Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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2 Corinthians
Book: 2 Corinthians
Chapter: 6
Overview:
The
Apostle, with others, proved themselves
Faithful ministers
of
Christ,
By their unblamable
Life and behaviour.
(1-10) By
Affection for them, And
By Earnest concern, that they might have
No Fellowship with unbelievers and idolaters.
(11-18)
1-10 The
Gospel is a
Word of
Grace sounding in our ears. The
Gospel Day is a
Day of
Salvation, the
Means of Grace the means
of
Salvation, the offers of the
Gospel the offers of
Salvation,
and the present time the proper time to accept these offers. The
morrow is none of ours: we know not what will be
On the morrow,
nor where we shall be. We now enjoy a
Day of
Grace; then let all
be careful not to neglect it. Ministers of the
Gospel should
look upon themselves as
God's servants, and act in every thing
suitably to that character. The
Apostle did
So,
By much patience
in
Afflictions,
By acting from good principles, and
By due
temper and behaviour. Believers, in this world, need the
Grace
of
God, to
Arm them against temptations,
So as to
Bear the good
report of men without pride; and
So as to
Bear their reproaches
with patience. They have nothing in themselves, but possess all
things in
Christ. Of such differences is a
Christian's
Life made
up, and through such a variety of conditions and reports, is our
way to
Heaven; and we should be careful in all things to approve
ourselves to
God. The
Gospel, when faithfully preached, and
fully received, betters the condition even of the poorest. They
save what before they riotously spent, and diligently employ
their time to useful purposes. They save and gain
By religion,
and thus are made rich, both for the world to come and for this,
when compared with their sinful, profligate state, before they
received the
Gospel.
11-18 It is wrong for believers to join with the wicked and
profane. The
Word unbeliever applies to all destitute of true
Faith. True pastors will caution their beloved children in the
Gospel, not to be unequally yoked. The fatal effects of
neglecting
Scripture precepts as to marriages clearly appear.
Instead of a help meet, the union brings a
Snare. Those whose
Cross it is to be unequally united, without their wilful fault,
may expect consolation under it; but when believers enter into
such unions, against the express warnings of
God's
Word, they
must expect must distress. The caution also extends to common
Conversation. We should not join in friendship and acquaintance
with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid
seeing and hearing, and being with such, yet we should never
choose them for friends. We must not defile ourselves
By
converse with those who defile themselves with
Sin. Come out
from the workers of iniquity, and separate from their vain and
sinful pleasures and pursuits; from all conformity to the
corruptions of this present evil world. If it be an envied
privilege to be the son or
Daughter of an earthly
Prince, who
can express the dignity and happiness of being sons and
daughters of the Almighty?