Proverbs 23:23
Invest in truth and never sell it--in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
Buy
The Hebrew word used here is "qanah," which means to acquire or purchase. In the context of Proverbs, this term suggests a deliberate and intentional effort to obtain something of great value. The act of buying implies a transaction where something is given up in exchange for something else. Spiritually, this can be seen as a call to prioritize spiritual wealth over material possessions, emphasizing the importance of investing in one's spiritual growth and understanding.

the truth
The Hebrew word for truth is "emet," which conveys a sense of stability, reliability, and faithfulness. In the biblical context, truth is not just factual accuracy but encompasses moral integrity and faithfulness to God's word. The pursuit of truth is a pursuit of God's wisdom and understanding, which is foundational to a righteous life. Historically, truth was seen as a divine attribute, and seeking it was akin to seeking God Himself.

and do not sell it
The phrase "do not sell it" implies retaining and valuing what has been acquired. In the ancient world, selling something often meant relinquishing ownership or control. Spiritually, this is a warning against abandoning or compromising one's commitment to truth for temporary gains or worldly pressures. It underscores the permanence and non-negotiable nature of divine wisdom once it is acquired.

wisdom
The Hebrew word "chokmah" refers to skillful living, practical application of knowledge, and discernment. Wisdom in the biblical sense is not merely intellectual but deeply practical, guiding one's actions and decisions in alignment with God's will. It is a gift from God that enables individuals to navigate life's complexities with righteousness and integrity.

instruction
The Hebrew term "musar" can be translated as discipline or correction. It involves the process of learning through guidance, often involving correction or reproof. Instruction is essential for growth and maturity, and in the biblical context, it is closely associated with the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. It is through instruction that one learns to live a life pleasing to God.

and understanding
The Hebrew word "binah" refers to insight or discernment. Understanding goes beyond knowledge, involving the ability to perceive the deeper meaning or significance of things. It is the capacity to see beyond the surface and grasp the underlying principles at work. In the biblical context, understanding is a divine gift that enables believers to comprehend God's ways and apply His truths to their lives.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
Traditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His writings often focus on the pursuit of wisdom and understanding.

2. Israel
The nation to whom much of the wisdom literature, including Proverbs, was originally addressed. The cultural and religious context of Israel provides a backdrop for understanding the value placed on wisdom and truth.

3. The Marketplace
While not a specific event or place, the metaphor of buying and selling in this verse suggests a marketplace setting, emphasizing the value and cost of acquiring wisdom and truth.
Teaching Points
The Value of Truth
Truth is a precious commodity that should be sought after diligently. In a world filled with deception, investing in truth is crucial for living a life that honors God.

Wisdom as a Lifelong Pursuit
Wisdom, instruction, and understanding are not one-time acquisitions but lifelong pursuits. Believers are encouraged to continually seek these virtues.

Guarding Against Compromise
The admonition to "never sell it" warns against compromising or abandoning truth and wisdom for temporary gains or pleasures.

Practical Investment
Just as one invests time and resources in financial markets, believers should invest in spiritual growth through study, prayer, and fellowship.

The Role of Community
Engaging with a community of believers can provide accountability and encouragement in the pursuit of truth and wisdom.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does it mean to "invest in truth" in your daily life, and how can you ensure you are not "selling" it?

2. How does the pursuit of wisdom, instruction, and understanding manifest in your personal and professional decisions?

3. In what ways can you actively seek wisdom from God, as encouraged in James 1:5, and how does this relate to the exhortation in Proverbs 23:23?

4. How can the teachings of Jesus in John 14:6 deepen your understanding of truth as described in Proverbs 23:23?

5. Reflect on a time when you were tempted to compromise your values. How can the principles in Proverbs 23:23 guide you in future situations?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Proverbs 4:7
This verse emphasizes the supreme value of wisdom, urging believers to acquire it at all costs, similar to the exhortation in Proverbs 23:23.

John 14:6
Jesus declares Himself as the way, the truth, and the life, connecting the pursuit of truth in Proverbs to the person of Christ in the New Testament.

