Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible Free

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Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible. Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible all mankind were represented in Adam, so that great distinction of mankind into saints and sinners, godly and wicked, the children of God and the children of the wicked one, was here represented in Cain and Abel, and an early instance is given of Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible enmity which was lately put between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. We have here, I. The birth, names, and callings, of Cain and Abel v. Their religion, and different success in it v. The murder committed v. The proceedings against him. His arraignment v. His plea v. His conviction v. The sentence passed upon him v. His complaint against the sentence v. The ratification of the sentence v. The execution of the sentence v. The family and posterity of Cain v. The birth of Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible son and grandson of Adam v. Verses Adam and Eve had many sons and daughters, ch. But Cain and Abel seem to have been the two eldest. Some think they were twins, and, as Esau and Jacob, the elder hated and the younger loved. Though God had cast our first parents out of paradise, he did not write them childless; but, to show that he had other blessings in store for them, he preserved to them the benefit of that first blessing of increase. Though they were sinners, nay, though they felt the humiliation and sorrow of penitents, they did not write themselves comfortless, having the promise of a Saviour to support themselves with. The names of their two sons. Cain signifies possession; for Eve, when she bore him, said with joy, and thankfulness, and great expectation, I have gotten a man from the Lord. It doubles and sanctifies our comfort in them when we see them coming to us from the hand of God, who Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible not forsake the works and gifts of his own hand. Though Eve bore him Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible the sorrows that were the consequence of sin, yet she did not lose the sense of the mercy in her pains. Comforts, though alloyed, are more than we deserve; and therefore our complaints must not drown our thanksgivings. Many suppose that Eve had a conceit that this son was the promised seed, and that therefore she thus triumphed in him, as her words may be read, I have gotten a man, the Lord, God-man. When children are born, who can foresee what they will prove? He that was thought to be a man, the Lord, or at least a man from the Lord, and for his service as priest of the family, became an enemy to the Lord. The less we expect from creatures, the more tolerable will disappointments be. Abel signifies vanity. When she thought she had obtained the promised seed in Cain, she was so taken up with that possession that another son was as vanity to her. To those who have an interest in Christ, and make him their all, other things are as nothing at all. It intimates likewise that the longer we live in this world the more we may see of the vanity of it. What, at first, we are fond of, as a possession, afterwards we see cause to be dead to, as a trifle. The name given to this son is put upon the whole race, Ps. Every man is at his best estate Abel —vanity. Let us labour to see both ourselves and others so. Childhood and youth are vanity. The employments of Cain and Abel. Observe, 1. They both had a calling. Though they were heirs apparent to the world, their birth noble and their possessions large, yet they were not brought up in idleness. God gave their father a calling, even in innocency, and he gave them one. Note, It is the will of God that we should every one of us have something to do in this world. Parents ought to bring up their children to business. Dodand God be with them. Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible employments were different, that they might trade and exchange with one another, as there was occasion. The members of the body politic have need one of another, and mutual love is helped by mutual commerce. It is now looked upon as a mean calling; the poor of the land serve for vine-dressers and husbandmen, Jer. But the calling was far from being a dishonour to them; rather, they were an honour to Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible. It should seem, by the order of the story, that Abel, though the younger brother, yet entered first into his calling, and probably his example drew in Cain. Abel chose that employment which most befriended contemplation and devotion, for to these a pastoral life Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible been looked upon as being peculiarly favourable. Moses and David kept sheep, and in their solitudes conversed with God. Note, That calling or condition of life is best for us, and to be chosen by us, which is best for our souls, that which least exposes us to sin and gives us most opportunity of serving and enjoying God. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. Verses Here we have, I. The devotions of Cain and Abel. In process of time, when they had made some improvement in their respective callings Heb. Observe here, 1. That the religious worship of God is no novel invention, but an ancient institution. It is that which was from the beginning 1 Jn. The city of our God is indeed that joyous city whose antiquity is of ancient days, Isa. Truth got the start of error, and piety of profaneness. That is a good thing for children to be well taught when they are young, and trained up betimes in religious services, that when they come to be capable of acting for themselves they may, of Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible own accord, bring an offering to God. In this nurture of the Lord parents must bring up their children, ch. That we should every one of us honour God with what we have, according as he has prospered us. According as their employments and possessions were, so they brought their offering. See 1 Co. Our merchandize and our hire, whatever they are, must be holiness to the Lord, Isa. He must have his dues of it in works of piety and charity, the support of religion and the relief of the poor. Thus we must now bring our offering with an upright heart; and with such sacrifices God is well pleased. A hypocrite may possibly hear as many sermons, say as many prayers, and give as much alms, as a good Christian, and yet, for want of sincerity, come short of acceptance with God. The Pharisee and the publican went to the temple to pray, Lu. The different success of their devotions. Perhaps, to a stander-by, the sacrifices of Cain and Abel would have seemed both alike good. Adam accepted them both, but God, who sees not as man sees, did not. God had respect to Abel and to his offering, and showed his acceptance of it, probably by fire from heaven; but to Cain and his offering he had not respect. Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible are sure there was a good reason for this difference; the Governor of the world, though an absolute sovereign, does not act arbitrarily in dispensing his smiles and frowns. There was a difference in the characters of the persons offering. Cain was a wicked man, led a bad life, under the reigning power of the world and the flesh; and therefore his sacrifice was an abomination to the Lord Prov. God had no respect to Cain himself, and therefore no respect to his offering, as the manner of the expression intimates. But Abel was a righteous man; he is called righteous Abel Mt. God had respect to him as a holy man, and therefore to his offering as a holy offering. The tree must be good, else the fruit cannot be pleasing to the heart-searching God. There was a difference in the offerings they brought. It is expressly said Heb. In the nature of it. Or, 2. In the qualities of the offering. Cain brought of the fruit of the ground, any thing that came next to hand, what he had not occasion for himself or what was not marketable. But Abel was curious in the choice of his offering: not the lame, nor the lean, nor the refuse, but the firstlings of the flock—the best he had, and the fat thereof—the best of those best. Hence the Hebrew doctors give it for a general rule that every thing that is for the name of the good God must be the goodliest and best. It is fit Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible he who is the first and best should have the first and best of our time, strength, and service. The great difference was this, that Abel offered in faith, and Cain did not. There was a difference in the principle upon which they went. Abel was a penitent believer, like the publican that went away justified: Cain was unhumbled; his confidence was within himself; he was like the Pharisee who glorified himself, but was not so much as justified before God. Cain was very wroth, which presently appeared in his very looks, Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible his countenance fell, which bespeaks not so much his grief and discontent as his malice and rage. His sullen churlish countenance, and a down-look, betrayed his passionate resentments: he carried ill-nature in his face, and the show of his Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible witnessed against him. Revelation 11 Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible. And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. Chapter 11 In this chapter we have an account, I. Of the measuring—reed given to the apostle, to take the dimensions of the temple v. Of the two witnesses of God v. Of the sounding of the seventh trumpet, and what followed upon it v. But how to understand either the one or the other is not so easy. It should seem the design of measuring the temple in the former case was in order to the rebuilding of it, and that with advantage; the design of this measurement seems to be either, 1. For the preservation of it in those times of public danger and calamity that are here foretold; or, 2. For its trial; that it may be seen how far it agrees with the standard, or pattern, in the mount; or, 3. For its reformation; that what is redundant, deficient, or changed, may be regulated according to the true model. Observe, I. How much was to be measured. The temple; the gospel church in general, whether it be so built, so constituted, as the gospel rule directs, whether it be too narrow or too large, the door too wide or too strait. The altar. Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible which was the place of the most solemn acts of worship may be put for religious worship in general; whether the church has the true altars, both as to substance and situation: as to substance, whether they take Christ for their altar, and lay down all their offerings there; and in situation, whether the altar be in the holiest; that is, whether they worship God in the Spirit and in truth. What was not to be measured v. What was not to be measured: The court which is without the temple measure it not. Some say that Herod, in the additions made to the temple, built an outer court, and called it the court of the Gentiles. Some tell us that Adrian built the city and an outer court, and called it Aelia, and gave it to the Gentiles. Why was not the outer court measured? This was no part of the temple, according to the model either of Solomon or Zerubbabel, and therefore God would have no regard to it. He would not mark it out for preservation; but as it was designed for the Gentiles, to bring pagan ceremonies and customs and to annex them