The Scoffer And The King
1/4/2026
Turn with me to Proverbs 20:16-17. These are our verses to study and memorize this week.
Proverbs 20:16-17 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for foreigners, hold him in pledge. 17 Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
Introduction
In these verses we are continuing to see how to deal with scoffing mockers in a community. The wisdom that we are being given will protect us from the dangers that they present. It will also guide us in the right way to live in order for our nation to truly thrive. Proverbs 20:12-19 looks at this issue in the broader relationships that people have with one another. We have been seeing that for a society to thrive it needs to operate based on integrity and honesty between people. We have looked at this in relation to laziness (Proverbs 20:4, 13) as well as with deceitful sellers and buyers (Proverbs 20:10, 14). Now we turn to dangers that scoffing mockers pose to society in the area of loans and various kind of stealing.
Have you ever lost money by loaning it out to someone that in hindsight you should not have? Have you ever wondered what you could have done differently or what guidelines you could have put in place that might have protected you with your investments? Our first proverb will explore that issue.
Have you ever been tempted to pursue some of the supposed shortcuts to having wealth, health, maturity, muscles, or possessions that seem to constantly bombard us in advertisements? Have the enticements to try to quickly get what you really wanted ever gotten you into trouble? Our second proverb takes a look at this mindset that can really derail us and society from truly thriving.
With that background, let’s examine Proverbs 20:16-17 more closely.
16 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.
Do not trust your belongings to scoffing mockers—even with others vouching for them—without full proof and collateral.
In Israelite society you did business with people that you knew well from your own local community. You knew who they were, how reliable they were, and what they had which would be used for collateral if something did not work out with a loan. Getting cheated was not much of an issue. Simply having the arrangement validated by witnesses and a contract would be sufficient. If something went wrong, the integrity of the one you made the loan to, coupled with the oversight of the local witnesses and judges, would insure that repayment was made one way or another.
However, if someone was vouching for a foreigner or an unbeliever to take out a loan, then that was much more risky. The foreigner was not a known entity. They did not have the same God. They might disappear with what had been loaned to them. One was very liable to being cheated. In that kind of case, full collateral should be required and taken even if someone known was vouching for them in some way. This proverb warns that such a loan was so risky that one might tongue in cheek assume that it would be defaulted on! Thus the collateral should be taken right away and kept in hand. Otherwise one would be taking too great a risk in providing such a loan.
However, since according to the law one was not to take a poor man’s garment overnight (Exodus 22:24-26; Deuteronomy 24:10-13), and since elsewhere here in Proverbs co-signing for someone else is warned against (Proverbs 6:1-5, 11:15, 17:18), the real point here is most likely that such a loan should simply not be made. Just completely stay away from trusting scoffing mockers and idolatrous outsiders.
To have a community and nation that thrives, one must not allow scoffing mockers to take advantage of trust. Foreigners and other such scoffing mockers (even among straying fellow Israelites) could not safely be trusted to keep their word and do what was right because of their pagan idols and subsequent lack of integrity. They did not have a fear of God and a trust in His standard of righteousness. Therefore, they could not be trusted. Full stop. End of story.
Because of the danger from such people, extreme care needed to be taken to safeguard the financial stability of the righteous by following wise and careful requirements for any loans or business arrangements. This was to go to such an extent that no risk for them was to be undertaken. For a secure and thriving society, people needed to avoid blindly trusting their resources to godless pagans who were not trustworthy. To make it safe, full collateral would be needed and should actually be had in hand before proceeding with any such business arrangement. If someone else known was willing to vouch for them, that would be great, but it still should not be done simply by trust. That was not sufficient. It needed to be guaranteed with actual pledged collateral in hand. That is how untrustworthy those who mock and defy God with their godless beliefs must be considered. Without God they do not have a solid, logical, reasonable foundation for maintaining integrity, honesty, and righteousness. By rejecting God they had already proved that their allegiance was to themselves not to what is right, holy, honest, and true.
