For I was at the window of my house,
glancing out through the lattice,
when I saw among the young men there,
among those who don’t think for themselves,
a young fellow devoid of all sense.
He crosses the street near her corner
and continues on toward her house.
Dusk turns into evening,
and finally night, dark and black.
Then a woman approaches him,
dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.
She’s the course, impulsive type,
whose feet don’t stay at home;
rather, she stalks the streets and squares,
lurking at every streetcorner.
She grabs him, gives him a kiss,
and, brazen-faced, she says to him,
“I had to offer peace sacrifices,
and I fulfilled my vows today.
This is why I came out to meet you,
to look for you; now I’ve found you.
I’ve spread quilts on my couch
made of colored Egyptian linen.
I’ve perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
Come on, let’s make love till morning;
we’ll enjoy making love.
My husband isn’t at home,
he’s gone on a long trip;
he took a bag of money with him
and won’t be back till the moon is full.”
With all her sweet talk she convinces him,
enticing him with her seductive words.
At once he follows her
like an ox on its way to be slaughtered;
like a fool to be punished in the stocks;
or like a bird rushing into a trap,
not knowing its life is at stake
till an arrow pierces its liver.
So now, children, listen to me;
pay attention to what I am saying.
Don’t let your heart turn to her ways;
don’t stray onto her paths,
For many are those she has struck down dead,
numerous those she has killed.
Her house is the way to Sh’ol;
it leads down to the halls of death.
Proverbs 7:6-27, Complete Jewish Bible
A cursory reading of this story may offer a warning about committing adultery, although since “Do not commit adultery” (Deuteronomy 5:17 (18)) is one of the Ten Commandments, it seems likely there is another purpose for this parable. I believe the parable refers to the ‘Church’ as the ‘Bride of Christ.’ I think it would be helpful to break down the story and cross reference passages with other scripture in order to find the hidden meaning of this parable.
“I saw among the young men there, among those who don’t think for themselves, a young fellow devoid of all sense” (v. 7). That’s quite an accusation, although it perfectly describes followers of any doctrine or religion that purports to tell congregants what to believe and think based on interpretation of scripture by its leaders. When one person, or a small group of church leaders, guide the masses – whether in church or through the internet – into ‘truth’, it becomes “man-made rules as if they were doctrines” (Matthew 15:9). This verse, along with verse eight, provides a better understanding of the point Jesus was making by referencing Isaiah: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me. Their worship of me is useless, because they teach man-made rules as if they were doctrines.” (Matthew 15:8-9, Isaiah 29:13, Complete Jewish Bible)
Paul warns of indoctrination of any other gospel – whether through legalism or heresy – that strays from following the precepts of Christ. “If anyone teaches differently and does not agree with the sound precepts of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah and to the doctrine that is in keeping with godliness, he is swollen with conceit and understands nothing. Instead, he has a morbid desire for controversies and word-battles, out of which come jealousy, dissension, insults, evil suspicions, and constant wrangling among people whose minds no longer function properly and who have been deprived of the truth, so that they imagine that religion is a road to riches.” (I Timothy 6:3-5, Complete Jewish Bible)
“He crosses the street near her corner and continues on toward her house. Dusk turns into evening, and finally night, dark and black” (v. 8-9). This describes someone searching for truth; darkness as being without God (Colossians 1:13, I John 1:6, 2:11). This point of the parable offers the proverbial ‘fork in the road’ for the young fellow. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus implores us to “keep asking…keep seeking…keep knocking…” (Luke 11:9). Peter expounds on the need to persevere: “Yes, we have the prophetic Word made very certain. You will do well to pay attention to it as to a light shining in a dark, murky place, until the Day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts.” (II Peter 1:19, Complete Jewish Bible) In other words, persevere until the Truth becomes known. Unfortunately, in this parable the young man takes a different route than the one that leads to true light.
“Then a woman approaches him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. She’s the course, impulsive type, whose feet don’t stay at home; rather, she stalks the streets and squares, lurking at every streetcorner” (v. 10-12). This refers to any religious entity that claims to be the ‘Bride of Christ’ and sets about to ‘evangelize’ the world. This may seem harsh, although we have the very words of Christ: “Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P’rushim [Pharisees]! You go about over land and sea to make one proselyte; and when you succeed, you make him twice as fit for Gei-Hinnom [hell] as you are!” (Matthew 23:15, Complete Jewish Bible) You may argue that the audience when Jesus spoke these words were Jews, although I would point out Jews at that time, and indeed even today, are not known for their proselytizing. In fact, Peter was hesitant to enter the house of a Roman army officer (Acts 10:28).
