Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
1 Corinthians
Book: 1 Corinthians
Chapter: 4
Overview:
The true character of
Gospel ministers.
(1-6) Cautions against
despising the
Apostle.
(7-13) He claims their regard as their
spiritual
Father in
Christ, and shows his concern for them.
(14-21)
1-6 Apostles were
No more than servants of
Christ, but they
were not to be undervalued. They had a great trust, and for that
reason, had an honourable office.
Paul had a just concern for
his own reputation, but he knew that he who chiefly aimed to
please men, would not prove himself a
Faithful servant of
Christ. It is a comfort that men are not to be our final
Judges.
And it is not judging
Well of ourselves, or justifying
ourselves, that will prove us safe and happy. Our own
Judgment
is not to be depended upon as to our faithfulness, any more than
our own
Works for our
Justification. There is a
Day coming, that
will bring men's secret sins into open
Day, and discover the
secrets of their hearts. Then every slandered believer will be
justified, and every
Faithful servant approved and rewarded. The
Word of God is the best rule
By which to
Judge as to men. Pride
commonly is at the bottom of quarrels. Self-conceit contributes
to produce undue esteem of our teachers, as
Well as of
ourselves. We shall not be puffed up for one against another, if
we remember that all are instruments, employed
By God, and
endowed
By him with various talents.
7-13 We have
No reason to be proud; all we have, or are, or do,
that is good, is owing to the free and rich
Grace of
God. A
sinner snatched from
Destruction By sovereign
Grace alone, must
be very absurd and inconsistent, if proud of the free
Gifts of
God. St.
Paul sets forth his own circumstances, ver. 9. Allusion
is made to the cruel spectacles in the Roman
Games; where men
were forced to cut one another to
Pieces, to divert the people;
and where the victor did not escape with his
Life, though he
should destroy his
Adversary, but was only kept for another
combat, and must be killed at last. The thought that many eyes
are upon believers, when struggling with difficulties or
temptations, should encourage constancy and patience. "We are
weak, but ye are strong." All Christians are not alike exposed.
Some suffer greater hardships than others. The
Apostle enters
into particulars of their sufferings. And how glorious the
Charity and devotion that carried them through all these
hardships! They suffered in their persons and characters as the
worst and vilest of men; as the very dirt of the world, that was
to be swept away: nay, as the offscouring of all things, the
Dross of all things. And every one who would be
Faithful in
Christ Jesus, must be prepared for poverty and contempt.
Whatever the disciples of
Christ suffer from men, they must
follow the
Example, and fulfil the will and precepts of their
Lord. They must be content, with him and for him, to be despised
and abused. It is much better to be rejected, despised, and ill
used, as St.
Paul was, than to have the good opinion and favour
of the world. Though cast off
By the world as vile, yet we may
be precious to
God, gathered up with his own
Hand, and placed
upon his
Throne.
14-21 In reproving for
Sin, we should distinguish between
sinners and their sins. Reproofs that kindly and affectionately
warn, are likely to reform. Though the
Apostle spoke with
authority as a parent, he would rather beseech them in
Love. And
as ministers are to set an
Example, others must follow them, as
far as they follow
Christ in
Faith and practice. Christians may
mistake and differ in their views, but
Christ and
Christian
Truth are the same yesterday, to-
Day, and for ever. Whenever the
Gospel is effectual, it comes not in
Word only, but also in
power,
By the Holy
Spirit, quickening dead sinners, delivering
persons from the slavery of
Sin and
Satan, renewing them both
inwardly and outwardly, and comforting, strengthening, and
establishing the saints, which cannot be done
By the persuasive
language of men, but
By the power of
God. And it is a happy
temper, to have the
Spirit of
Love and
Meekness Bear the rule,
yet to maintain just authority.