Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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2 Corinthians
Book: 2 Corinthians
Chapter: 8
Overview:
The
Apostle reminds them of charitable contributions for the
Poor saints.
(1-6) Enforces this
By their
Gifts, and
By the
Love
and
Grace of
Christ.
(7-9) By the willingness they had shown to
this good work.
(10-15) He recommends
Titus to them.
(16-24)
1-6 The
Grace of
God must be owned as the root and
Fountain of
all the good in us, or done
By us, at any time. It is great
Grace and favour from
God, if we are made useful to others, and
forward to any good work. He commends the
Charity of the
Macedonians.
So far from needing that
Paul should urge them,
they prayed him to receive the
Gift. Whatever we use or lay out
for
God, it is only giving him what is his own. All we give for
charitable uses, will not be accepted of
God, nor turn to our
advantage, unless we first give ourselves to the
Lord.
By
ascribing all really good
Works to the
Grace of
God, we not only
give the
Glory to him whose due it is, but also show men where
their strength is. Abundant spiritual joy enlarges men's hearts
in the work and labour of
Love. How different this from the
conduct of those who will not join in any good work, unless
urged into it!
7-9 Faith is the root; and as without
Faith it is not possible
to please
God, Heb 11:6,
So those who abound in
Faith, will
abound in other graces and good
Works also; and this will work
and show itself
By Love. Great talkers are not always the best
doers; but these
Corinthians were diligent to do, as
Well as to
know and talk
Well. To all these good things the
Apostle desires
them to add this
Grace also, to abound in
Charity to the
Poor.
The best arguments for
Christian duties, are drawn from the
Grace and
Love of
Christ. Though he was rich, as being
God,
equal in power and
Glory with the
Father, yet he not only became
Man for us, but became
Poor also. At length he emptied himself,
as it were, to
Ransom their souls
By his
Sacrifice On the
Cross.
From what riches, blessed
Lord, to what poverty didst thou
descend for our sakes! and to what riches hast thou advanced us
through thy poverty! It is our happiness to be wholly at thy
disposal.
10-15 Good purposes are like buds and blossoms, pleasant to
behold, and give hopes of good
Fruit; but they are lost, and
signify nothing without good deeds. Good beginnings are
Well;
but we lose the benefit, unless there is perseverance. When men
purpose that which is good, and endeavour, according to their
ability, to perform also,
God will not reject them for what it
is not in their power to do. But this
Scripture will not justify
those who think good meanings are enough, or that good purposes,
and the mere profession of a willing mind, are enough to save.
Providence gives to some more of the good things of this world,
and to some less, that those who have abundance might supply
others who are in want. It is the will of
God, that
By our
mutual supplying one another, there should be some sort of
equality; not such a levelling as would destroy property, for in
such a case there could be
No Exercise of
Charity. All should
think themselves concerned to relieve those in want. This is
shown from the gathering and giving out the
Manna in the
Wilderness, Ex 16:18. Those who have most of this world, have
No more than
Food and raiment; and those who have but little of
this world, seldom are quite without them.
16-24 The
Apostle commends the brethren sent to collect their
Charity, that it might be known who they were, and how safely
they might be trusted. It is the duty of all Christians to act
prudently; to hinder, as far as we can, all unjust suspicions.
It is needful, in the first place, to act uprightly in the sight
of
God, but things honest in the sight of men should also be
attended to. A clear character, as
Well as a pure
Conscience, is
requisite for usefulness. They brought
Glory to
Christ as
instruments, and had obtained honour from
Christ to be counted
Faithful, and employed in his service. The good opinion others
have of us, should be an argument with us to do
Well.