Read Proverbs 30:11-20

As you will notice in Proverbs 30:11-14 each verse begins with the phrase "There is a generation..."  So, the author of this chapter, Agur, presents these four related proverbs dealing with the character flaws of generations.  Notice the following:

verse 11, "There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother." 

The thought is that there always is a generation that will curse their fathers and not honor their mothers.  There always will be those who have small regard for their parents. Though not stated, clearly implied is that such individuals are fools and wicked. They lived in Agur’s day and they continue to this day. Woe be to such! Jesus condemned the Pharisees and scribes of His day who made a pretense of righteousness but were willing to deprive their elderly parents of support in the name of ‘religious’ advancement.

verse 12, "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness." 

There always will be generations who are self-righteous. They are right and pure in their own eyes, though not in the eyes of God.  Because of their self-righteousness, seeing no need for salvation, they remained unwashed spiritually. To this day, there are multitudes who are spiritually proud and self-righteous.  Yet, they have never been washed in the blood of the Lamb. Though they have a veneer and pretense of morality, they are whited sepulchers—a pretense of morality on the outside and vile on the inside. They lived in Agur’s day and they are around to this day.

verse 13, "There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes!  and their eyelids are lifted up." 

Agur further deals with those in each generation who are proud and arrogant. They existed in that day and continue to this day in the class-conscious elites of modern society.

verse 14, "There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men."

In every generation, there are those who are more than willing to devour those not as strong or powerful as themselves. They are cruel, greedy, and vicious. Down through the ages they have sought to rip off anyone they could and step on anyone in their way. They existed in Agur’s day and continue to the present.  These four parables closely parallel the condemnation of our Lord against the religious establishment of His day. Jesus soundly condemned the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes for their cold-hearted pretense yet internal wickedness. They portrayed themselves as righteous, but on the inside were ravening wolves. See Matthew 7:15.

May we understand our own issues and do our best to combat them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and obedience to the Word of God.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1.  How is your relationship with your parents?  Do you obey the fifth commandment?

2.  Do you examine your life biblically or do you use society’s formula?  Explain.

3.  Do you have a problem with pride in your life?  What is the antidote for pride?

4.  How does the cruelty and slander of our day manifest itself in today’s cancel culture?