James 1:5
This verse encourages believers to ask God for wisdom, promising that He gives generously to those who seek it, aligning with the call to invest in wisdom in Proverbs 23:23.
A Domestic Homily on Buying the TruthAlex. Hannay, D.D.Proverbs 23:23
Bartering for EternityT. De Witt Talmage, D.D.Proverbs 23:23
Buy the TruthA. Macdonald.Proverbs 23:23
Buy the TruthJohn Grose, M.A.Proverbs 23:23
Buy the Truth, and Sell it NotJ. Vaughan, M.A.Proverbs 23:23
Buy the Truth, Sell it NotA. Farindon, B.D.Proverbs 23:23
Buying the TruthJohn Ker, D.D.Proverbs 23:23
Buying the TruthS. Hieron.Proverbs 23:23
Buying the TruthC.H. Spurgeon Proverbs 23:23
Buying the TruthCharles Haddon Spurgeon Proverbs 23:23
The Birthright of TruthE. Monro.Proverbs 23:23
The Cost of ReligionE. Birch, M.A.Proverbs 23:23
The Freedom and the Price of TruthW. Clarkson Proverbs 23:23
The Highest CommerceD. Morgan.Proverbs 23:23
The Important Purchase and Prohibited SaleJ. Burns, D.D.Proverbs 23:23
The Merchandise of TruthT. Hughes.Proverbs 23:23
The Nature and Importance of TruthN. Ball.Proverbs 23:23
The Practical Value of OpinionsR. Palmer, D.D.Proverbs 23:23
The Preciousness of the TruthWalter M. Giloray, D.D.Proverbs 23:23
The Price of TruthE. MonroProverbs 23:23
The Sale of TruthE. Monro.Proverbs 23:23
Truth Cannot be Disposed of Without InjuryT. Carlyle.Proverbs 23:23
Truth Should be Purchased, But Never SoldHomilistProverbs 23:23
The Perils of Dissipation and the AntidoteE. Johnson Proverbs 23:19-25
People
Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Buy, Discipline, Instruction, Intelligence, Money, Sell, Sense, Teaching, Truth, Understanding, Wisdom, Yea
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Proverbs 23:23

     1461   truth, nature of
     5242   buying and selling
     5587   trade
     8674   study

Proverbs 23:22-23

     8351   teachableness

Library
A Condensed Guide for Life
'My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. 16. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things. 17. Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. 18. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. 19. Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. 20. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: 21. For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Afterwards and Our Hope
'Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. 18. For surely there is an end and thine expectation shall not be cut off.'--PROVERBS xxiii. 17, 18. The Book of Proverbs seldom looks beyond the limits of the temporal, but now and then the mists lift and a wider horizon is disclosed. Our text is one of these exceptional instances, and is remarkable, not only as expressing confidence in the future, but as expressing it in a very striking way. 'Surely there is an end,' says our Authorised Version,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Portrait of a Drunkyard
'Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30. They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 33. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. 34. Yea, thou shalt be as
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Three Important Precepts
A sermon (No. 2152) intended for reading on Lord's Day, July 13th, 1890, delivered by C. H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, on Lord's Day Evening, June 22nd, 1890. "Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way."--Proverbs 23:19. The words are very direct and personal; and that is what I wish my sermon to be. My soul is more and more set upon immediate conversions. I have no voice with which to play the orator; I have only enough strength to be an earnest pleader
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

Buying the Truth
A sermon (No. 3449) published on Thursday, March 11th, 1915; Delivered on Lord's Day evening, June 26th 1870, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "Buy the truth, and sell it not."--Proverbs 23:23. John Bunyan pictures the pilgrims as passing at one time through Vanity Fair, and in Vanity Fair there were to be found all kinds of merchandise, consisting of the pomps and vanities, the lusts and pleasures of this present life and of the flesh. Now all the dealers, when they
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Heart: a Gift for God
A sermon (No. 1995) intended for reading on Lord's Day, December 11th, 1887. at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "My son, give me thine heart."--Proverbs 23:26. These are the words of Solomon speaking in the name of wisdom, which wisdom is but another name for the Lord Jesus Christ, who is made of God unto us wisdom. If you ask "What is the highest wisdom upon the earth?" it is to believe in Jesus Christ whom God has sent--to become his follower and disciple, to trust him
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