In some English translations, such as the KJV and NIV, the last half of the verse talks about taking a pledge from someone in connection with an adulterous or “strange” woman. This different translation appears to have occurred because that is what is written in the nearly identical proverb of Proverbs 27:13. Here, though, the Hebrew text has the masculine, plural “strangers” specifically written out. The Masorete copyists, in their extra notes, prefer it be read like 27:13, but that is not the actual text or the intent. Unfortunately, some translations follow that guidance instead of leaving it as just a slight marginal possibility. In this text, the intentional focus is on strengthening the point that one ought not make loans or naively entrust one’s resources to scoffing mockers or other pagan strangers. The separate point about not trusting those who put their resources towards immorality will be made when we get to chapter 27.
Scriptural Example: In Scripture we see an example of this proverb during the conquest of Canaan under Joshua. In Joshua 9 an envoy of foreigners came to the leaders of Israel pretending to be from far off. They wanted a covenanted peace treaty with Israel. They claimed to have heard of God’s deliverance from Egypt and their conquest of the Amorites on the other side of the Jordan. In reality they had heard of the recent Israelite conquests of Jericho and Ai and were afraid of the Israelites. They used old clothes, shoes, food, and wineskins to vouch for supposedly having travelled from a long distance.
Joshua and the leaders did not check thoroughly enough. Instead they took the false testimony and false evidence that was given to them and made a covenant of peace. Three days later it was discovered that they were all from a nearby city. They should not have trusted foreigners with foreign gods to speak the truth. They should not have listened to the deceitful pledges that old clothes and food made. They should have required full proof. Because they did not, they ended up disobeying the command of Deuteronomy 7:2 not to make a covenant with the people of the land.
Proverb in Comparison: When we compare this proverb with the rest of Scriptures, we see that avoiding dangerous partnerships is a major point that 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 makes for us as Christians.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?
For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 17 “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. 18 “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.
We are not to be making partnerships with unbelievers. Whether this is business related or marriage related such connections will only lead us astray. They put us in dangerous positions where we can be taken advantage of and where we can be tempted into following the ungodly ways of doing things of others. We are not to be entering into partnerships with scoffing mockers and unbelievers. We have different goals, purposes, morals, standards, and a completely different God. We need to remain separate and pure from the dangerous influences and connections that such partnerships would create. 1 Corinthians 15:33 further emphasize this.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
Those we associate with affect us—how much more are we affected by those whom we enter into close relationship with! James 4:4 notes how this then affects our relationship with God.
James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
We ought not to trust the words of nonbelievers and scoffers even when others vouch for them. Instead, we ought to just go ahead and consider those vouching for them as already having lost their collateral and pledges. They are as good as burnt toast if they have delivered their finances over to the oversight of such people.
Truth in Connection: As we connect this to our lives we need to honestly see the danger that scoffing mockers and others with different loyalties bring to relationships. They are not to be trusted with our resources or partnerships. Additionally, we need to be careful about unwisely or deceitfully getting sucked into relationships with such people through others that vouch for them. People without integrity are not trustworthy even if a trustworthy person trusts them. Know who and what you are investing in before entrusting your resources to them. This should be the case whether it is for a retirement account, a personal loan, or some other kind of investment. For an individual or a nation to thrive it must have honesty and integrity within its financial transactions.
The important part of an investment is not how much one might possibly make from it or how good it could be made to sound. The important part is that it is an honest investment with trustworthy people with appropriate safeguards for security and repayment. If any of these parameters are not present it probably is not an investment worth risking. If it is not an honest investment, then even if it brings back a lot of money it will be producing evil that will be destructive to other people along the way. That is not a partnership we should support or be involved with. If it is not with trustworthy people then even if it brings back a lot of money it will be with people with different priorities and a different God. Their decisions on how and what they do with the enterprise will end up diverging from righteous purposes or honest practices. When it ends up going against what God says is good and right it will not be something that we should be involved with. Likewise, if the loan or investment does not have proper safeguards to minimize loss or guarantee a return then it is a risky venture that essentially is gambling or some kind of flaky, get-rich quick speculation. That is not something that a wise steward with a godly perspective would want to be a part of with God’s resources.
