Do not speak to fools,
for they will scorn your prudent words
When we preach we want to cast the net as widely as is possible. However, we need to recognise that there are some whom it is impossible to reach through the ordinary preaching of the Word. Fools, that is those who are morally deficient and without faith and here wilfully and persistently deaf to the gospel, cannot be reached by this means. Such people will scorn your prudent words. They will not listen. This is why Jesus (Matthew 7:6) warned his disciples not to throw pigs to pearls or what is sacred to dogs. Indeed, he suggests that it may be worse than the proverb intimates - they may turn on you and harm you. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing and so although God himself can break through preaching to fools cannot of itself. From time to time people will turn up at church who have no intention of doing anything but scorning the Word. They will not be persuaded.
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