Bridges on Proverbs 17:8
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 17:8
 
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8. A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
 
‘A gift is so tempting, that it can no more be refused than a lovely jewel, by him to whom it is presented; and such is its power, it commonly prevails over all men, dispatches all business, carries all causes, and — in a word — effects whatever a man desires.’† Such is the sympathy between a lusting eye and a glittering gift. The covetous prophet† — nay even an apostle† — was willfully beguiled by its fascination. The Heathen soldiers sold themselves to its slavery.† A King's Minister was won over by its allurement. (Acts 12:20.) Even a King — and such as the man after God's own heart — was sinfully perverted in the snare. (2 Samuel 16:1-4.) Seldom does it fail to prosper whithersoever it turneth. But who would envy a prosperity for evil? All ministers of law were wisely directed (like fabled justice) to give their decisions blindfolded! not looking at this precious stone, lest they should be dazzled by its sparkling attraction.† Unfaithfulness was always visited with the heavy displeasure of the Great Judge.†
And is not the child of God often pressed with this temptation? Does the influence of a gift, the sense of obligation, never repress the bold consistency of godliness? Does no bias of friendship, no plausible advantage, entice into a crooked path? Oh! be resolute in a better strength than thine own in the resistance of the sin. The conflict is not with the violent temptation, or with open sin, but with subtle and apparently harmless deviations from the strait path. Exercise thy “integrity and uprightness” in the spirit of faith; and doubt not that they will “preserve thee.” (Psalm 25:21.) The man of God, who “dwells on high” with his God, “shaketh his hands from holding of bribes;” as the Apostle shook off “the viper that had fastened on his hand.”† From this height he looks down upon this corruption with indignant abhorrence — “Let thy gifts be to thyself — Thy money perish with thee.”†
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Bishop Patrick — ‘What a description’ adds Mr. Scott — ‘of the mercenary selfishness of mankind!’ Compare also verse 23; 18:16. Even the Heathen conscience seems to have had a just perception of this evil. The saying of Philip of Macedon is well known, that ‘there was no fortress so strong, but it might be taken, if an ass laden with gold was brought to the gate.’ The poet finely illustrates this remark, referring also to the current report, that — ‘not Philip, but Philip's gold, — conquered Greece.’ Hor. Od. lib. iii. 16. ‘Auro loquente, inest omnis Oratio.’ Greg. Nazian. ‘Gold and silver pervert many things, especially motives of right. Money hath a great power with those that are in power. A golden key will open any prison door, and cast the watchman into a deep sleep. Gold will break open gates of iron, as well as silence the orator's voice, and blind the judge's eyes. It will blind the strong man's hands, and blunt the edge of the sword. It makes war, and it makes peace. What almost can it not do with corrupt minds?’ Caryl on Job 30:21.
 
 
Proverbs 17:23
23 ¶ A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
 
Proverbs 18:16
16 ¶ A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
 
Job 30:21
21 Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me. {become...: Heb. turned to be cruel} {thy...: Heb. the strength of thy hand}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Numbers 22:7, 8, 21. 2 Peter 2:15.
 
 
Numbers 22:7, 8, 21
7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. 8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
 
2 Peter 2:15
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 26:14-16.
 
 
Matthew 26:14-16
14 ¶ Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Ib. 28:12-15.
 
 
Matthew 28:12-15
12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acts 12:20
20 ¶ And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country. {was highly...: or, bare an hostile mind, intending war} {the king's chamberlain: Gr. that was over the king's bedchamber}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 Samuel 16:1-4
1 ¶ And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink. 3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. 4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king. {I humbly...: Heb. I do obeisance}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Exodus 23:8. Deuteronomy 16:19.
 
 
Exodus 23:8
8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. {the wise: Heb. the seeing}
 
Deuteronomy 16:19
19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. {words: or, matters}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Deuteronomy 27:25. Isaiah 5:22, 23. Micah 7:3, 4.
 
 
Deuteronomy 27:25
25 Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.
 
Isaiah 5:22, 23
22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: 23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
 
Micah 7:3, 4
3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. {his...: Heb. the mischief of his soul}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 25:21
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Isaiah 33:15, with Acts 28:5.
 
 
Isaiah 33:15
15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; {righteously: Heb. in righteousnesses} {uprightly: Heb. uprightnesses} {oppressions: or, deceits} {blood: Heb. bloods}
 
with
Acts 28:5
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Daniel 5:17. Acts 8:18-20. Compare 1 Samuel 12:3.
 
 
Daniel 5:17
17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. {rewards: or, fee}
 
Acts 8:18-20
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
 
Compare
1 Samuel 12:3
3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. {bribe: Heb. ransom} {to blind...: or, that I should hide mine eyes at him}