All the Day Long
A sermon (No. 2150) delivered on Lord's Day Morning, June 22nd, 1890, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off." {end: or, reward}--Proverbs 23:17, 18. Last Lord's-day we had for our texts two promises. I trust they were full of comfort to the tried people of God, and to souls in the anguish of conviction. To-day we will
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

Buying the Truth
"Buy the truth, and sell it not."--Proverbs 23:23. JOHN Bunyan pictures the pilgrims as passing at one time through Vanity Fair, and in Vanity Fair there were to be found all kinds of merchandise, consisting of the pomps and vanities, the lusts and pleasures of this present life and of the flesh. Now all the dealers, when they saw these strange pilgrims come into the fair began to cry, as shopmen will do, "Buy, buy, buy--buy this, and buy that." There were the priests in the Italian row with their
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 61: 1915

The Secret Walk with God (ii).
He that would to others give Let him take from Jesus still; They who deepest in Him live Flow furthest at His will. I resume the rich subject of Secret Devotion, Secret Communion with God. Not that I wish to enter in detail on either the theory or the practice of prayer in secret; as I have attempted to do already in a little book which I may venture here to mention, Secret Prayer. My aim at present, as I talk to my younger Brethren in the Ministry, is far rather to lay all possible stress on
Handley C. G. Moule—To My Younger Brethren

How those are to be Admonished who Sin from Sudden Impulse and those who Sin Deliberately.
(Admonition 33.). Differently to be admonished are those who are overcome by sudden passion and those who are bound in guilt of set purpose. For those whom sudden passion overcomes are to be admonished to regard themselves as daily set in the warfare of the present life, and to protect the heart, which cannot foresee wounds, with the shield of anxious fear; to dread the hidden darts of the ambushed foe, and, in so dark a contest, to guard with continual attention the inward camp of the soul. For,
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Secondly, for Thy Words.
1. Remember, that thou must answer for every idle word, that in multiloquy, the wisest man shall overshoot himself. Avoid, therefore, all tedious and idle talk, from which seldom arises comfort, many times repentance: especially beware of rash answers, when the tongue outruns the mind. The word was thine whilst thou didst keep it in; it is another's as soon as it is out. O the shame, when a man's own tongue shall be produced a witness, to the confusion of his own face! Let, then, thy words be few,
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Comforts Belonging to Mourners
Having already presented to your view the dark side of the text, I shall now show you the light side, They shall be comforted'. Where observe: 1 Mourning goes before comfort as the lancing of a wound precedes the cure. The Antinomian talks of comfort, but cries down mourning for sin. He is like a foolish patient who, having a pill prescribed him, licks the sugar but throws away the pill. The libertine is all for joy and comfort. He licks the sugar but throws away the bitter pill of repentance. If
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Of Internal Acts
Of Internal Acts Acts are distinguished into External and Internal. External acts are those which bear relation to some sensible object, and are either morally good or evil, merely according to the nature of the principle from which they proceed. I intend here to speak only of Internal acts, those energies of the soul, by which it turns internally to some objects, and averts from others. If during my application to God I should form a will to change the nature of my act, I thereby withdraw myself
Madame Guyon—A Short and Easy Method of Prayer

Distinction Between Exterior and Interior Actions --Those of the Soul in this Condition are Interior, but Habitual, Continued, Direct, Profound, Simple, and Imperceptible --Being a Continual
The actions of men are either exterior or interior. The exterior are those which appear outwardly, and have a sensible object, possessing neither good nor evil qualities, excepting as they receive them from the interior principle in which they originate. It is not of these that I intend to speak, but only of interior actions, which are those actions of the soul by which it applies itself inwardly to some object, or turns away from some other. When, being applied to God, I desire to commit an
Jeanne Marie Bouvières—A Short Method Of Prayer And Spiritual Torrents

