What does Proverbs 1:13 mean?
This verse changes the game a bit. Now, the lure shifts to what you will get out of it. The incentive becomes the personal benefits of sin. The fictional "sinner" speaks of the riches that you will come by, and what will be found. At this point, we see that the temptation has all the makings of a common manipulation tactic. First, "You won't be alone, we will do it together." Second, "They really have it coming anyway." Third, "We will get rich in the process." It would be easy for anyone to fall into this trap and be enticed by sin.Many people, in fact, have fallen into sin for these very reasons. All too often, that starts with a desire for the "riches," or the benefits. The rest is just an attempt to justify our sin. Very few people participate in sin because they think it is wrong and that it will lead to disaster. We justify our actions in an effort to say they really aren't "bad," or at least, "not that bad." And, we fool ourselves into thinking that we can get away with it, without any consequences. Solomon uses an extreme example to make a point, but the same silly thinking—and the same proper response—is meant to apply to us, even in less outrageous situations.
Proverbs 1:8–19 is a warning against foolishness and the allure of sinful behavior. Solomon begins this warning by appealing to his children to honor their parents' teaching. As any parent knows, it’s often best to outline a negative behavior before stating the consequences of that behavior. The example used seems extreme, but it is meant to point towards an obvious conclusion.
Proverbs Chapter 1 provides a clear description of the purpose of the book. It is stated plainly who wrote the book, the lineage of Solomon, and to whom he was writing. Solomon gives four distinct purpose statements in the opening verses. The essence of these is to explain why he is writing the book as well as the source of his inspiration. Solomon concludes with a warning against sinfulness and a personal plea for his children to act wisely.