“She grabs him, gives him a kiss, and, brazen-faced, she says to him, “I had to offer peace sacrifices, and I fulfilled my vows today. This is why I came out to meet you, to look for you; now I’ve found you”” (v. 13-15). She is welcoming, enthusiastic, and presents herself as someone who serves God. After demonstrating that she serves God by offering “peace sacrifices” and fulfilling her “vows”, she then admits she “came out…to look for” him. There is intent to bring in this “young fellow devoid of all sense” to her form of religion. This scenario is analogous to current efforts of worldwide evangelism; offering a form of religion, enthusiastically and deliberately.
“I’ve spread quilts on my couch made of colored Egyptian linen. I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come on, let’s make love till morning; we’ll enjoy making love” (v. 16-18). After offering a form of religion, she convinces him that he can enjoy all that the world has to offer and he is invited to love the form of religion and the worldly ‘blessings.’ John writes: “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If someone loves the world, then love for the Father is not in him; because all the things of the world – the desires of the old nature, the desires of the eyes, and the pretensions of life – are not from the Father but from the world.” (I John 2:15-16, Complete Jewish Bible) Even though this woman “dressed as a prostitute” describes her intent to “make love”, it is nothing more than whoring. Religion presents itself as something sacred and pure when in reality it’s whoring; “they retain the outer form of religion but deny its power.” (II Timothy 3:5, Complete Jewish Bible) “…the spirit of whoring is in them, and they don’t know Adonai.” (Hosea 5:4, Complete Jewish Bible)
“My husband isn’t at home, he’s gone on a long trip;” (v. 19). If, as I believe, the woman “dressed as a prostitute” is the ‘Bride of Christ’, then the husband, who isn’t home, is Christ. “Don’t let yourselves be disturbed. Trust in God and trust in me.” “Since I am going and preparing a place for you, I will return to take you with me; so that where I am, you may be also.” “You heard me tell you, ‘I am leaving, and I will come back to you.’…” (John 14:1, 3, 28, Complete Jewish Bible)
“Shout for joy, Fair Zion! For lo, I come; and I will dwell in your midst – declares the Lord. In that day many nations will attach themselves to the Lord and become His people, and He will dwell in your midst…” (Zechariah 2:14-15, Tanakh) Yeshua is the Messiah of the Jewish people, and He is coming again to reunite with His people. While this fact is not totally forgotten in the modern-day church, for the most part it is ignored. His chosen people, the Israelites, are in seclusion, allowing Gentiles an opportunity to join His chosen people – not replace them – through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.
“he took a bag of money with him and won’t be back till the moon is full” (v. 20). I believe the ‘bag of money’ are the unfathomable riches of the Kingdom. They are found in Christ – His grace, peace, joy, and eternal life with the Father; undeserving as we are. “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.” (Colossians 1:13, Complete Jewish Bible)
“With all her sweet talk she convinces him, enticing him with her seductive words. At once he follows her like an ox on its way to be slaughtered; like a fool to be punished in the stocks; or like a bird rushing into a trap, not knowing its life is at stake till an arrow pierces its liver” (v. 21-23). These verses reveal the truth behind the facade of religiosity as well as the consequences.
“So now, children, listen to me; pay attention to what I am saying. Don’t let your heart turn to her ways; don’t stray onto her paths, For many are those she has struck down dead, numerous those she has killed. Her house is the way to Sh’ol [hell]; it leads down to the halls of death” (v. 24-27). There’s hope! Paul prays; “that you will be continually strengthened with all the power that comes from his glorious might; so that you will be able to persevere and be patient in any situation, joyfully giving thanks to the Father for having made you fit to share in the inheritance of his people in the light.” (Colossians 1:11-12, Complete Jewish Bible)
The King James Version of the Bible often uses the word ‘patience’ rather than ‘perseverance’, as is the case in this verse in Colossians. In the King James Version, the words used for “persevere and be patient” are “patience and longsuffering” – which actually have similar meaning. Patience is defined as “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay”, while perseverance is defined as “persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” Perseverance is the active pursuit of something, and as it applies to our pursuit of Christ, it instructs us to actively turn from our old nature and seek Christ. “persevere and be patient in any situation, joyfully giving thanks to the Father for having made you fit to share in the inheritance of his people in the light.”