The Annunciation of Jesus the Messiah, and the Birth of his Forerunner.
FROM the Temple to Nazareth! It seems indeed most fitting that the Evangelic story should have taken its beginning within the Sanctuary, and at the time of sacrifice. Despite its outward veneration for them, the Temple, its services, and specially its sacrifices, were, by an inward logical necessity, fast becoming a superfluity for Rabbinism. But the new development, passing over the intruded elements, which were, after all, of rationalistic origin, connected its beginning directly with the Old Testament
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Of Preparation.
That a Christian ought necessarily to prepare himself before he presume to be a partaker of the holy communion, may evidently appear by five reasons:-- First, Because it is God's commandment; for if he commanded, under the pain of death, that none uncircumcised should eat the paschal lamb (Exod. xii. 48), nor any circumcised under four days preparation, how much greater preparation does he require of him that comes to receive the sacrament of his body and blood? which, as it succeeds, so doth it
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

A Sermon on a Text not Found in the Bible.
MR. JUSTICE GROVES.--"Men go into the Public-house respectable, and come out felons." My text, as you see, my dear readers, is not taken from the Bible. It does not, however, contradict the Scriptures, but is in harmony with some, such as "WOE UNTO HIM THAT GIVETH HIS NEIGHBOUR DRINK." Habakkuk ii. 15; "WOE UNTO THEM THAT RISE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, THAT THEY MAY FOLLOW STRONG DRINK."--Isaiah v. 11. "TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES LEST AT ANY TIME YOUR HEARTS BE OVERCHARGED WITH SURFEITING AND
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

The Cavils of the Pharisees Concerning Purification, and the Teaching of the Lord Concerning Purity - the Traditions Concerning Hand-Washing' and Vows. '
As we follow the narrative, confirmatory evidence of what had preceded springs up at almost every step. It is quite in accordance with the abrupt departure of Jesus from Capernaum, and its motives, that when, so far from finding rest and privacy at Bethsaida (east of the Jordan), a greater multitude than ever had there gathered around Him, which would fain have proclaimed Him King, He resolved on immediate return to the western shore, with the view of seeking a quieter retreat, even though it were
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

"Who Walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the Flesh,"
Rom. viii. 4, 5.--"Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh," &c. If there were nothing else to engage our hearts to religion, I think this might do it, that there is so much reason in it. Truly it is the most rational thing in the world, except some revealed mysteries of faith, which are far above reason, but not contrary to it. There is nothing besides in it, but that which is the purest reason. Even that part of it which is most difficult to man,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Some General Uses from this Useful Truth, that Christ is the Truth.
Having thus cleared up this truth, we should come to speak of the way of believers making use of him as the truth, in several cases wherein they will stand in need of him as the truth. But ere we come to the particulars, we shall first propose some general uses of this useful point. First. This point of truth serveth to discover unto us, the woful condition of such as are strangers to Christ the truth; and oh, if it were believed! For, 1. They are not yet delivered from that dreadful plague of
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

The Christian Faith
Scripture references: Hebrews 11; Matthew 9:29; 17:20; Mark 10:52; 11:22; Acts 2:38; 3:16; 10:43; 16:30,31; Romans 1:17; 5:1; 10:17; Galatians 2:20. FAITH AND PRACTICE Belief Controls Action.--"As the man is, so is his strength" (Judges 8:21), "For as he thinketh in his heart so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). "According to your faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:28,29). "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). The Scriptures place stress upon the fact that
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
OR, THE EXCELLENCY OF A BROKEN HEART: SHOWING THE NATURE, SIGNS, AND PROPER EFFECTS OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT. BEING THE LAST WORKS OF THAT EMINENT PREACHER AND FAITHFUL MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST, MR. JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. WITH A PREFACE PREFIXED THEREUNTO BY AN EMINENT MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN LONDON. London: Sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgates, 1692. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The very excellent preface to this treatise, written by George Cokayn, will inform the reader of
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Third Commandment
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.' Exod 20: 7. This commandment has two parts: 1. A negative expressed, that we must not take God's name in vain; that is, cast any reflections and dishonour on his name. 2. An affirmative implied. That we should take care to reverence and honour his name. Of this latter I shall speak more fully, under the first petition in the Lord's Prayer, Hallowed be thy name.' I shall
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Opposition to Messiah Ruinous
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel T here is a species of the sublime in writing, which seems peculiar to the Scripture, and of which, properly, no subjects but those of divine revelation are capable, With us, things inconsiderable in themselves are elevated by splendid images, which give them an apparent importance beyond what they can justly claim. Thus the poet, when describing a battle among bees, by a judicious selection of epithets
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

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