Proverbs 10:17 - Meaning and Application

Here we see, first, that those are on the right path who do not just receive instruction, but keep it. They do not let it slip away through carelessness, as many do. They do not hand it over to others who would steal it from them. They hold instruction safely, keep it pure and complete, and use it to guide their own lives. They also keep it so they can help teach others. Those who do this are on the way of life, a way that brings true comfort now and eternal life at the end.

Second, those are in the wrong who not only fail to receive instruction, but also stubbornly refuse it when it is offered. They will not be taught their duty because it shows them their faults. They especially dislike instruction that includes correction. That is a clear sign that they are mistaken in judgment and have wrong ideas about good and evil. It also leads them into wrong behavior. A traveler who has lost the road, but cannot bear to be told so or shown the right path, will keep going astray. He will miss the way of life.