The Fool Says in his Heart…

Last updated on: April 1, 2023 at 1:15 am by Ben Witherington

The Fool Says in his Heart… 2023-03-24T09:40:39-04:00 Ben Witherington

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How in the world did April’ Fools day get its start? According to Encyclopedia Britannica it may have originated in France…

“Some have proposed that the modern custom originated in France, officially with the Edict of Roussillon (promulgated in August 1564), in which Charles IX decreed that the new year would no longer begin on Easter, as had been common throughout Christendom, but rather on January 1. Because Easter was a lunar and therefore moveable date, those who clung to the old ways were the “April Fools.” Others have suggested that the timing of the day may be related to the vernal equinox (March 21), a time when people are fooled by sudden changes in the weather.

There are variations between countries in the celebration of April Fools’ Day, but all have in common an excuse to make someone play the fool. In France, for example, the fooled person is called poisson d’avril (“April fish”), perhaps in reference to a young fish and hence to one that is easily caught; it is common for French children to pin a paper fish to the backs of unsuspecting friends. In Scotland the day is Gowkie Day, for the gowk, or cuckoo, a symbol of the fool and the cuckold, which suggests that it may have been associated at one time with sexual license; on the following day signs reading “kick me” are pinned to friends’ backs. In many countries newspapers and the other media participate—for example, with false headlines or news stories.”

But what does the Bible say about fools? Actually, quite a lot, especially in the wisdom literature known as Proverbs. But perhaps the most famous verse is is Psalm 14.1— “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.” If this is true, there are an awful lot of very intelligent fools in world history. So being a fool doesn’t simply have to do with how much or what one knows. As we shall see it has to do with wisdom.

The word fool or fools is mentioned an astounding 99 times in the book of Proverbs. And overall, some 360 times, or almost one for each day of the year, in the Bible overall. Ray Deck III (https://www.logos.com/grow/7-things-the-bible-says-about-fools/) lists the following traits of a fool…..

A fool starts fights. (Proverbs 18:6)
A fool is easily upset. (Proverbs 12:16)
A fool believes everything he reads. (Proverbs 14:15)
A fool loves to talk, but hates to listen. (Proverbs 18:2)
A fool is fiercely independent. (Proverbs 28:26)
A fool makes light of sin. (Proverbs 10:23)
A fool hates their mama. (Proverbs 15:20)

Read Prov. 26 in regard to whether one should answer a fool in his folly, with some sort of foolish quip, or not.

The fool is not stupid, indeed he might be quite intelligent, but not in regard to God and the things of God, hence Psalm 14.1. Basically, the fool is the person who thinks he or she is an independent person who can make all their decisions and choices in life without consulting God or his word, or while ignoring both. According to Jesus, his disciples are not to use the term ‘raca’ or ‘you idiot/fool’. Mt. 5.22 puts it this way… “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”

Think on these things, especially today, and beware of hurtful pranks.

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