He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
Ver. 19. He loveth transgression that loveth strife.] It is strange that any should love strife, that hellhag, ερις ερυννις. And yet some, like trouts, love to swim against the stream; like salamanders, they live in the fire of contention; like Phocion, they hold it a goodly thing to dissent from others; like Pyrrhus, they are a "people that delight in war"; Psa 68:30 like David's enemies, "I am for peace," saith he (that was his motto), "but when I speak of it, they are for war." Psa 120:7 These unquiet spirits are of the devil doubtless, that turbulent creature, that troubler of God's Israel. He knows that "where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work," Jam 3:16 and that he loveth transgression that loveth strife; he taketh pleasure in sin, which is the cause of his unquietness. Good, therefore, and worthy of all acceptation is the council of the Psalmist, "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself in any wise to do evil." Psa 37:8 He that "frets" much will soon be drawn to "do evil." "An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression" Pro 29:22 Hence our Saviour bids "have salt within yourselves"; that is, mortify your corruptions, and then "be at peace one with another." Mar 9:50 Hence also St James saith, that "the wisdom from above is first pure, and then peaceable." And St Paul oft joins faith and love together; there can be no true love to, and good agreement with men, till the heart be purified by faith from the love of sin.
And he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.] Eventually he seeketh it, though not intentionally. "That exalteth his gate," that is, his whole house - a part being put for the whole - which he that builds too sumptuously is in the ready road to beggary; the beggar will soon have him by the back, as they say; quaerit rupturam, he will shortly break. Others read the words thus, "And he enlargeth his gate that seeketh a breach"; that is, say they, he that picketh quarrels, and is contentious, setteth open a wide door to let in many mischiefs.