Jesus invites us to become wise by first admitting that we need instruction. The irony of wisdom is that the more you are continually aware of your own ignorance and deficiencies, the more likely you are to live wisely.

When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
—Proverbs 21:11

There’s two countercultural gems in this proverb. The first is, there’s a place for punishment. The other is, you’re becoming wise as long as you’re willing to learn. These come as a package.

Part of the reason why “punishment” has become a dirty word is because we assume that everyone (including children) falls into the wise man category in the proverb above. All people need is a little teaching, a little more instruction, a better educational system. When little Johnny breaks down and throws a toy at another kid, it’s because he hasn’t been taught a better way.

That’s true so long as we are using the word “teach” in a broad sense. Most parents and teachers will “teach” Johnny to consider a better way next time by enacting consequences for what he did this time. This punishment is the teaching that can make even the simple wise.

In Proverbs, being “simple” doesn’t carry the same negative connotations as being a “fool.” Fools refuse to learn. Simple people simply lack teaching. Children fall into the simple group because they don’t yet have the mental categories to comprehend complex and nuanced moral reasoning. What they can comprehend is seeing someone receive a punishment or reward.

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