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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 28:18
Note, 1. Those that are honest are always safe. He that acts with sincerity, that speaks as he thinks, has a single eye, in every thing, to the glory of God and the good of his brethren, that would not, for a world, do…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 28:19
Note, 1. Those that are diligent in their callings take the way to live comfortably: He that tills his land, and tends his shop, and minds his business, whatever it is, he shall have plenty of bread, of that which is ne…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 28:20
Here, 1. We are directed in the true way to be happy, and that is to be holy and honest. He that is faithful to God and man shall be blessed of the Lord, and he shall abound with blessings of the upper and nether spring…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 28:21
Note, 1. It is a fundamental error in the administration of justice, and that which cannot but lead men to abundance of transgression, to consider the parties concerned more than the merits of the cause, so as to favour…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 28:22
Here again Solomon shows the sin and folly of those that will be rich; they are resolved that they will be so, per fas, per nefas—right or wrong; they will be so with all speed; they are getting hastily an estate. 1. Th…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 28:23
Note, 1. Flatterers may please those for a time who, upon second thoughts, will detest and despise them. If ever they come to be convinced of the evil of those sinful courses they were flattered in, and to be ashamed of…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 28:24
As Christ shows the absurdity and wickedness of those children who think it is no duty, in some cases, to maintain their parents (Matthew 15:5), so Solomon here shows the absurdity and wickedness of those who think it i…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 28:25
Note, 1. Those make themselves lean, and continually unquiet, that are haughty and quarrelsome, for they are opposed to those that shall be made fat: He that is of a proud heart, that is conceited of himself and looks w…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 28:26
Here is, 1. The character of a fool: He trusts to his own heart, to his own wisdom and counsels, his own strength and sufficiency, his own merit and righteousness, and the good opinion he has of himself; he that does so…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 28:27
Here is, 1. A promise to the charitable: He that gives to the poor shall himself be never the poorer for so doing; he shall not lack. If he have but little, and so be in danger of lacking, let him give out of his little…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 28:28
This is to the same purport with what we had, Proverbs 28:12. 1. When bad men are preferred, that which is good is clouded and run down. When power is put into the hands of the wicked, men hide themselves; wise men reti…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:1
Here, 1. The obstinacy of many wicked people in a wicked way is to be greatly lamented. They are often reproved by parents and friends, by magistrates and ministers, by the providence of God and by their own consciences…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:2
This is what was said before, Proverbs 28:12. 1. The people will have cause to rejoice or mourn according as their rulers are righteous or wicked; for, if the righteous be in authority, sin will be punished and restrain…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:3
Both the parts of this verse repeat what has been often said, but, on comparing them together, the sense of them will be enlarged from each other. 1. Be it observed, to the honour of a virtuous young man, that he loves…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:4
Here is, 1. The happiness of a people under a good government. The care and business of a prince should be to establish the land, to maintain its fundamental laws, to settle the minds of his subjects and make them easy,…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:5
Those may be said to flatter their neighbours who commend and applaud that good in them (the good they do or the good they have) which really either is not or is not such as they represent it, and who profess that estee…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:6
Here is, 1. The peril of a sinful way. There is not only a punishment at the end of it, but a snare in it. One sin is a temptation to another, and there are troubles which, as a snare, come suddenly upon evil men in the…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:7
It is a pity but that every one who sues sub formâ pauperis—as a pauper, should have an honest cause (they are of all others inexcusable if they have not), because the scripture has so well provided that it should have…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:8
See here, 1. Who are the men that are dangerous to the public—scornful men. When such are employed in the business of the state they do things with precipitation, because they scorn to deliberate, and will not take time…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:9
A wise man is here advised not to set his wit to a fool's, not to dispute with him, or by contending with him to think either of fastening reason upon him or gaining right from him: If a wise man contend with a wise man…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:10
Note, 1. Bad men hate their best friends: The blood-thirsty, all the seed of the old serpent, who was a murderer from the beginning, all that inherit his enmity against the seed of the woman, hate the upright; they seek…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:11
Note, 1. It is a piece of weakness to be very open: He is a fool who utters all his mind,—who tells every thing he knows, and has in his mouth instantly whatever he has in his thoughts, and can keep no counsel,—who, wha…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:12
Note, 1. It is a great sin in any, especially in rulers, to hearken to lies; for thereby they not only give a wrong judgment themselves of persons and things, according to the lies they give credit to, but they encourag…
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:13
This shows how wisely the great God serves the designs of his providence by persons of very different tempers, capacities, and conditions in the world, even, 1. By those that are contrary the one to the other. Some are…