consumption
b. CAN lead to drunkenness
c. Then we will preach
d. That ANY Alcohol consumption (there’s the fence)
e. By ANYBODY is SIN
9. But I would wholeheartedly agree
a. That if you cannot handle alcohol
b. In a responsible manner
c. Then you should REFRAIN
d. From partaking at all”

The lesson we learn from both your comments is that it is wrong to add to the word of God…which overzealous religious people had done in so many doctrines…such as in drinking and in THE ALL IMPORTANT MARRIAGE! Such doing had made the people drunk with the wine of harlots… Which had led to fornications, divorce, homosexuality & boken families and marriage…wish you and tractorman could preach the truth regarding marriage…for when we delay the next generation will be condemned to follow after these generations that had been led astray by ‘GEZEIRAH’!

By TIUCHE (wrote 3265 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/29/2011 16:46 pm

Wine is good, wine is bad, wine is good, wine is bad. It makes me want to get a drink!

By James Richter (wrote 536 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/28/2011 19:50 pm

Tractorman: Dogmatic rules arise out of this debate which both sides are right and wrong. If you say it is O.K., you are binding laws on people. If you say it is not O.K., you are binding laws on people.

Keep on Pondering the Proverbs Tractorman!
Sorry if I offend you.

Is it OK to drink alcohol?

NO……………………….YES
.
Numbers 6:3…………. Genesis 27:28
Judges 13:4…………. Judges 9:13
Proverbs 20:1……….. Psalms 104:15
Proverbs 23:20-21……. Proverbs 31:6-9
Proverbs 23:29-30……. Ecclesiastes 9:7
Proverbs 23:31-32……. Song of Solomon 5:1
Isaiah 5:11…………. Zechariah 9:17
Isaiah 5:22…………. Matthew 26:29
Isaiah 28:1…………. John 2:3-10
Isaiah 28:7…………..1 Timothy 5:23
Daniel 1:8
Habakkuk 2:15
Luke 1:15
Romans 13:13
Romans 14:21
Galatians 5:21
Eph.5:18

By James Richter (wrote 536 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/27/2011 18:35 pm

Tractorman: Dogmatic rules arise out of this debate which both sides are right and wrong. If you say it is O.K., you are binding laws on people. If you say it is not O.K., you are binding laws on people.

Keep on Pondering the Proverbs Tractorman!
Sorry if I offend you.

Is it OK to drink alcohol?
No. Yes.

Numbers 6:3 Genesis 27:28
Judges 13:4 Judges 9:13
Proverbs 20:1 Psalms 104:15
Proverbs 23:20-21 Proverbs 31:6-9
Proverbs 23:29-30 Ecclesiastes 9:7
Proverbs 23:31-32 Song of Solomon 5:1
Isaiah 5:11 Zechariah 9:17
Isaiah 5:22 Matthew 26:29
Isaiah 28:1 John 2:3-10
Isaiah 28:7 1 Timothy 5:23
Daniel 1:8
Habakkuk 2:15
Luke 1:15
Romans 13:13
Romans 14:21
Galatians 5:21
Eph.5:18

By James Richter (wrote 536 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/27/2011 18:32 pm

1. Drinking alcohol is NOT a sin
a. And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household (Deut 14:26)
b. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” (Matt 11:18-19 ESV)
c. Don’t eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another Christian to stumble. You may have the faith to believe that there is nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who do not condemn themselves by doing something they know is all right (Rom 14:21-22)
2. But losing control under its influence IS a sin
a. And be not drunk with wine wherein is access; but be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18)
3. For drinking to excess leads some folks
a. To moral behaviors they later regret
4. While others are prone to fighting
a. (We call them “mean drunks”)
5. This has led many churches to CONDEMN
a. Alcohol in its entirety as sinful
6. Whereas I can certainly understand their motives
a. They however have NO scriptural basis
b. For the wholesale condemnation
c. And prohibition of alcohol consumption
7. I believe it is wrong to ADD to scripture
a. By “building fences” around God‘s Word
b. Which the Hebrews call it “GEZEIRAH”
8. Gezeirah can be described as the following:
a. Since alcohol consumption
b. CAN lead to drunkenness
c. Then we will preach
d. That ANY Alcohol consumption (there’s the fence)
e. By ANYBODY is SIN
9. But I would wholeheartedly agree
a. That if you cannot handle alcohol
b. In a responsible manner
c. Then you should REFRAIN
d. From partaking at all

By Tractorman (wrote 3584 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/27/2011 18:06 pm

I learned these bible commentaries are excellent for studies,I have never found before.
Thank you very much

By Bandula Herath (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 1/24/2011 14:43 pm

How wine is a mocker? It makes mockery of man. A drankard may think of himself great and enjoying, but the end is the destruction.

By Jayant Christian (wrote 287 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 1/24/2011 09:42 am

Lurline (Post #2 and #3)

Wine is a mocker: too much wine makes a person act foolish and insulting in manner or speech. Strong drink is raging: too much hard liquor makes a person speak or act in violent anger. Whoever errs by wandering away from God’s divine command to be sober is not wise.

By Roland G (wrote 1651 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 1/22/2011 03:44 am

I think the best commentary on this is found in Proverbs 23:29-35 and 31:4-7.

By Jayant Christian (wrote 287 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 1/22/2011 02:24 am

I still don’t understand this passage I read it but not understanding it

By Lurline (wrote 2 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 1/22/2011 01:12 am

I still don’t understand this passage I read it but not understanding it

By Lurline (wrote 2 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 1/22/2011 01:12 am

EPHESIANS 5;18-PROVERBS 20;1

By -ovetdurano@yahoo.com (wrote 7 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/25/2010 07:32 am