31 matching verse commentaries
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The Design of the Proverbs. 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man will hear, and will...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Solomon, having foretold the destruction of those who are obstinate in their impiety, in this chapter applies himself to those who are willing to be taught; and, I. He shows them that, if they would diligently use the means of knowledge and grace, they should obtain of God the knowledge and grace which they seek, ver. 1-9. II. He shows them of...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
This chapter is one of the most excellent in all this book, both for argument to persuade us to be religious and for directions therein. I. We must be constant to our duty because that is the way to be happy, ver. 1-4. II. We must live a life of dependence upon God because that is the way to be safe, ver. 5. III. We must keep up the fear of God...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
When the things of God are to be taught precept must be upon precept, and line upon line, not only because the things themselves are of great worth and weight, but because men's minds, at the best, are unapt to admit them and commonly prejudiced against them; and therefore Solomon, in this chapter, with a great variety of expression and a pleasant...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The scope of this chapter is much the same with that of ch. ii. To write the same things, in other words, ought not to be grievous, for it is safe, Phil. iii. 1. Here is, I. An exhortation to get acquaintance with and submit to the laws of wisdom in general, ver. 2. II. A particular caution against the sin of whoredom, ver. 3-14. III. Remedies...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we have, I. A caution against rash suretiship, ver. 1-5. II. A rebuke to slothfulness, ver. 6-11. III. The character and fate of a malicious mischievous man, ver. 12-15. IV. An account of seven things which God hates, ver. 16-19. V. An exhortation to make the word of God familiar to us, ver. 20-23. VI. A repeated warning of the...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The scope of this chapter is, as of several before, to warn young men against the lusts of the flesh. Solomon remembered of what ill consequence it was to his father, perhaps found himself, and perceived his son, addicted to it, or at least had observed how many hopeful young men among his subjects had been ruined by those lusts; and therefore he...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The word of God is two-fold, and, in both senses, is wisdom; for a word without wisdom is of little value, and wisdom without a word is of little use. Now, I. Divine revelation is the word and wisdom of God, and that pure religion and undefiled which is built upon it; and of that Solomon here speaks, recommending it to us as faithful, and well...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Christ and sin are rivals for the soul of man, and here we are told how they both make their court to it, to have the innermost and uppermost place in it. The design of this representation is to set before us life and death, good and evil; and there needs no more than a fair stating of the case to determine us which of those to choose, and...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Hitherto we have been in the porch or preface to the proverbs, here they begin. They are short but weighty sentences; most of them are distichs, two sentences in one verse, illustrating each other; but it is seldom that there is any coherence between the verses, much less any thread of discourse, and therefore in these chapters we need not attempt...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Weighty Sayings. 1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord : but a just weight is his delight. As religion towards God is a branch of universal righteousness (he is not an honest man that is not devout), so righteousness towards men is a branch of true religion, for he is not a godly man that is not honest, nor can he expect that his devotion...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. We are here taught to try whether we have grace or no by enquiring how we stand affected to the means of grace. 1. Those that have grace and love it will delight in all the instructions that are given them by way of counsel; admonition, or reproof, by the word or...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. Among the children of the same parents it is no new thing for some to be hopeful and others the contrary; now here we are taught to distinguish. 1. There is great hope of those that have a reverence for their parents, and are willing to be advised and admonished by...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. Note, 1. A good wife is a great blessing to a family. By a fruitful wife a family is multiplied and replenished with children, and so built up. But by a prudent wife, one that is pious, industrious, and considerate, the affairs of the family are made to...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Solomon, as conservator of the public peace, here tells us, 1. How the peace may be kept, that we may know how in our places to keep it; it is by soft words. If wrath be risen like a threatening cloud, pregnant with storms and thunder, a soft answer will disperse it and turn it...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord . As we read this, it teaches us a great truth, that we are not sufficient of ourselves to think or speak any thing of ourselves that is wise and good, but that all our sufficiency is of God, who is with the heart and with the mouth, and works in us both to will...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. These words recommend family-love and peace, as conducing very much to the comfort of human life. 1. Those that live in unity and quietness, not only free from jealousies and animosities, but vying in mutual endearments, and obliging to one another,...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. The original here is difficult, and differently understood. 1. Some take it as a rebuke to an affected singularity. When men take a pride in separating themselves from the sentiments and society of others, in contradicting all that has been said before...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. Here see, 1. What will be the credit and comfort of a poor man, and make him more excellent than his neighbour, though his poverty may expose him to contempt and may dispirit him. Let him be honest and walk in integrity, let him keep a good...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Here is, 1. The mischief of drunkenness: Wine is a mocker; strong drink is raging. It is so to the sinner himself; it mocks him, makes a fool of him, promises him that satisfaction which it can never give him. It smiles upon him at first, but at the last it...