Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Deuteronomy
Book: Deuteronomy
Chapter: 16
Overview:
The yearly feasts.
(1-17) Of
Judges, Groves and images
forbidden.
(18-22)
1-17 The laws for the three yearly feasts are here repeated;
that of the
Passover, that of the
Pentecost, that of
Tabernacles; and the general
Law concerning the people's
attendance. Never should a believer forget his low estate of
guilt and misery, his deliverance, and the price it cost the
Redeemer; that gratitude and joy in the
Lord may be mingled with
sorrow for
Sin, and patience under the tribulations in his way
to the kingdom of
Heaven. They must rejoice in their receivings
from
God, and in their returns of service and
Sacrifice to him;
our duty must be our delight, as
Well as our enjoyment. If those
who were under the
Law must rejoice before
God, much more we
that are under the
Grace of the
Gospel; which makes it our duty
to rejoice evermore, to rejoice in the
Lord always. When we
rejoice in
God ourselves, we should do what we can to assist
others also to rejoice in him,
By comforting the mourners, and
supplying those who are in want. All who make
God their joy, may
rejoice in
Hope, for He is
Faithful that has promised.
18-22 Care is taken for the due administration of
Justice. All
personal regards must be laid aside,
So that right is done to
all, and wrong to none. Care is taken to prevent following the
idolatrous customs of the
Heathen. Nothing belies
God more, or
tends more to corrupt the minds of men, than representing and
worshipping,
By an image, that
God, who is an almighty and
eternal
Spirit, present every where. Alas! even in
Gospel days,
and under a better
Dispensation, established upon better
promises, there is a tendency to set up idols, under one form or
another, in the human
Heart.