Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Proverbs
Book: Proverbs
Chapter: 8
Overview:
Christ, as
Wisdom, calls to the sons of men.
(1-11) The nature
and riches of
Wisdom.
(12-21) Christ one with the
Father, in the
Creation of the world, and rejoicing in his work for the
Salvation of
Man.
(22-31) Exhortations to hear
Christ's
Word.
(32-36)
1-11 The will of
God is made known
By the
Works of
Creation,
and
By the consciences of men, but more clearly
By Moses and the
prophets. The chief difficulty is to get men to attend to
instruction. Yet attention to the words of
Christ, will guide
the most ignorant into saving knowledge of the
Truth. Where
there is an understanding
Heart, and willingness to receive the
Truth in
Love,
Wisdom is valued above
Silver and
Gold.
12-21 Wisdom, here is
Christ, in whom are all the treasures of
Wisdom and knowledge; it is
Christ in the
Word, and
Christ in
the
Heart; not only
Christ revealed to us, but
Christ revealed
in us. All prudence and skill are from the
Lord. Through the
Redemption of
Christ's precious
Blood, the riches of his
Grace
abound in all
Wisdom and prudence.
Man found out many inventions
for ruin;
God found one for our recovery. He hates pride and
arrogance, evil ways and froward
Conversation; these render men
unwilling to hear his humbling, awakening, holy instructions.
True religion gives men the best counsel in all difficult cases,
and
Helps to make their way
Plain. His
Wisdom makes all truly
happy who receive it in the
Love of
Christ Jesus. Seek him
early, seek him earnestly, seek him before any thing else.
Christ never said, Seek in vain. Those who
Love Christ, are such
as have seen his loveliness, and have had his
Love shed abroad
in their hearts; therefore they are happy. They shall be happy
in this world, or in that which is
Beyond compare better. Wealth
gotten
By vanity will soon be diminished, but that which is
Well
got, will wear
Well; and that which is
Well spent upon
Works of
Piety and
Charity, will be lasting. If they have not riches and
honour in this world, they shall have that which is infinitely
better. They shall be happy in the
Grace of
God.
Christ,
By his
Spirit, guides believers into all
Truth, and
So leads them in
the way of
Righteousness; and they walk after the
Spirit. Also,
they shall be happy in the
Glory of
God hereafter. In
Wisdom's
promises, believers have goods laid up, not for days and years,
but for eternity; her
Fruit therefore is better than
Gold.
22-31 The
Son of God declares himself to have been engaged in
the
Creation of the world. How able, how fit is the
Son of God
to be the
Saviour of the world, who was the Creator of it! The
Son of God was ordained, before the world, to that great work.
Does he delight in saving wretched sinners, and shall not we
delight in his
Salvation?
32-36 Surely we should hearken to
Christ's voice with the
readiness of children. Let us all be
Wise, and not refuse such
Mercy. Blessed are those who hear the
Saviour's voice, and wait
On him with daily reading, meditation, and
Prayer. The children
of the world find time for vain amusements, without neglecting
what they deem the one thing needful. Does it not show contempt
of
Wisdom's instructions, when people professing
Godliness, seek
excuses for neglecting the
Means of Grace?
Christ is
Wisdom, and
he is
Life to all believers; nor can we obtain
God's favour,
unless we find
Christ, and are found in him. Those who offend
Christ deceive themselves;
Sin is a wrong to the soul. Sinners
die because they will die, which justifies
God when he
Judges.