They know not to do right.
Safety in righteousness
1. The real security of wealth is justice in its acquisition and liberality in its use. Where there is much wealth, unjustly gotten, or unmercifully stored up, there an object for Divine punishment exists. Such wealth will be spoiled by enemies from within or from without.
2. This part of the prophecy supplies a most powerful motive to quicken our zeal for true religion. The history of the world has been a history of the rise and fall of many false religions, and of the rise and progress of the true religion. One false system after another has reared its head, exerted its power, destroyed its victims, and been smitten and brought to ruin. The Christian religion, small in its beginnings, has been developed in its principles, and expanded in its dominion, from the time when the germ of all its blessings was planted in the mind and heart of man in the promise, that “the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head.” With patient, cheerful zeal, therefore, should we labour in the cause of true religion. It supplies a living link between us and the first true believers in God. Its principles never die.
3. We learn to be earnest in securing our interest in “that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Every earthly house shall fall. The strong castle, the spacious mansion, the elegant abode of refinement and taste, the luxurious retreat from toil, sheltered from the heat or protected against the cold--all must one day come to ruin. Let us realise this in our thoughts, and receive admonition therefrom. (Vincent W. Ryan, M. A.)
Ignorance hinders religion
Ignorance of the price of pearls makes the idiot slight them. Ignorance of the worth of diamonds makes the fool choose a pebble before them. Ignorance of the satisfaction learning affords--that makes the peasant despise and laugh at it; and we very ordinarily see how men tread and trample on those plants which are the greatest restoratives, because they know not the virtue of them: and the same may justly be affirmed of religion,--the reason why men meddle no more with it is because they are not acquainted with the pleasantness of it. (Anthony Horneck.)