Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Proverbs
Book: Proverbs
Chapter: 4
Overview:
Exhortation to the study of
Wisdom.
(1-13) Cautions against
bad company. Exhortation to
Faith and
Holiness.
(14-27)
1-13 We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though
instruction carry in it reproof and correction, bid it welcome.
Solomon's parents loved him, therefore taught him.
Wise and
godly men, in every
Age of the world, and rank in society, agree
that true
Wisdom consists in obedience, and is united to
happiness. Get
Wisdom, take pains for it. Get the rule over thy
corruptions; take more pains to get this than the wealth of this
world. An interest in
Christ's
Salvation is necessary. This
Wisdom is the one thing needful. A soul without true
Wisdom and
Grace is a dead soul. How
Poor, contemptible, and wretched are
those, who, with all their wealth and power, die without getting
understanding, without
Christ, without
Hope, and without
God!
Let us give heed to the sayings of Him who has the words of
eternal
Life. Thus our path will be
Plain before us:
By taking,
and keeping
Fast Hold of instruction, we shall avoid being
straitened or stumbling.
14-27 The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest
way to compass some
End; but it is an evil way, and will
End
ill; if thou
Love thy
God and thy soul, avoid it. It is not
said, Keep at a due distance, but at a great distance; never
think you can get far enough from it. The way of the righteous
is
Light;
Christ is their Way, and he is the
Light. The saints
will not be perfect till they reach
Heaven, but there they shall
shine as the
Sun in his strength. The way of
Sin is as
Darkness.
The way of the wicked is dark, therefore dangerous; they fall
into
Sin, but know not how to avoid it. They fall into trouble,
but never seek to know wherefore
God contends with them, nor
what will be in the
End of it. This is the way we are bid to
shun. Attentive hearing the
Word of God, is a good sign of a
work of
Grace begun in the
Heart, and a good means of carrying
it
On. There is in the
Word of God a proper remedy for all
diseases of the soul. Keep thy
Heart with all diligence. We must
set a strict
Guard upon our souls; keep our hearts from doing
hurt, and getting hurt. A good reason is given; because out of
it are the issues of
Life. Above all, we should seek from the
Lord Jesus that living water, the sanctifying
Spirit, issuing
forth unto
Everlasting Life. Thus we shall be enabled to
Put
away a froward mouth and perverse lips; our eyes will be turned
from beholding vanity, looking straight forward, and walking
By
the rule of
God's
Word, treading in the steps of our
Lord and
Master.
Lord, forgive the past, and enable us to follow thee
more closely for the time to come.