The Quotable Matthew Henry (continued)
Courage and crosses, that others meet with, in it, instead of showing ourselves, upon such an occasion, greedy of it, we should rather be made thereby to sit more loose to it, and both take our affections off it and lower our expectations from it. should hear them, when those that sing profane songs roar them out, and care not who hears them?
Acts 16
Covetousness
Ezekiel 35
Nothing is more violent than angers Ov the force 2of "strong wrath! And yet a handsome present, prudently managed, will turn away some men's wrath when it seemed implacable, and disarm the keenest and most passionate resentments. Covetousness is commonly a mastersin and has the command of other lusts. Money commands
His sin is his punishment, his ambition is his perpetual uneasiness. Though the home be a palace, yet to a discontented mind it is a prison.
Those that will not be content with their allotments shall not have the comfort of _ their achievements.
Habakkuk 2 all things. Thus Jacob pacified Esau and Abigail David.
If he had had but two mites in
It is not having silver and gold, horses and chariots, that is a provocation to God, but: 1. Desiring them insatiably, so that there is no end of the treasures, no end of the chariots, no bounds or limits set to the desire of them. Those shall never have enough in God (who alone is all-sufficient) that never know when they have enough of this world, which at the best is insufficient. 2. Depending upon them, as if we could not be safe, and easy, and happy, without them, and could not but be so with them. all the world, and had been commanded to give them to the poor, or but one handful of meal in the barrel, and a little oil in the cruse, and had been bidden to make a cake of that for a poor prophet, the trial, one would think, had been much greater, and yet those trials have been overcome (Luke 21:4; 1 Kings 17:14); which shows that the love of the world draws stronger than the most pressing necessities.
Matthew 19 'What will ye give me?' Why, what did he want? Neither bread
Isaiah 2 to eat, nor raiment to put on; neither necessaries nor conveniences. Was not he welcome, wherever his Master was? Did he not fare as he fared? Had he not been but just now nobly entertained at a supper in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, and a little before at another, Those have the spirit of Edomites who desire the death of others because they hope to get by it, or are pleased with their failing because they expect to come into their business. When we see the vanity of the world in the disappointments, losses,
Criticism where no less a person than Martha herself waited at table? And yet this covetous wretch could not be content, but comes basely cringing to the priests with, 'What will ye give me?' Note, it is not the lack of money, but the love of money, the devotion of others though it may not agree with our sentiments because for aught that we know the heart might be upright in it and who are we that we should despise those whom God has accepted? If we can prove ourselves to God in all we do in religion and do it that is the root of all evil, and particularly of apostasy from Christ; witness Demas (2 Tim. 4: as before the Lord, we need not value the censures and reproaches of men.
10). Satan tempted our Saviour with this bait, 'All these things will I give thee' (Ch. 4:9); but Judas offered himself to be tempted with it.
2 Samuel 6
Christ's ministers must not think it strange if they be censured and quarrelled with, not only by their professed enemies, but by their professing friends; not only for their follies and infirmities, but for their good actions seasonably and well done; but, if we have proved our own work, we may have rejoicing in ourselves, as Peter had, whatever reflections we may have from our brethren. Those that are zealous and courageous in the service of Christ must expect to be censured by those who, under "*pretence of being cautious, are cold and indifferent. Those who are of catholic, generous, charitable principles, must expect to be censured by such as are conceited and straitlaced, who say, 'Stand by thy-
Matthew 26
That is, an inordinate love of present good and outward enjoyments, which proceeds from too high a value in the mind, puts upon too eager a pursuit, hinders the proper use and enjoyment of them, and creates anxious fear and immoderate sorrow for the loss of them. Observe, covetousness is spiritual idolatry: it is the giving of that love and regard to worldly wealth which are due to God only, and carries a greater degree of malignity in it, and is more highly provoking to God, than is commonly thought. And it is very observable that among all the instances of sin which good men are recorded in the scripture to have fallen into (and there is scarcely any but some or other, in one or other part of their life, have fallen into) there self, I am holier than thou'.
Actsuid
God sees not as man sees; and he is their master, and not we. In judging and censuring our brethren, we meddle with that which does not belong to us: we have work enough to do at home; and, if we must needs be judging, let us exercise our faculty upon our own hearts and ways. is no instance in all the scripture of any good man charged with covetousness.