The more individuals participate in these kinds of risky endeavors the more they will undermine their financial stability and future. The more a society allows these kinds of risky, dishonest, manipulative behaviors the more a nation will be undermined as people are taken advantage of and come to ruin.
Scoffing mockers must not be allowed to run and ruin a nation’s business practices. To prevent that we must not participate in their enticing but devious schemes. Honesty, integrity, and careful safeguards should be the foundation of all of our business and investment activity.
As Christians what should ultimately guide our investments is our pursuit of God’s kingdom. We should be using our time, income, and resources to build His eternal, spiritual kingdom. We should be looking to see what part He has for us to play in that and be using what we have to serve God. Our heart’s focus will be where our true treasure is. If our goal is to make money and get more, then we will be tempted to make wrong decisions with how we use and invest our money, time, and resources. We will be tempted to cut corners, take risks, and support things that we should not support. The more that happens in our lives, the more our true god will be something other than the real God.
Where are your investments? Are they safeguarded from the dangers and deceits of the scoffing mocker? Are they safeguarded from unnecessary risks? Are they invested in good things that build up a nation and are for God’s eternal kingdom? Or has the lure of financial gain clouded out integrity, honesty, righteousness, and careful investigation? May we guard our hearts and our nations from this danger by faithfully following God’s redeemed way of wisdom. May we continue to examine our hearts and lives and ask Him to show us any unclean or dangerous pathways that we may be on or be tempted by.
Our next proverb continues our look at how we acquire what we get.
17 Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
Deceitfully gotten goods bring great pleasure at first, but eventually the harsh consequences hit.
Getting something for nothing can seem like the best possible deal when all it takes is a little bit of deception, manipulation, or shading of the truth. The reality, though, is that while the bread will taste great while being eaten, its consequences will far outweigh the temporary enjoyment. This proverb highlights that point in a very picturesque way. Just imagine, taking a warm Cracker Barrel biscuit, having a bit of honey on it, and then eating that first bite. Taste that fluffy, warm, buttery, sweet biscuit scrumptiously being savored on your tongue as you slowly chew it. Mmm! That’s good. You enjoy your meal thoroughly and then you pay with a credit or debit card without having the funds to back it up. Maybe it goes through just fine in the moment. But eventually reality will catch up to you. Your bank will want it’s money. Your fraudulent behavior will be uncovered. The consequences will far outweigh the temporary pleasure that Cracker Barrel biscuit brought—no matter how good it might have been!
As that kind of get now/pay later behavior racks up without the ability to repay, things finally come crashing down. You are hauled before the courts for your fraudulent behavior and you stand there with everything taken away. All you have left is the rough, hard, earthy, teeth scraping gravel rolling around in your mouth where once a steamy biscuit danced on your taste buds. The memory of what good you illicitly enjoyed will taunt you as you pay the consequences for what you wrongfully stole.
Shortcuts through sin to pleasure always comes with a cost. There is no shortcut to integrity. There is no quick path to righteousness and its rewards. There is no shortcut to an honest life. There is no shortcut to being disciplined. There is no shortcut to following Jesus faithfully every day.
The scoffing mocker looks to find so-called shortcuts. He wants the bread for free. He wants the money without work or without sticking to a job faithfully. He wants a nice house and a good vehicle without saving for it, fixing it, or building it. He wants a healthy body without disciplined exercise or careful eating. He wants the pleasurable benefits of a marriage without the careful work of maintaining a relationship, serving, working, and communicating. He wants the benefits of a loving family and children without the responsibilities, sacrifice, or investment. He wants to be spiritually mature and have wisdom without spending time with God in prayer and Bible study. He wants a good reputation without the hard work of long term integrity and service.
