Part four of a six part series on the people of Proverbs. The Fool is close minded and opinionated. He has all the answers and listens to no one but himself. We are warned to walk cautiously when in the presence of the fool.

1. The People of Proverbs
Lesson 4
THE FOOL

2. Overview
The fool is the person who, when he enters
into any group there results contention.
Everywhere this character appears in
Proverbs, dissension takes place.
Consequently, youth are warned to avoid
him. This is also the substance of Paul’s
advise to Titus about one who causes such
friction.

3. It doesn’t mean stupid.
He/she can be a lawyer, doctor, preacher,
judge, scientist, secretary, etc.

4. Three Types of Fools
1. Kesil – Most common. Used 49 times in
Proverbs. He is dull and closed minded,
thick headed and stubborn. Because he is
lazy and shortsighted he rejects
information from others.
Proverbs 1:22 “How long will you simpletons love
naiveté? How long will mockers delight in mockery and
fools hate knowledge?
Proverbs 18:2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding
but only in disclosing what is on his mind.

5. Three Types of Fools
2. Nabal – used three times in Proverbs. He
lacks spiritual perception, religious and
moral sensibility.
1 Samuel 25:25 My lord should not pay attention to this
wicked man Nabal. He simply lives up to his name! His
name means ‘fool,’ and he is indeed foolish! But I, your
servant, did not see the servants my lord sent.
Proverbs 17:21 Whoever brings a fool into the world does
so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.

6. Three Types of Fools
3. Ewil – Used 19 times in proverbs. He is
arrogant, flippant and mentally dull. He
despises wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 1:7 Fearing the Lord is the beginning of moral
knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 20:3 It is an honor for a person to cease from
strife, but every fool quarrels.

7. Characteristics of a Fool
1. He is closed minded
a. To God (practical Atheist)
Psalm 14:1 For the music director; by David.
Fools say to themselves, “There is no God.”
They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them
does what is right.

8. Characteristics of a Fool
1. He is closed minded
a. To God (practical Atheist)
b. To Reason
1 Samuel 25:17-25 17
Now be aware of this, and see what you can do.
For disaster has been planned for our lord and his entire household. He
is such a wicked person that no one tells him anything!” 18
So Abigail
quickly took two hundred loaves of bread, two containers of wine, five
prepared sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred bunches of
raisins, and two hundred lumps of pressed figs. She loaded them on
donkeys 19
and said to her servants, “Go on ahead of me. I will come
after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20
Riding on her
donkey, she went down under cover of the mountain. David and his
men were coming down to meet her, and she encountered them. 21
Now
David had been thinking, “In vain I guarded everything that belonged to
this man in the desert. I didn’t take anything from him. But he has repaid
my good with evil. 22
God will severely punish David, if I leave alive until
morning even one male from all those who belong to him!” 23
When
Abigail saw David, she got down quickly from the donkey, threw herself
down before David, and bowed to the ground. 24
Falling at his feet, she
said, “My lord, I accept all the guilt! But please let your female servant
speak with my lord! Please listen to the words of your servant! 25
My lord
should not pay attention to this wicked man Nabal. He simply lives up to
his name! His name means ‘fool,’ and he is indeed foolish! But I, your
servant, did not see the servants my lord sent.

9. Characteristics of a Fool
1. He is closed minded
a. To God (practical Atheist)
b. To Reason
c. He is opinionated
Proverbs 15:14 The discerning heart seeks
knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds
(grazes) on folly.
Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise treats
knowledge correctly, but the mouth of the fool
spouts out folly.

10. Characteristics of a Fool
1. He is closed minded
2. He has a bad temper
a. It is violent
Proverbs 29:11 A fool lets fly with all his
temper, but a wise person keeps it back.

11. Characteristics of a Fool
1. He is closed minded
2. He has a bad temper
a. It is violent
b. It’s quick
Proverbs 12:16 A fool’s annoyance is known
at once, but the prudent overlooks an insult.

12. Characteristics of a Fool
1. He is closed minded
2. He has a bad temper
a. It is violent
b. It’s quick
c. Quick to quarrel
Proverbs 20:3 It is an honor for a person to cease from
strife, but every fool quarrels.
Proverbs 17:14 Starting a quarrel is like letting out
water; stop it before strife breaks out!

13. Characteristics of a Fool
1. He is closed minded
2. He has a bad temper
3. His speech reveals his foolish character
a. He spreads slander
Proverbs 10:18 The one who conceals hatred
utters lies, and the one who spreads slander is
certainly a fool.

14. Characteristics of a Fool
1. He is closed minded
2. He has a bad temper
3. His speech reveals his foolish character
a. He spreads slander
b. He invites rebuke
Proverbs 14:3 In the speech of a fool is a rod
for his back, but the words of the wise protect
them.

