Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Genesis
Book: Genesis
Chapter: 20
Overview:
Abraham's sojourn at
Gerar,
Sarah is taken
By Abimelech.
(1-8)
Abimelech's rebuke to
Abraham.
(9-13) Abimelech restores
Sarah.
(14-18)
1-8 Crooked policy will not prosper: it brings ourselves and
others into danger.
God gives
Abimelech notice of his danger of
Sin, and his danger of
Death for his
Sin. Every wilful sinner is
a dead
Man, but
Abimelech pleads ignorance. If our consciences
Witness, that, however we may have been cheated into a
Snare, we
have not knowingly sinned against
God, it will be our rejoicing
in the
Day of evil. It is matter of comfort to those who are
honest, that
God knows their honesty, and will acknowledge it.
It is a great
Mercy to be hindered from committing
Sin; of this
God must have the
Glory. But if we have ignorantly done wrong,
that will not excuse us, if we knowingly persist in it. He that
does wrong, whoever he is,
Prince or peasant, shall certainly
receive for the wrong which he has done, unless he repent, and,
if possible, make restitution.
9-13 See here much to blame, even in the
Father of the
Faithful.
Mark his distrust of
God, his undue care about
Life,
his intent to deceive. He also threw
Temptation in the way of
others, caused affliction to them, exposed himself and
Sarah to
just rebukes, and yet attempted an excuse. These things are
written for our warning, not for us to imitate. Even
Abraham
hath not whereof to
Glory. He cannot be justified
By his
Works,
but must be indebted for
Justification, to that
Righteousness
which is upon all and unto all them that believe. We must not
condemn all as hypocrites who fall into
Sin, if they do not
continue in it. But let the unhumbled and impenitent take heed
that they do not
Sin On, thinking that
Grace may abound.
Abimelech, being warned of
God, takes the warning; and being
truly afraid of
Sin and its consequences, he
Rose early to
pursue the directions given him.
14-18 We often trouble ourselves, and even are led into
Temptation and
Sin,
By groundless suspicions; and find the fear
of
God where we expected it not. Agreements to deceive generally
End in shame and sorrow; and restraints from
Sin, though
By
suffering, should be thankfully acknowledged. Though the
Lord
rebuke, yet he will
Pardon and deliver his people, and he will
give them favour in the sight of those with whom they sojourn;
and overrule their infirmities, when they are humbled for them,
So that they shall prove useful to themselves and others.