to the gospel churches, so Christ abandoned it to them, to be used as they pleased; and both that and the city were trodden under foot for a certain time—forty and two months, which some would have to be the whole time of the reign of antichrist. Those who worship in the outer court are either such as worship in a false manner or with hypocritical hearts; and these are rejected of God, and will be found among his enemies. From the whole observe, 1. God will have a temple and an altar in the world, till the end of time. He has a strict regard to this temple, and observes how every thing is managed in it. Those who worship in the outer court will be rejected, and only those who worship within the veil accepted. The holy city, the visible church, is very much trampled upon in the world. But, 5. The desolations of the church are for a limited time, and for a short time, and she shall be delivered out of all her troubles. And I will give power unto my Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. Verses In this time of treading down, God has reserved to himself his faithful witnesses, who will not fail to attest the truth of his word and worship, and the excellency of his ways. Here observe, I. The number of these witnesses: it is but a small number and yet it is sufficient. It is but small. Many will own and acknowledge Christ in times of prosperity who will desert and deny him in times of persecution; one witness, when the cause is upon trial, is worth many at other times. It is a sufficient number; for in the mouth of two witnesses every cause shall be established. Christ sent out his disciples two by two, to preach the gospel. The time of their prophesying, or bearing their testimony for Christ. A thousand two hundred and threescore days; that is as many thinkto the period of the reign of antichrist; and, if the beginning of that interval could be ascertained, this number of prophetic days, taking a day for a year, would give us a prospect when the end shall be. Their habit, and posture: they prophesy in sackcloth, Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible those that are deeply affected with the low and distressed state of the churches and interest of Christ in the world. How Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible were supported and supplied during the discharge of their great and hard work: they stood before the God of the whole earth, and he gave them power to prophesy. He made them to be like Zerubbabel and Joshua, the two olive-trees and candlestick in the vision of Zechariah, ch. God gave them the oil of holy zeal, and courage, and strength, and comfort; he made them olive-trees, and their lamps of profession were kept burning by the oil of inward gracious principles, which they received from God. They had oil not only in their lamps, but in their vessels-habits of spiritual life, light, and zeal. Their security and defence during the time of their prophesying: If any attempted to hurt them, fire proceeded out of their mouths, and devoured them, v. God promised the prophet Jeremiah ch. By their praying and preaching, and courage in suffering, they shall gall and wound the very hearts and consciences of many of their persecutors, who shall go away self-condemned, and be even terrors to themselves; like Pashur, at the words of the prophet Jeremiah, ch. They shall have that free access to God, and that interest in him, that, at their prayers, God will inflict plagues and judgments upon their enemies, as he did on Pharaoh, turning their rivers into Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible, and restraining the dews of heaven, shutting heaven up, that no rain shall fall for many days, as he did at the prayers of Elias, 1 Ki. God has ordained his arrows for the persecutors, and is Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible plaguing them while they are persecuting his people; they find it hard work to kick against the pricks. The slaying of the witnesses. To make their testimony more strong, they must seal it with their blood. Here observe, 1. The time when they should be killed: When they have finished their testimony. They are immortal, they are invulnerable, till their work be done. Some think it ought to be rendered, when they were about to finish their testimony. When they had prophesied in sackcloth the greatest part of the years, then they should feel the last effect of antichristian malice. The enemy that should overcome and slay them—the beast Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible ascendeth out of the bottomless pit. Antichrist, the great instrument of the devil, should make war against them, not only with the arms of subtle Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible sophistical learning, but chiefly with open force and violence; and God would permit his enemies to prevail against his witnesses for a time. The barbarous usage of these slain witnesses; the malice of their enemies was not satiated with their blood and death, but pursued even their dead bodies. They would not allow them a quiet grave; their bodies were cast out in the open street, the high street of Babylon, or in the high road leading to the city. This city is spiritually called Sodom for monstrous wickedness, and Egypt for idolatry and tyranny; and here Christ in his mystical body has suffered more than in any place in the world. Their dead bodies were insulted by the inhabitants of the earth, and their death was a matter of mirth and joy to the antichristian world, v. They were glad to be rid of these witnesses, who by their doctrine and example had Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible, terrified, and tormented the consciences of their enemies; these spiritual weapons cut wicked men to the heart, and fill them with the greatest rage and malice against the faithful. The resurrection of these witnesses, and the consequences thereof. Observe, 1. The time of their rising again; after they had lain dead three days and a half v. Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible may be a reference to the resurrection of Christ, who is the resurrection and the life. Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Or there may be a reference to the resurrection of Lazarus on the fourth day, when they thought it impossible. God will revive his work, when it seems to be dead in the world. The power by which they were raised: The spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet. God put not only life, but courage into them. God can make the dry bones to life; it is the Spirit of life from God that quickens dead souls, and shall quicken the dead bodies of his people, and his dying interest in the world. The effect of their resurrection upon their enemies: Great fear fell upon them. Where there is guilt, there is fear; and a persecuting spirit, though cruel, is not a courageous, but a cowardly spirit. Herod feared John the Baptist. The ascension of the witnesses into heaven and the consequences thereof, v. Their ascension. By heaven we may understand either some more eminent station in the church, the kingdom of grace in this world, or a high place in the Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible of glory above. The former seems to be the meaning: They ascended to heaven in a cloud in a figurative, not in a literal sense and their enemies saw them. It will be no small part of the punishment of persecutors, both in this world and at the great day, that they shall see the faithful servants of God greatly honoured and advanced. To this honour they did not attempt to ascend, till God called them, and said, Come up hither. The consequences of their ascension—a mighty shock and convulsion in the antichristian empire and the fall of a tenth Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible of the city. Some refer this to the beginning of the reformation from popery, when many princes and states fell off from their subjection to Rome. This great work met with great opposition; all the western world felt a great concussion, and the antichristian interest received a great blow, and lost a great deal of ground and interest, 1. By the sword of war, which was then drawn; and many of those who fought under the banner of antichrist were slain by it. By the sword of the Spirit: The fear of God fell upon many. They were convinced of their errors, superstition, and idolatry; and by true repentance, and embracing the truth, they gave glory to the God of heaven. Verses We have here the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet, which is ushered in by the usual warning and demand of attention: The second woe is past, and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. Then the seventh angel sounded. This had been suspended for some time, till the apostle had been made acquainted with some intervening occurrences of very great moment, and worthy of his notice and observation. But what he before expected he now heard—the seventh angel sounding. Here observe the effects and consequences of this trumpet, thus sounded. Here were loud and joyful acclamations of the saints and angels in heaven. The manner of their adorations: they rose from their seats, and fell upon their faces, and worshipped God; they did it with reverence and humility. The matter of their adorations. They Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible recognize the right of our God and Saviour to rule and reign over all the world: The kingdoms of this world Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, v. Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary (concise) - Bible Study Online

Account Options Sign in. Top charts. New releases. Add to Wishlist. Originally written inMatthew Henry's six volume Complete Commentary provides an exhaustive look at every verse in the Bible. Matthew Henry's well-known six-volume Exposition of the Old and New Testaments — or Complete Commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the Bible. After the author's death, the work was finished Romans through Revelation by thirteen other nonconformist ministers, partly based upon notes taken by Henry's hearers, and edited by George Burder and John Hughes in Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible Matthew Henry's commentaries are primarily exegetical, dealing with the scripture text as presented, with his prime intention being explanation, for practical and devotional purposes. While not being a work of textual research, for which Henry recommended Matthew Poole's Synopsis Criticorum, Henry's Exposition gives the result of a critical account of the original as of his time, with practical application. It was considered sensible and stylish, a commentary for devotional purposes. Famous evangelical Protestant preachers such as George Whitefield and Charles Spurgeon used and heartily commended the work, with Whitefield reading it through four times - the last time on his knees. Spurgeon stated, "Every minister ought to read it entirely and carefully through once at least. He lived to complete it only as far as to the end of the Acts, but after his death other like-minded authors prepared the remainder from Henry's manuscripts. This work was long celebrated as the best English commentary for devotional purposes and the expanded edition was initially published in Instead of critical exposition, Henry focuses on practical suggestion, and his commentaries contains rich stores of truths. We hope you will find this tool useful for your Bible Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible Reviews Review Policy. View details. Flag as inappropriate. Visit website. Privacy Policy. More by Igor Apps See more. Igor Apps.