Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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1 Corinthians
Book: 1 Corinthians
Chapter: 3
Overview:
The
Corinthians reproved for their contentions.
(1-4) The true
servants of
Christ can do nothing without him.
(5-9) He is the
only foundation, and every one should take heed what he builds
thereon.
(10-15) The churches of
Christ ought to be kept pure,
and to be humble.
(16,17) And they should not
Glory in men,
because ministers and all things else are theirs through
Christ.
(18-23)
1-4 The most simple truths of the
Gospel, as to
Man's
sinfulness and
God's
Mercy,
Repentance towards
God, and
Faith in
our
Lord Jesus Christ, stated in the plainest language, suit the
people better than deeper mysteries. Men may have much doctrinal
knowledge, yet be mere beginners in the
Life of
Faith and
experience. Contentions and quarrels about religion are sad
evidences of carnality. True religion makes men peaceable, not
contentious. But it is to be lamented, that many who should walk
as Christians, live and act too much like other men. Many
professors, and preachers also, show themselves to be yet
Carnal,
By vain-glorious strife, eagerness for dispute, and
readiness to despise and speak evil of others.
5-9 The ministers about whom the
Corinthians contended, were
only instruments used
By God. We should not
Put ministers into
the place of
God. He that planteth and he that watereth are one,
employed
By one Master, trusted with the same
Revelation, busied
in one work, and engaged in one design. They have their
different
Gifts from one and the same
Spirit, for the very same
purposes; and should carry
On the same design heartily. Those
who work hardest shall fare best. Those who are most
Faithful
shall have the greatest reward. They work together with
God, in
promoting the purposes of his
Glory, and the
Salvation of
precious souls; and He who knows their work, will take care they
do not labour in vain. They are employed in his husbandry and
Building; and He will carefully look over them.
10-15 The
Apostle was a
Wise master-builder; but the
Grace of
God made him such. Spiritual pride is abominable; it is using
the greatest favours of
God, to feed our own vanity, and make
idols of ourselves. But let every
Man take heed; there may be
bad
Building On a good foundation. Nothing must be laid upon it,
but what the foundation will
Bear, and what is of a piece with
it. Let us not dare to join a merely human or a
Carnal Life with
a Divine
Faith, the corruption of
Sin with the profession of
Christianity.
Christ is a firm, abiding, and immovable
Rock of
ages, every way able to
Bear all the weight that
God himself or
the sinner can lay upon him; neither is there
Salvation in any
other. Leave out the doctrine of his
Atonement, and there is
No
foundation for our hopes. But of those who
Rest On this
foundation, there are two sorts. Some
Hold nothing but the
Truth
as it is in
Jesus, and preach nothing else. Others build
On the
good foundation what will not abide the test, when the
Day of
trial comes. We may be mistaken in ourselves and others; but
there is a
Day coming that will show our actions in the true
Light, without covering or disguise. Those who spread true and
pure religion in all its branches, and whose work will abide in
the great
Day, shall receive a reward. And how great! how much
exceeding their deserts! There are others, whose corrupt
opinions and doctrines, or vain inventions and usages in the
Worship of
God, shall be made known, disowned, and rejected, in
that
Day. This is plainly meant of a figurative
Fire, not of a
real one; for what real
Fire can consume religious rites or
doctrines? And it is to try every
Man's
Works, those of
Paul and
Apollos, as
Well as others. Let us consider the tendency of our
undertakings, compare them with
God's
Word, and
Judge ourselves,
that we be not judged of the
Lord.
16,17 From other parts of the epistle, it appears that the
false teachers among the
Corinthians taught unholy doctrines.
Such teaching tended to corrupt, to pollute, and destroy the
Building, which should be kept pure and holy for
God. Those who
spread loose principles, which render the
Church of
God unholy,
bring
Destruction upon themselves.
Christ By his
Spirit dwells
in all true believers. Christians are holy
By profession, and
should be pure and
Clean, both in
Heart and
Conversation. He is
deceived who deems himself the
Temple of the
Holy Ghost, yet is
unconcerned about personal
Holiness, or the peace and purity of
the
Church.
18-23 To have a high opinion of our own
Wisdom, is but to
flatter ourselves; and self-flattery is the next step to
self-deceit. The
Wisdom that worldly men esteem, is foolishness
with
God. How justly does he despise, and how easily can he
baffle and confound it! The thoughts of the wisest men in the
world, have vanity, weakness, and folly in them. All this should
teach us to be humble, and make us willing to be taught of
God,
So as not to be led away,
By pretences to human
Wisdom and
skill, from the simple truths revealed
By Christ. Mankind are
very apt to oppose the design of the mercies of
God. Observe the
spiritual riches of a true believer; "All are yours," even
ministers and ordinances. Nay, the world itself is yours. Saints
have as much of it as Infinite
Wisdom sees fit for them, and
they have it with the Divine blessing.
Life is yours, that you
may have a season and opportunity to prepare for the
Life of
Heaven; and
Death is yours, that you may go to the possession of
it. It is the kind
Messenger to take you from
Sin and sorrow,
and to guide you to your
Father's
House. Things present are
yours, for your support
On the
Road; things to come are yours,
to delight you for ever at your
Journey's
End. If we belong to
Christ, and are true to him, all good belongs to us, and is sure
to us. Believers are the subjects of his kingdom. He is
Lord
over us, we must own his dominion, and cheerfully submit to his
command.
God in
Christ, reconciling a sinful world to himself,
and pouring the riches of his
Grace On a reconciled world, is
the sum and substance of the
Gospel.