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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Penitents Encouraged. (b. c. 720.)
PENITENTS ENCOURAGED. (B. C. 720.) Here we have, I. A kind invitation given to sinners to repent, Hosea 14:1. It is directed to Israel, God's professing people. They are called to return. Note, Conversion must be preach…
Assurance of Mercy; Repentance of Ephraim. (b. c. 720.)
ASSURANCE OF MERCY; REPENTANCE OF EPHRAIM. (B. C. 720.) We have here an answer of peace to the prayers of returning Israel. They seek God's face, and they shall not seek in vain. God will be sure to meet those in a way…
Assurances of Mercy. (b. c. 720.)
ASSURANCES OF MERCY. (B. C. 720.) Let us now hear the conclusion of the whole matter. I. Concerning Ephraim; he is spoken of and spoken to, Hosea 14:8. Here we have, 1. His repentance and reformation: Ephraim shall say,…
Threatenings of Judgment. (b. c. 720.)
THREATENINGS OF JUDGMENT. (B. C. 720.) It is a foolish fancy which some of the Jews have, that this Joel the prophet was the same with that Joel who was the son of Samuel (1 Samuel 8:2); yet one of their rabbin very gra…
Threatenings of Judgment. (b. c. 720.)
THREATENINGS OF JUDGMENT. (B. C. 720.) The judgment is here described as very lamentable, and such as all sorts of people should share in; it shall not only rob the drunkards of their pleasure (if that were the worst of…
Threatenings of Judgment; A Proclamation for a Fast. (b. c. 720.)
THREATENINGS OF JUDGMENT; A PROCLAMATION FOR A FAST. (B. C. 720.) We have observed abundance of tears shed for the destruction of the fruits of the earth by the locusts; now here we have those tears turned into the righ…
Threatenings of Judgment. (b. c. 720.)
THREATENINGS OF JUDGMENT. (B. C. 720.) Here we have God contending with his own professing people for their sins and executing upon them the judgment written in the law (Deuteronomy 28:42), The fruit of thy land shall t…
Exhortation to Repentance. (b. c. 720.)
EXHORTATION TO REPENTANCE. (B. C. 720.) We have here an earnest exhortation to repentance, inferred from that desolating judgment described and threatened in the Joel 2:1-11: Therefore now turn you to the Lord. 1. "Thus…
Promise of Mercy. (b. c. 720.)
PROMISE OF MERCY. (B. C. 720.) See how ready God is to succour and relieve his people, how he waits to be gracious; as soon as ever they humble themselves under this hand, and pray, and seek his face, he immediately mee…
Promise of Mercy. (b. c. 720.)
PROMISE OF MERCY. (B. C. 720.) The promises of corn, and wine, and oil, in the Joel 2:12-27, would be very acceptable to a wasted country; but here we are taught that we must not rest in those things. God has reserved s…
Threatenings against Israel's Enemies. (b. c. 720.)
THREATENINGS AGAINST ISRAEL'S ENEMIES. (B. C. 720.) We have often heard of the year of the redeemed, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion; now here we have a description of the transactions of that ye…
Threatenings against Israel's Enemies. (b. c. 720.)
THREATENINGS AGAINST ISRAEL'S ENEMIES. (B. C. 720.) What the psalmist had long before ordered to be said among the heathen (Psalm 96:10) the prophet here will have in like manner to be published to all nations, That the…
Judgments and Mercies; Promises to the Church. (b. c. 720.)
JUDGMENTS AND MERCIES; PROMISES TO THE CHURCH. (B. C. 720.) These promises with which this prophecy concludes have their accomplishments in part in the kingdom of grace, and the comforts and graces of all the faithful s…
Threatenings of Judgment. (b. c. 790.)
THREATENINGS OF JUDGMENT. (B. C. 790.) Here is, I. The general character of this prophecy. It consists of the words which the prophet saw. Are words to be seen? Yes, God's words are; the apostles speak of the word of li…
Threatenings of Judgment. (b. c. 790.)
THREATENINGS OF JUDGMENT. (B. C. 790.) What the Lord says here may be explained by what he says Jeremiah 12:14, Thus said the Lord, against all my evil neighbours that touch the inheritance of my people Israel, Behold,…
The Judgment of Moab and of Judah; The Judgment of Israel. (b. c. 790.)
THE JUDGMENT OF MOAB AND OF JUDAH; THE JUDGMENT OF ISRAEL. (B. C. 790.) Here is, I. The judgment of Moab, another of the nations that bordered upon Israel. They are reckoned with and shall be punished for three transgre…
God's Remonstrance with Israel. (b. c. 790.)
GOD'S REMONSTRANCE WITH ISRAEL. (B. C. 790.) Here, I. God puts his people Israel in mind of the great things he has done for them, in putting them into possession of the land of Canaan, the greatest part of which these…
God's Remonstrance with Israel. (b. c. 790.)
GOD'S REMONSTRANCE WITH ISRAEL. (B. C. 790.) The scope of these verses is to convince the people of Israel that God had a controversy with them. That which the prophet has to say to them is to let them know that the Lor…
Israel Convicted and Condemned. (b. c. 790.)
ISRAEL CONVICTED AND CONDEMNED. (B. C. 790.) The Israelites are here again convicted and condemned, and particular notice given of the crimes they are convicted of and the punishment they are condemned to. 1. Notice is…
Threatenings against Oppressors; Punishment of Proud Oppressors. (b. c. 790.)
THREATENINGS AGAINST OPPRESSORS; PUNISHMENT OF PROUD OPPRESSORS. (B. C. 790.) It is here foretold, in the name of God, that oppressors shall be humbled and idolaters shall be hardened. I. That proud oppressors shall be…
Incorrigibleness of Israel; Judgments Called to Remembrance; Greater Judgments Threatened. (b. c. 790.)
INCORRIGIBLENESS OF ISRAEL; JUDGMENTS CALLED TO REMEMBRANCE; GREATER JUDGMENTS THREATENED. (B. C. 790.) Here, I. God complains of his people's incorrigibleness under the judgments which he had brought upon them in order…
Invitations and Warnings. (b. c. 790.)
INVITATIONS AND WARNINGS. (B. C. 790.) This chapter begins, as those two next foregoing began, with, Hear this word. Where God has a mouth to speak we must have an ear to hear; it is our duty, it is our interest, yet so…
God's Message to Israel; The Aggravated Sins of Israel; Warnings and Exhortations; Exhortations and Encouragements. (b. c. 790.)
GOD'S MESSAGE TO ISRAEL; THE AGGRAVATED SINS OF ISRAEL; WARNINGS AND EXHORTATIONS; EXHORTATIONS AND ENCOURAGEMENTS. (B. C. 790.) This is a message from God to the house of Israel, in which, I. They are told of their fau…
Threatenings and Reproofs. (b. c. 790.)
THREATENINGS AND REPROOFS. (B. C. 790.) Here is, I. A very terrible threatening of destruction approaching, Amos 5:16-17. Since they would not take the right course to obtain the favour of God, God would take an effectu…