The scoffing mocker relentlessly pursues substitutes in all areas of life like this. Frankly, our whole culture is dominated by this mentality. People want instant gratification. They want instant free, painless fixes. They want a sound-bite, a meme, or a tiny devotion instead of meditating on God’s Word, memorizing it themselves, reading a whole book, or listening to a full message. They want a pill to make themselves better rather than to live healthfully. They want to cheat to pass classes or to get a degree instead of studying and learning. They want pornography instead of long term purity, faithfulness, and relationship building. They want hook ups, cohabitation, divorce, and other substitutes instead of God’s design of a life-long marriage between a man and woman. They pursue buying on credit before they have the money to get what they want or think they need. They jump from job to job always trying to find something easier and better paying. They want things given to them instead of working for them. Thus they obtain bread by falsehood and very often have their pleasures immediately. Yet, in the end the consequences catch up to them. Living dishonestly with “shortcuts” always comes at a high cost.
In a society, the more these kinds of behaviors become rampant the more it will tear a nation down. It ruins relationships within families. It harms businesses. It destroys health. It corrupts government and justice. It exalts selfishness. It defies God’s design of right and wrong. It brings His judgment. It reaps what it sows and makes people pay far more than the temporary pleasure that was had at the first. It will be just like trying to chew on and choke down gravel after having eaten a stolen honey biscuit. It will break our teeth and make us choke and gag. If we knew that in the end we would also have to eat a mouth full of gravel, taking that biscuit would not be quite so enticing.
The consequences of sin are harsh both individually and on a nation. There is only one true, permanent, real solution. Turn to God for His redeemed way of life. We must recognize our sin for its true destructive reality. We must turn to Jesus to rescue us from that sin. He alone has conquered sin and death. He did that on the cross when He bore the sins of all those who would trust Him as Lord and Savior. On our own we cannot live perfectly or undo the sin we have done. On our own we cannot overcome our sin nature. Jesus alone can. Turn to Him and trust Him to save you from your sin and from the judgment of God that you deserve. Then, in His power and enablement walk in the wisdom of His righteous way of life one step at a time. Turn from the deceptions, shortcuts, and stealing. Turn to Jesus.
Scriptural Example: In Scripture we see examples of this proverb in many of the events that are recorded. We see it in the life of Cain with his brother Abel. Yes, Cain got out his anger and frustration. Yes, Abel’s success over Cain’s failure was erased. Yes, any perceived competition between the brothers was forever removed. But the consequence of Cain’s murder of Abel far outweighed any temporary pleasure or satisfaction that may have been had when God’s judgment arrived.
We also see the truth of this proverb in Jacob’s sons deceit and their selling of Joseph into slavery. Their father could no longer show him favoritism. Joseph could no longer share his annoying dreams, nor give bad reports about them to their father. That got him out of the picture. Yet, the consequences were far reaching. Their father, being deceived into thinking Joseph was dead, was consumed with grief that they had caused. The weight of their sin against their own brother burdened them. Then they came under the real fear of being under Joseph’s complete power and authority when he became a ruler in Egypt during the famine. If he had wanted to he could have easily destroyed them or enslaved them all.
We also see the truth of this proverb with David in his adultery with Bathsheba. He took what was not his and had his pleasure. But the consequences for his immorality, deception, and murder were extensive. Their baby died. God’s judgment of violence and strife within his family came true with many heartaches. A daughter was defiled. He lost two sons. He endured two coups, a civil war, betrayal from close friends, and abuse upon 10 of his concubines. Sin’s consequences were relentless.
We also see the truth of this proverb with Ahab and Jezebel in relation to their murder of Naboth and the taking of his vineyard. They got what they wanted through their deceptive scheming, but God’s judgment revealed that it came at the cost of their own lives and the end of their dynasty.
The same is true of Judas and his betrayal of Jesus. He got some of the money that he craved through enabling Jesus’ arrest. But the weight of his guilt and sin ruined any enjoyment that he might have gotten out of it. He thought the pleasure and gain would be worth it, but it was not. He ended up throwing the money into the temple and hanging himself. The weight of his sin drove him to despair. Sadly, it did not drive him to true repentance and back to God. Instead, even in his death he chose to defy God and to try to find his own solution to his hopeless situation.