Colossians 3
Criticism
We should be afraid of censuring
Criticism and live to him, and study what we shall render.
We have reason to think, because in other things he conducts himself like a good Christian, that in this also his eye is single, and that 'he regardeth it unto the Lord'; and God will accept of his honest intention, though he be under a mistake about the observance of days; for the sincerity and uprightness of the heart were never rejected for the weakness and infirmity of the head: so good a master do We serve.
John 19
Curiosity
The practical instructions Christ had given them' concerning brotherly love he overlooks, and asks no questions upon them, but fastens upon that concerning which Christ purposely kept them in the dark. Note, it is a common fault among us to be more inquisitive concerning things secret, which belong to God only, than concerning things 'revealed, which belong to us and our children', more desirous to have our cunosity gratified than our consciences directed, to know what is done in heaven than what we may do to get thither. It is easy to observe it in the converse of Christians, how soon a discourse of that which is plain and edifying is dropped, and no more said to it, the subject is exhausted; which in a matter of doubtful disputation runs into an endless strife of words.
Romans 14
We should be very careful how we censure others, when we have to do with a Judge from whom we cannot conceal ourselves. Others do not lie open to our notice, but we lie all open to his: and, when he shall come to judge, 'every man shall have praise of God.'
... But how fearful should they be of loading any with reproaches now whom their common Judge shall hereafter commend.
1 Corinthians 4
Crucifixion
John 13
And now let us pause awhile, and with an eye of faith look upon Jesus. Was ever sorrow like unto his sorrow? See him who was clothed with glory stripped of it all, and clothed with shame — him who was the 'praise of angels' made a 'reproach of men' — him who had been with eternal delight and joy in the bosom of the Father
Darkness
Darkness was one of the plagues of Egypt, and it is opposed to lustre and honour, and so forebodes the contempt and scorn to which the antichristian interest should be exposed. Darkness is opposed to wisdom and penetration, and forebodes the confusion and folly which the idolaters should discover at that time. It is opposed to pleasure and joy, and so signifies their now in the extremities of pain and agony. See him bleeding, see him struggling, see him dying, see him and love him, love him
Death anguish and vexation of spirit, when their calamities thus came upon them.
Death
When it drew towards night, and the shadows of the evening were stretched out, they began
Revelation 16 to think (as it behoves us to do when we observe the day of our life hastening towards a period) where they must lodge.
Day of Judgment
For damned sinners in hell shall not be allowed their light, being cast into utter darkness, and glorified saints in heaven shall not need their light, for God himself will be their everlasting light (Isa. 60:19). Those Judges 19
He had the unhappiness to die in the midst of his days but to balance that, the happiness not to outlive his reputation as the that fall under the wrath of God in that day of wrath shall be cut off from all comfort and joy, signified by the darkening last three of his predecessors did.
2 Chronicles 27
Let discontented people declaim ever so much against life, they will be loth to part with not only of sun and moon, but of the stars also.
When God comes to pull down and destroy his enemies, and make them all his footstool, though heaven and earth should stand up in defence of them and undertake their protection, it shall be all in vain. Even they shall shake before him and be an insufficient shelter to those whom he comes forth to contend with. Note, as blessings out of Zion are the sweetest blessings, and enough to make heaven and earth sing, so terrors out of Zion are the sorest terrors, and enough to make heaven and earth shake. it when it comes to the point. When the old man in the fable, being tired with his burden, threw it down with discontent for Death, and Death came to him and asked him what he would have with him, he then answered 'Nothing, but to help me up with my burden.'
If the miseries of this life can prevail, contrary to nature, to make death itself desirable, shall not much more the hopes and prospects of a better life, to which death is our passage, make it so, and set us quite above the fear of it? It may be Joel 3 a.) sits tou long for ~death, pbut I am sure it is no sin to long for heaven.
If we look to. the end of all these things, the period of the world, and the posture of souls then, we shall thence form a very different idea of the present state of things. If we see things
Job 3
He is said to be carried away, and hurled out of his place as with a storm, and with an east wind, violent, and noisy, and very dreadful. Death to a as they will appear then, we shall see them as they should appear now.
Matthew 16