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4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and
crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech
Syntyche, that they be of the same
mind in the Lord.
4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which
laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my
fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
4:4
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God.
4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep
your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus.
4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things
are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these
things.
4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard,
and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
4:10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your
care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye
lacked opportunity.
4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in
whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every
where and in all things I am
instructed both to be full and to be
hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
4:14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with
my affliction.
4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the
gospel, when I departed from
Macedonia, no church communicated with me
as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
4:16 For even in
Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my
necessity.
4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound
to your account.
4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of
Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet
smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in
glory by Christ Jesus.
4:20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
4:21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with
me greet you.
4:22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of
Caesar's
household.
4:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Philippians
Book: Philippians
Chapter: 4
Overview:
The
Apostle exhorts the
Philippians to stand
Fast in the
Lord.
(1) Gives directions to some, and to all in general.
(2-9)
Expresses
Contentment in every condition of
Life.
(10-19) He
concludes with
Prayer to
God the
Father, and his usual blessing.
(20-23)
1 The believing
Hope and prospect of eternal
Life, should make
us steady and constant in our
Christian course. There is
difference of
Gifts and graces, yet, being renewed
By the same
Spirit, we are brethren. To stand
Fast in the
Lord, is to stand
Fast in his strength, and
By his
Grace.
2-9 Let believers be of one mind, and ready to help each other.
As the
Apostle had found the benefit of their assistance, he
knew how comfortable it would be to his fellow-labourers to have
the help of others. Let us seek to give
Assurance that our names
are written in the
Book of
Life. Joy in
God is of great
consequence in the
Christian Life; and Christians need to be
again and again called to it. It more than outweighs all causes
for sorrow. Let their enemies perceive how moderate they were as
to outward things, and how composedly they suffered loss and
hardships. The
Day of
Judgment will soon arrive, with full
Redemption to believers, and
Destruction to ungodly men. There
is a care of diligence which is our duty, and agrees with a
Wise
forecast and due concern; but there is a care of fear and
distrust, which is
Sin and folly, and only perplexes and
distracts the mind. As a remedy against perplexing care,
constant
Prayer is recommended. Not only stated times for
Prayer, but in every thing
By Prayer. We must join thanksgivings
with prayers and supplications; not only seek supplies of good,
but own the mercies we have received.
God needs not to be told
our wants or desires; he knows them better than we do; but he
will have us show that we value the
Mercy, and feel our
dependence
On him. The peace of
God, the comfortable sense of
being reconciled to
God, and having a part in his favour, and
the
Hope of the heavenly blessedness, are a greater good than
can be fully expressed. This peace will keep our hearts and
minds through
Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under
troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and with
inward satisfaction. Believers are to get and to keep a good
name; a name for good things with
God and good men. We should
walk in all the ways of virtue, and abide therein; then, whether
our praise is of men or not, it will be of
God. The
Apostle is
for an
Example. His doctrine and
Life agreed together. The way
to have the
God of peace with us, is to keep close to our duty.
All our privileges and
Salvation arise in the free
Mercy of
God;
yet the enjoyment of them depends
On our sincere and holy
conduct. These are
Works of
God, pertaining to
God, and to him
only are they to be ascribed, and to
No other, neither men,
words, nor deeds.
10-19 It is a good work to succour and help a good
Minister in
trouble. The nature of true
Christian sympathy, is not only to
feel concern for our friends in their troubles, but to do what
we can to help them. The
Apostle was often in bonds,
imprisonments, and necessities; but in all, he learned to be
content, to bring his mind to his condition, and make the best
of it. Pride, unbelief, vain hankering after something we have
not got, and fickle disrelish of present things, make men
discontented even under favourable circumstances. Let us pray
for patient submission and
Hope when we are abased; for
Humility
and a heavenly mind when exalted. It is a special
Grace to have
an equal temper of mind always. And in a low state not to lose
our comfort in
God, nor distrust his
Providence, nor take any
wrong course for our own supply. In a prosperous condition not
to be proud, or secure, or worldly. This is a harder lesson than
the other; for the temptations of
Fulness and prosperity are
more than those of affliction and want. The
Apostle had
No
design to urge them to give more, but to encourage such kindness
as will meet a glorious reward hereafter. Through
Christ we have
Grace to do what is good, and through him we must expect the
reward; and as we have all things
By him, let us do all things
for him, and to his
Glory.
20-23 The
Apostle ends with praises to
God. We should look upon
God, under all our weakness and fears, not as an enemy, but as a
Father, disposed to pity us and help us. We must give
Glory to
God as a
Father.
God's
Grace and favour, which reconciled souls
enjoy, with the whole of the graces in us, which flow from it,
are all purchased for us
By Christ's merit, and applied
By his
pleading for us; and therefore are justly called the
Grace of
our
Lord Jesus Christ.