Killing ourselves, though, is no true solution. It may end our physical life, but that is no improvement. It only puts us face to face with God for the judgment of our sin that we deserve. There is no escaping that. Only in Jesus can our sin be forgiven and removed. Only in Jesus, with His death, burial, and resurrection on our behalf can we have eternal life and be reconciled to God. Turn from a life of deceit, from sinful shortcuts, and from taking what is not yours to trusting Jesus for salvation, forgiveness, and life—before it is too late and your mouth is eternally filled with gravel.
Proverb in Comparison: When we compare this proverb with the rest of Scripture, we see that the fulfillment of this proverb is precisely what will occur to the so-called Babylon the great of Revelation 17-18 at the end of time. Babylon is pictured as a harlot who fills the world with her immoralities and idolatries leading the world into great wickedness. There is indeed great pleasure in sin for a season, and it entices the world. In chapter 17 she reigns supreme, amasses wealth, and fights God’s people and God. Yet, in the end God’s judgment will fall. Revelation 18:4-10 describes this.
Revelations 18:4-10 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; 5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 “Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. 7 “To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I SIT as A QUEEN AND I AM NOT A WIDOW, and will never see mourning.’ 8 “For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong. 9 “And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’
Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet. Nonetheless, the conclusion will still be a mouth full of gravel.
Truth in Connection: As we apply this to our lives, we need to remember this proverb every time we are tempted to take a sinful shortcut. Memorize this verse and quote it to yourself. That will remind you of the truth of your situation. Yet, we must also hasten to add, knowing the facts of the truth about sin is not enough to keep us from carrying it out. As long as we are enslaved to our sin we will keep carrying it out even while we hate it and ourselves for it.
First and foremost, turn to Jesus to free you from your sin. He alone can break those bonds, set you free, and overcome sin’s power in your life. He alone has the power and wisdom for every area of life to walk in what is righteous and good. Trust Him as your Lord and Savior. Then day by day keep running to Him for the wisdom and power to walk in righteousness.
We may be able to cut out certain sins and behaviors by the power of a greater idol that motivates us. Sometimes people exchange one sin, one master, for another. Maybe they give up pornography for gluttony or video games. Or maybe, like Eminem, they give up drugs for a fitness obsession. That is not true freedom. The only way to truly break free from sin is have the love and power of Jesus overcome it all and break us free into the liberty that is found in Jesus Christ alone.
See His great love for you on the cross. Be overwhelmed by your unworthiness and inability. Humble yourself before the mighty, righteous hand of God. Surrender everything—your sin, your life, your things, your future, your desires—all to Him. Entrust it all to Him for what is right and best. Receive His mercy and love for you personally and eternally. Let Him lead you. Let Him show you what true love and goodness is. Let Him show you what is truly best and right for every area of your life. Trust Jesus and follow Him as your Master, Lord, Savior, Friend, and Guide.
Then we will need no shortcuts or deceptions. We will have everything that we need in Jesus. His way will always be best and right. We will trust Him for that. His way will always come to an outcome that is good and needed. It will indeed come through sufferings and trials, but He will work everything out for what is eternally good. He will purify us. He will use us for the benefit of others. He will bring us to His eternal home with lasting, eternal riches. We will be able to persevere and live faithfully through and despite hardships without giving in to the many temptations of the world’s sinful shortcuts. We will then be able to enjoy God’s heavenly manna without it being followed by a mouthful of gravel.
Are there any sinful shortcuts or deceptions in your life that are going to reap you gravel that you need to turn from today? Are there any addictions that you are just trying to swap out for lesser ones that you need to give over to Jesus entirely? He alone can free you and show you a love power greater than any addiction or enslavement. Trust Him. Turn to Him. Walk with Him daily. Know Him. Seek Him.
Conclusion
If you have any questions on any of this or want help in coming to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior please come talk with us. We are available. Let’s pray.
© 2026, Kevin A. Dodge, All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB),Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
English (US) · 