面對愚昧人的激怒時(箴26章)

不要照愚昧人的愚妄話回答他、恐怕你與他一樣。要照愚昧人的愚妄話回答他、免得他自以為有智慧。(箴 26：4-5)

聖經中的愚昧人，不是見得是指智商很低的販夫走卒，反而可能是指高知識份子，卻因為驕傲自大，所以被神厭棄，使他們不認識真理，也無法明白真理，是不遵守真理的人。

我很喜歡主耶穌在世傳福音時，面對文士、法利賽人、祭司長等，甚至是巡撫比拉多，這些看似很聰明、高高在上，實則是愚昧人的大集合，主耶穌對這些人的每個回應，真是令人讚嘆不已。

本章提到何謂愚昧人？目的是讓我們認清誰是愚昧人，然後可以因此釋懷。因為我們不會對生病的人，因他的病所產生的任何行為而生氣，我們總是可以因為知道他們有軟弱，然後對於他們的不理性行為釋懷。同樣地，當我們可以洞察哪些人是愚昧人時，對於他們令人生氣不解的舉止與反應，就可以跟自己說：「沒辦法，他就是愚昧人啊！所以才會這樣。算了！」然後不再為這樣的事生氣。

關於這段經文，看似互相衝突的內容，我們可以由一些例子來幫助了解：

一、不要照愚昧人的愚妄話回答他、恐怕你與他一樣。

主耶穌對於愚昧人，常常採取「不照愚昧人的問題回答」的方式做回應，或是直接不回應。例如約翰福音第八章的事件：

就對耶穌說：「夫子、這婦人是正行淫之時被拿的。摩西在律法上吩咐我們、把這樣的婦人用石頭打死．你說該把他怎麼樣呢？」

他們說這話、乃試探耶穌、要得着告他的把柄。耶穌卻彎着腰用指頭在地上畫字。

他們還是不住的問他、耶穌就直起腰來、對他們說：「你們中間誰是沒有罪的、誰就可以先拿石頭打他。」於是又彎着腰用指頭在地上畫字。(約 8：4-8)

對於愚昧人的問題，例如在這個事件中，他們設定了答案，問耶穌到底要選A，還是選B時，結果耶穌並沒有落入圈套，也沒有被牽著鼻子走，祂的答案姑且說是C吧。耶穌跳脫框架的回應，就是在教導我們不必按照人設定的選項做圈選，當以清醒的頭腦取得主導權。

而且耶穌一開始選擇不回應，以冷靜，甚至淡定的態度，直接壓下去這些愚昧人的氣勢，無形中取得發球權。

愚昧人最喜歡惹人生氣，若我們可以沉得住氣，就可以勝過他們挑釁，不至於落入圈套。

二、要照愚昧人的愚妄話回答他、免得他自以為有智慧。

另一種主耶穌的回應方式，就是照著愚昧人的愚妄話直接回答，主耶穌知道他們一定聽不懂，最後就會選擇放棄。例如約翰福音十八章中：

彼拉多又進了衙門、叫耶穌來、對他說：「你是猶太人的王麼？」

耶穌回答說：「這話是你自己說的、還是別人論我對你說的呢？」

彼拉多說：「我豈是猶太人呢？你本國的人和祭司長、把你交給我．你作了甚麼事呢？」

耶穌回答說：「我的國不屬這世界．我的國若屬這世界、我的臣僕必要爭戰、使我不至於被交給猶太人．只是我的國不屬這世界。」

彼拉多就對他說：「這樣、你是王麼？」耶穌回答說：「你說我是王．我為此而生、也為此來到世間、特為給真理作見證．凡屬真理的人、就聽我的話。」

彼拉多說：「真理是甚麼呢？」說了這話、又出來到猶太人那裏、對他們說：「我查不出他有甚麼罪來。」(約 18：33-38)

這段耶穌和彼拉多的對話，真是精彩。主耶穌照彼拉多的話回答，甚至用彼拉多提的問題反問，回應中卻也就真理做了見證。這樣的對話之中，就是用愚昧人的話回答愚昧人。最後彼拉多投降，承認自己查不出問題。

面對愚昧人，不用生氣，當藉由箴言所教導的話語，來判定身邊想惹動我們怒氣的愚昧人，因認清而釋懷，並保持冷靜的頭腦、淡定的態度，淡然處之，心中想想「耶穌會怎麼做？」，相信我們都可以藉由聖靈的力量知道正確回應的方式，不至於因愚昧人的愚昧而犯罪。

你們被交的時候、不要思慮怎樣說話、或說甚麼話．到那時候、必賜給你們當說的話。(太 10：19)

By Isaiah Kao

When Facing the Provocation of a Fool (Proverbs 26)

“Do not answer a fool according to his foolishness, or you will also be like him. Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves, that he not be wise in his own eyes.” (Proverbs 26:4–5, NASB 2020)

In the Bible, a “fool” does not necessarily refer to someone with low intelligence or of low social status. Rather, it may refer to those who are highly educated, yet because of pride and arrogance, are rejected by God. As a result, they do not know the truth, cannot understand the truth, and do not live according to the truth.

I deeply admire how the Lord Jesus responded when He preached the gospel on earth. When facing scribes, Pharisees, chief priests, and even the governor Pilate—people who appeared intelligent and high-ranking but were in fact a gathering of fools, every response of the Lord Jesus is truly amazing.

This chapter explains what a fool is, so that we may recognize who is a fool and thereby be released within ourselves. We do not become angry with a sick person because of actions caused by illness. Instead, we understand their weakness and can let go of their irrational behavior. In the same way, when we discern who is a fool, we can say to ourselves regarding their frustrating and unreasonable behavior: “There’s nothing I can do, he is a fool. That’s why he acts this way. Let it go.” And we will no longer be angered by such things.

Regarding these seemingly contrary verses, we can understand them through examples:

1. “Do not answer a fool according to his foolishness, or you will also be like him.”

The Lord Jesus often responded to fools by not answering according to their foolish questions, or even by not responding at all. For example, in John chapter 8:

They said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?”

They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.

But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. (John 8:4–8, NASB 2020)

When facing foolish questions,such as in this case where they set a trap and forced Jesus to choose between option A or B,but Jesus did not fall into their trap or follow their framework. Instead, His answer could be considered “option C.”

His response broke out of their framework, teaching us that we do not have to choose from the options others impose. Rather, we should keep a clear mind and take the initiative.

Moreover, Jesus initially chose not to respond. With calmness, even composure, He subdued the momentum of the fools and, without words, gained control of the 

situation.

Fools delight in provoking anger. If we can remain calm, we can overcome their provocation and avoid falling into their traps.

2. “Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves, that he not be wise in his own eyes.”

Another way the Lord Jesus responded was by answering according to the fool’s words. Knowing they would not understand, He allowed the conversation to expose their own limitations, until they gave up. For example, in John chapter 18:

Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”

Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”

Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no grounds for charges in Him.” (John 18:33–38, NASB 2020)

This conversation between Jesus and Pilate is truly remarkable. Jesus answered according to Pilate’s words, even responding with questions. Yet within His answers, He bore witness to the truth.This is an example of answering a fool according to his foolishness. In the end, Pilate surrendered and admitted he found no fault in Jesus.

When facing fools, there is no need to become angry. Instead, we should apply the teachings of Proverbs to discern those who seek to provoke us. By recognizing them, we can be released, maintain a calm mind and attitude, and respond with quiet confidence.

Let us ask in our hearts, “What would Jesus do?” Trust that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be given the right words and responses, so that we do not sin because of the foolishness of others.

“But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given to you in that hour what you are to say.” (Matthew 10:19, NASB 2020)