15. Characteristics of a Fool
1. He is closed minded
2. He has a bad temper
3. His speech reveals his foolish character
a. He spreads slander
b. He invites rebuke
c. His speech brings about his ruin.
Proverbs 10:8 The wise person accepts instructions,
but the one who speaks foolishness will come to
ruin.
Proverbs 10:14 Those who are wise store up
knowledge, but foolish speech leads to imminent
destruction.

16. Characteristics of a Fool
1. He is closed minded
2. He has a bad temper
3. His speech reveals his foolish character
a. He spreads slander
b. He invites rebuke
c. His speech brings about his ruin.
d. He is usually boring.
• Usually foul mouthed.
• Should not talk much because he doesn’t know
what he is talking about.
Proverbs 17:7 Excessive speech is not becoming
for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!

17. Characteristics of a Fool
1. He is closed minded
2. He has a bad temper
3. His speech reveals his foolish character
a. He spreads slander
b. He invites rebuke
c. His speech brings about his ruin.
d. He is usually boring.
e. He finds pleasure in evil.
Proverbs 10:23 (NET)Carrying out a wicked scheme is
enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who
has discernment.

18. Characteristics of a Fool
1. He is closed minded
2. He has a bad temper
3. His speech reveals his foolish character
a. He spreads slander
b. He invites rebuke
c. His speech brings about his ruin.
d. He is usually boring.
e. He finds pleasure in evil.
f. His eyes are upon everything.
Proverbs 17:24 Wisdom is directly in front of the
discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends
of the earth.

19. How should we deal with a fool ?
1. Recognize the difficulty
a. He will make a scene when publicly
confronted.
Proverbs 29:9 If a wise person goes to court
with a foolish person, there is no peace
whether he is angry or laughs.
Proverbs 29:11 A fool lets fly with all his
temper, but a wise person keeps it back.

20. How should we deal with a fool ?
1. Recognize the difficulty
a. He will make a scene when publicly
confronted.
b. He will not make amends for wrongs.
Proverbs 14:9 Fools mock at reparation, but
among the upright there is favor.

21. How should we deal with a fool ?
1. Recognize the difficulty
a. He will make a scene when publicly
confronted.
b. He will not make amends for wrongs.
c. He spurns discipline. It has little effect on him.
Proverbs 15:5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline,
but whoever heeds reproof shows good sense.
Proverbs 17:10 A rebuke makes a greater
impression on a discerning person than a hundred
blows on a fool.

22. How should we deal with a fool ?
1. Recognize the difficulty
a. He will make a scene when publicly
confronted.
b. He will not make amends for wrongs.
c. He spurns discipline. It has little effect on him.
d. Attempting to reason with the unreasonable
fool is foolish.
e. But if he is not answered he will leave you
thinking himself wise.
Proverbs 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his
folly, lest you yourself also be like him.
Proverbs 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own estimation.

23. How should we deal with a fool ?
1. Recognize the difficulty
2. Though tough, it’s not without hope.
a. The earlier he is dealt with the better.
Proverbs 22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart
of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it
far from him.

24. How should we deal with a fool ?
1. Recognize the difficulty
2. Though tough, it’s not without hope.
a. The earlier he is dealt with the better.
b. Share the Gospel and pray for him.
Titus 3:3-8 (NET)
3
For we too were once foolish, disobedient,
misled, enslaved to various passions and
desires, spending our lives in evil and
envy, hateful and hating one another. 4
But
“when the kindness of God our Savior and
his love for mankind appeared, 5
he saved
us not by works of righteousness that we
have done but on the basis of his mercy,
through the washing of the new birth and
the renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6
whom he
poured out on us in full measure through
Jesus Christ our Savior. 7
And so, since we
have been justified by his grace, we
become heirs with the confident
expectation of eternal life.” 8
This saying is
trustworthy, and I want you to insist on
such truths, so that those who have placed
their faith in God may be intent on
engaging in good works. These things are
good and beneficial for all people.

25. How should we deal with a fool ?
1. Recognize the difficulty
2. Though tough, it’s not without hope.
a. The earlier he is dealt with the better.
b. Share the Gospel and pray for him.
c. Rebuke him.
Titus 1:10-13 10
For there are many
rebellious people, idle talkers, and
deceivers, especially those with
Jewish connections, 11
who must
be silenced because they mislead
whole families by teaching for
dishonest gain what ought not to
be taught. 12
A certain one of them,
in fact, one of their own prophets,
said, “Cretans are always liars,
evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13
Such
testimony is true. For this reason
rebuke them sharply that they may
be healthy in the faith

26. How should we deal with a fool ?
1. Recognize the difficulty
2. Though tough, it’s not without hope.
a. The earlier he is dealt with the better.
b. Share the Gospel and pray for him.
c. Rebuke him.
d. Disassociate with him if he does not respond
to rebuke.
Titus 3:9-11 9
But avoid foolish
controversies, genealogies,
quarrels, and fights about the
law, because they are useless
and empty. 10
Reject a divisive
person after one or two
warnings. 11
You know that
such a person is twisted by sin
and is conscious of it himself.