“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
My grandkids give me hugs and kisses. That’s it. No enemy is going to be able to pull that off since not even friends do. If that was all we had to watch out for this verse would not really be a problem. However, what Solomon is referring to here goes way beyond that. He is referring to praise and accolades that are deceitful and way overdone. In reality it is not hard to spot this person. I once had a person tell me he planned a celebration of my 40 years of ministry and then he slipped in a very deceptive purpose for the gathering. I let him know I would not be attending. He turned vengeful and nasty. Hidden very shallowly below the surface of his effusive praise was deception and the heart of an enemy. We all encounter these people to one degree or another. A real caution of this verse is to be aware of the tendency in our own lives to try and cover hard truth with flowery praise. It can be difficult to speak a clear rebuke or correction to another person. The secret is that it is not our place to do that to someone we don’t truly care about and have their best interest at heart. If we give an honest rebuke, gently and in love, it is a great gift. When we receive one in that spirit it should be viewed the same. Today receive what God offers through a close friend and ignore the Judas kisses of others. #BeTheEdge
“…speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 NIV
