Bible Commentaries
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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
The Preaching of John the Baptist
THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. We have here an account of the preaching and baptism of John, which were the dawning of the gospel-day. Observe, I. The time when he appeared. In those days (Matthew 3:1), or, after th…
The Preaching of John the Baptist
THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. The doctrine John preached was that of repentance, in consideration of the kingdom of heaven being at hand; now here we have the use of that doctrine. Application is the life of preach…
The Baptism of Jesus
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS. Our Lord Jesus, from his childhood till now, when he was almost thirty years of age, had lain hid in Galilee, as it were, buried alive; but now, after a long and dark night, behold, the Sun of righ…
The Temptation of Christ
THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST. We have here the story of a famous duel, fought hand to hand, between Michael and the dragon, the Seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent, nay, the serpent himself; in which the seed of t…
Opening of Christ's Ministry
OPENING OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY. We have here an account of Christ's preaching in the synagogues of Galilee, for he came into the world to be a Preacher; the great salvation which he wrought out, he himself began to publis…
Christ Calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John
CHRIST CALLS PETER, ANDREW, JAMES, AND JOHN. When Christ began to preach, he began to gather disciples, who should now be the hearers, and hereafter the preachers, of his doctrine, who should now be witnesses of his mir…
Christ Preaches in Galilee; Miracles of Christ in Galilee
CHRIST PREACHES IN GALILEE; MIRACLES OF CHRIST IN GALILEE. See here, I. What an industrious preacher Christ was; He went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. Observe,…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. We have here a general account of this sermon. I. The Preacher was our Lord Jesus, the Prince of preachers, the great Prophet of his church, who came into the world, to be the Light of the world…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Christ begins his sermon with blessings, for he came into the world to bless us (Acts 3:26), as the great High Priest of our profession; as the blessed Melchizedec; as He in whom all the familie…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Christ had lately called his disciples, and told them that they should be fishers of men; here he tells them further what he designed them to be—the salt of the earth, and lights of the world, t…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Those to whom Christ preached, and for whose use he gave these instructions to his disciples, were such as in their religion had an eye, 1. To the scriptures of the Old Testament as their rule,…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Christ having laid down these principles, that Moses and the prophets were still to be their rulers, but that the scribes and Pharisees were to be no longer their rulers, proceeds to expound the…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. We have here an exposition of the seventh commandment, given us by the same hand that made the law, and therefore was fittest to be the interpreter of it: it is the law against uncleanness, whic…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. We have here an exposition of the third commandment, which we are the more concerned right to understand, because it is particularly said, that God will not hold him guiltless, however he may ho…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. In these verses the law of retaliation is expounded, and in a manner repealed. Observe, I. What the Old-Testament permission was, in case of injury; and here the expression is only, Ye have hear…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. We have here, lastly, an exposition of that great fundamental law of the second table, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, which was the fulfilling of the law. I. See here how this law was corrupted…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. As we must do better than the scribes and Pharisees in avoiding heart-sins, heart-adultery, and heart-murder, so likewise in maintaining and keeping up heart-religion, doing what we do from an i…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. In prayer we have more immediately to do with God than in giving alms, and therefore are yet more concerned to be sincere, which is what we are here directed to. When thou prayest (Matthew 6:5).…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. When Christ had condemned what was amiss, he directs to do better; for his are reproofs of instruction. Because we know not what to pray for as we ought, he here helps our infirmities, by puttin…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. We are here cautioned against hypocrisy in fasting, as before in almsgiving, and in prayer. I. It is here supposed that religious fasting is a duty required of the disciples of Christ, when God,…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Worldly-mindedness is as common and as fatal a symptom of hypocrisy as any other, for by no sin can Satan have a surer and faster hold of the soul, under the cloak of a visible and passable prof…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. There is scarcely any one sin against which our Lord Jesus more largely and earnestly warns his disciples, or against which he arms them with more variety of arguments, than the sin of disquieti…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Our Saviour is here directing us how to conduct ourselves in reference to the faults of others; and his expressions seem intended as a reproof to the scribes and Pharisees, who were very rigid a…
The Sermon on the Mount
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Our Saviour, in the foregoing chapter, had spoken of prayer as a commanded duty, by which God is honoured, and which, if done aright, shall be rewarded; here he speaks of it as the appointed mea…