A Fool

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-17-2022

Psalm 53:1; Psalm 14:1

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  The Bible says it is a dangerous thing to call anyone a fool (Matthew 5:22), but I think that we can biblically identify what a fool is.  FOOL, n.  [Heb.] (Interesting that the word FOOL is a Hebrew Word!  The word “fool” (stupid) is found 73 times in the Bible; “foolish” (to do something vile or stupid) 52 times; “foolishness” (silliness) is found 20 times.

 

1.  One who is destitute of reason, or the common powers of understanding; an idiot. 

 

2.  In common language, a person who is somewhat deficient in intellect, but not an idiot; or a person who acts absurdly; one who does not exercise his reason; one who pursues a course contrary to the dictates of wisdom.

 

3.  In scripture, fool is often used for a wicked or depraved person; one who acts contrary to sound wisdom in his moral deportment; one who follows his own inclinations, who prefers trifling and temporary pleasures to the service of God and eternal happiness.

 

4.  A term of indignity and reproach.

 

5.  One who counterfeits folly; a buffoon; as a king's fool.

 

B.  When God calls a man a fool, he is a fool!  The Bible definitions of a fool:

 

1.  A Fool Rejects God.

 

Psalms 14:1  The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

 

Psalms 19:1-4  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  (2)  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  (3)  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.  (4)  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

 

Romans 1:19-22  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  (20)  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  (21)  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  (22)  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

 

2.  A Fool Will Not Receive Instruction.

 

Proverbs 10:8  The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

 

Proverbs 17:10  A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

 

Proverbs 23:9  Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

 

3.  A Fool Pretends To Be A Friend And Then Slanders

 

Proverbs 10:18  He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

 

Proverbs 12:15  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

 

4.  A Fool Is A Person Full Of Wrath.

 

Proverbs 12:16  A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

 

Proverbs 20:3  It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

 

Proverbs 27:3  A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.

 

5.  A Fool Has No Fear Of God.

 

Proverbs 14:16  A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

 

Numbers 12:11  And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.

 

6.  A Fool Will Not Hear The Instruction Of His Parents.

 

Proverbs 15:5  A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

 

Proverbs 10:1  The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

 

Proverbs 19:13  A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

 

7.  A Fool Cannot Control His Tongue.

 

Proverbs 18:6  A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

 

Proverbs 18:7  A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

 

Proverbs 19:1  Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

 

Proverbs 29:11  A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Ecclesiastes 5:3  For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

 

Ecclesiastes 10:12  The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself

 

Ecclesiastes 10:14  A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

 

Job 1:22  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

 

Proverbs 9:13  A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

 

8.  A Fool Never Learns A Lesson.

 

Proverbs 26:11  As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

 

Proverbs 26:3  A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.

 

Proverbs 27:22  Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

 

9.  A Fool Trusts His Own Heart.

 

Proverbs 28:26  He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

 

10.  A Fool Puts His Trust In Temporal Things.

 

Luke 12:20-21  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

 

11.  A Fool Injures His Own House.

 

Proverbs 14:1  Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

 

Proverbs 11:29  He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.