Proverbial Teachings: Chapter 16 Verse 1

Wide angle and broad approach, the general landscape is observable.
Detail is traded for an overall view.

Many are the questions that have been pondered by mankind.

For thousands of years people have wondered about many things.

Some of the more weighty questions being: who am I?, what happens after I die?, is there a God? - and if so, who is God?, what is the meaning of life?, and many other important and thought-provoking questions.

Sometimes the questions can be more important than the answers.

How?

Because a specific question, asked in a certain way, can spark a very clear and precise answer.

Sometimes a particular question is trying to ask something else because fear or insecurity may prevent brave and revealing questions from being asked.

(consider Nicodemus' statement to Yeshua and Yeshua's response that went to the heart of what Nicodemus wanted to know... an answer to a question stirring in the hearts of all mankind)

Yet a proper answer is not always widely acceptable to all people, although the answer be true, simple, accurate, factual, clear, and complete.

Some people sadly cannot accept a proper answer.

While some people complicate and obstruct what is clear and proper, others modify and confuse what is proper for things resembling something else.

People are in the habit of pursuing their own 'truths' as they've learned to cope with a world that has confused Love for things far from Love's definition.

Consider this question and prepare for an extra answer:

Do humans have free will?

To humans belong the plans of the heart, 

   but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. 

- Proverbs 16: 1

This proverbial verse would answer the free will question in the affirmative, according to the plans humans make for themselves (thoughts giving rise to decisions giving rise to words giving rise to actions).

Notice what else is mentioned: the 'proper answer' and from where that comes from.

The latter part of this verse may speak to the spirit inside someone.

According to what a person's tongue unleashes may depict the spirit within them (or what motivates them, what compels them).

Their words (and more obvious their actions) depict what is stirring in their heart.

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 

- Luke 6: 45

The quoting of Scripture is not always 'speaking from God', as this example portrays. (verses 9-11)

Consider how the proverb's verse is speaking of an answer.

In the example of evil tempting Yeshua, notice it is Yeshua giving a proper answer to the temptations, the questions of doubt, the attempt to undermine what is proper for what is not.

Notice that throughout His ministry, Yeshua's plan from His heart was to obey God in all things... even to the point of humiliation, ridicule, suffering, and death.

It was not by an individual will (what the flesh would be tempted to want), but according to God's will... and the plan God had set in His heart.