As Christ shows the absurdity and wickedness of those children who
think it is no duty, in some cases, to maintain their parents (Matt.
xv. 5), so Solomon here shows the absurdity and wickedness of those who
think it is no sin to rob their parents, either by force or secretly,
by wheedling them or threatening them, or by wasting what they have,
and (which is no better than robbing them) running into debt and
leaving them to pay it. Now, 1. This is commonly made light of by
untoward children; they say, "It is no transgression, for it will be
our own shortly, our parents can well enough spare it, we have occasion
for it, we cannot live as gentlemen upon the allowance our parents give
us, it is too strait for us." With such excuses as these they endeavour
to shift off the conviction. But, 2. How lightly soever an ungoverned
youth makes of it, it is really a very great sin; he that does it is
the companion of a destroyer, no better than a robber on the highway.
What wickedness will he scruple to commit who will rob his own parents?