The metaphysical Theater Anchor FM podcast. Today its about the Rich and Poor, and Christs warning to both.
Holy Bible > Proverbs 13:8
The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor hears not rebuke.
I don't think he speaks of money there, but also he is speaking of worldly money a dual level statement
The ransom of a man’s life are his riches.—In times of trouble he may have to give them all to save his life. For the spiritual sense compensation. Luke 16:9.
But the poor heareth not rebuke.—Or, threatening. (Comp. Job 3:18; Job 39:7.) He has no need to regard it; his poverty and insignificance are his protection.
Proverbs 13:8. The ransom of a man’s life are his riches — This verse is considered by some as setting forth the several advantages of riches and poverty. Riches enable a man to redeem his life when it is in the greatest danger, and poverty preserves a man from those rebukes and injuries which endanger, and oft destroy the rich. Others again consider it as showing the convenience of poverty above riches. Riches frequently expose men to the peril of losing their lives by false accusers, thieves, or tyrants, which they are forced to redeem with the loss of their riches; whereas poverty commonly secures men not only from such kinds of death, but even from rebukes and injuries; partly because the poor are cautions that they may not offend or provoke others; and partly because their persons and actions are neglected and slighted, and they are esteemed objects of pity. Bishop Patrick paraphrases the passage in the latter of these senses, thus: “Rich men are not always so happy as they are imagined; for their wealth sometimes only serves to make them accused of high crimes, and then to bring them off with a huge sum of money, which they pay to save their lives; but nobody is apt to find fault with the poor, or to bring any charge against them.” Dr. Waterland renders the latter clause, The poor heareth no disturbance.
An honest desire to do right, preserves a man from fatal mistakes, better than a thousand fine-drawn distinctions. Some who are really poor, trade and spend as if they were rich: this is sin, and will be shame, and it will end accordingly. Some that are really rich, would be thought to be poor: in this there is want of gratitude to God, want of justice and charity to others. There are many hypocrites, empty of grace, who will not be convinced of their poverty. There are many fearing Christians, who are spiritually rich, yet think themselves poor; by their doubts, and complaints, and griefs, they make themselves poor. Great riches often tempt to violence against those that possess them; but the poor are free from such perils. The light of the righteous is as that of the sun, which may be eclipsed and clouded, but will continue: the Spirit is their Light, he gives a fulness of joy: that of the wicked is as a lamp of their own kindling, easily put out. All contentions, whether between private persons, families, churches, or nations, are begun and carried forward by pride. Disputes would be easily prevented or ended, if it were not for pride. Wealth gotten by dishonesty or vice, has a secret curse, which will speedily waste it. The delay of what is anxiously hoped for, is very painful to the mind; obtaining it is very pleasant. But spiritual blessings are chiefly intended.
On the one side is the seeming advantage of wealth. The rich man who gets out of many troubles often escapes from a just retribution by his money. But then the poor man in his turn is free from the risk of the threats and litigation that beset the rich. He "hears no rebuke" (the words are not used as in Proverbs 13:1) just as the dead "hear not the voice of the oppressor" Job 3:18 or the abuse of the envious.
Riches save some from punishment, while others suffer because they will not heed the rebuke of sloth, which makes and keeps them poor.
Matthew Poole's Commentary
This verse sets forth, either,
The several advantages of riches
