Bible Commentaries
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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
The Excellence of Wisdom; The Duty of Subjects
THE EXCELLENCE OF WISDOM; THE DUTY OF SUBJECTS. Here is, I. An encomium of wisdom (Ecclesiastes 8:1), that is, of true piety, guided in all its exercises by prudence and discretion. The wise man is the good man, that kn…
The Certainty of Death
THE CERTAINTY OF DEATH. Solomon had said (Ecclesiastes 8:5) that a wise man's heart discerns time and judgment, that is, a man's wisdom will go a great way, by the blessing of God, in moral prognostications; but here he…
The Evil of Oppressive Rulers
THE EVIL OF OPPRESSIVE RULERS. Solomon, in the beginning of the chapter, had warned us against having any thing to do with seditious subjects; here, in these verses, he encourages us, in reference to the mischief of tyr…
The Mysteries of Providence
THE MYSTERIES OF PROVIDENCE. Wise and good men have, of old, been perplexed with this difficulty, how the prosperity of the wicked and the troubles of the righteous can be reconciled with the holiness and goodness of th…
Mysteries in Providence
MYSTERIES IN PROVIDENCE. It has been observed concerning those who have pretended to search for the philosophers' stone that, though they could never find what they sought for, yet in the search they have hit upon many…
The Consequences of Death; The Proper Enjoyment of Life
THE CONSEQUENCES OF DEATH; THE PROPER ENJOYMENT OF LIFE. Solomon, in a fret, had praised the dead more than the living (Ecclesiastes 4:2); but here, considering the advantages of life to prepare for death and make sure…
The Disappointment of Hopes
THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF HOPES. The preacher here, for a further proof of the vanity of the world, and to convince us that all our works are in the hand of God, and not in our own hand, shows the uncertainty and contingenc…
The Advantages of Wisdom
THE ADVANTAGES OF WISDOM. Solomon still recommends wisdom to us as necessary to the preserving of our peace and the perfecting of our business, notwithstanding the vanities and crosses which human affairs are subject to…
The Advantages of Wisdom
THE ADVANTAGES OF WISDOM. In these verses Solomon shows, I. What great need wise men have to take heed of being guilty of any instance of folly; for a little folly is a great blemish to him that is in reputation for wis…
Mutual Duties of Princes and Subjects
MUTUAL DUTIES OF PRINCES AND SUBJECTS. The scope of these verses is to keep subjects loyal and dutiful to the government. In Solomon's reign the people were very rich, and lived in prosperity, which perhaps made them pr…
The Contemptibleness of Folly
THE CONTEMPTIBLENESS OF FOLLY. Solomon, having shown the benefit of wisdom, and of what great advantage it is to us in the management of our affairs, here shows the mischief of folly and how it exposes men, which perhap…
Mutual Duties of Princes and Subjects
MUTUAL DUTIES OF PRINCES AND SUBJECTS. Solomon here observes, I. How much the happiness of a land depends upon the character of its rulers; it is well or ill with the people according as the princes are good or bad. 1.…
The Obligations to Be Liberal; Answers to Objections against Liberality
THE OBLIGATIONS TO BE LIBERAL; ANSWERS TO OBJECTIONS AGAINST LIBERALITY. Solomon had often, in this book, pressed it upon rich people to take the comfort of their riches themselves; here he presses it upon them to do go…
A Caution to the Young; Exhortation to Early Piety
A CAUTION TO THE YOUNG; EXHORTATION TO EARLY PIETY. Here is an admonition both to old people and to young people, to think of dying, and get ready for it. Having by many excellent precepts taught us how to live well, th…
The Infirmities of Old Age; The Effects of Death
THE INFIRMITIES OF OLD AGE; THE EFFECTS OF DEATH. Here is, I. A call to young people to think of God, and mind their duty to him, when they are young: Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. This is, 1. The r…
The Conclusion of the Whole
THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE. Solomon is here drawing towards a close, and is loth to part till he has gained his point, and prevailed with his hearers, with his readers, to seek for that satisfaction in God only and in…
The Conclusion of the Whole
THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE. The great enquiry which Solomon prosecutes in this book is, What is that good which the sons of men should do? Ecclesiastes 2:3. What is the true way to true happiness, the certain means to…
The Title of the Book
THE TITLE OF THE BOOK. We have here the title of this book, showing, 1. The nature of it; it is a song, that it might the better answer the intention, which is to stir up the affections and to heat them, which poetry wi…
The Love of the Church to Christ
THE LOVE OF THE CHURCH TO CHRIST. The spouse, in this dramatic poem, is here first introduced addressing herself to the bridegroom and then to the daughters of Jerusalem. I. To the bridegroom, not giving him any name or…
The Love of the Church to Christ
THE LOVE OF THE CHURCH TO CHRIST. Here is, I. The humble petition which the spouse presents to her beloved, the shepherdess to the shepherd, the church and every believer to Christ, for a more free and intimate communio…
Conference between Christ and His Church
CONFERENCE BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. Here the conference is carried on between Christ and his spouse, and endearments are mutually exchanged. I. Believers take a great complacency in Christ, and in communion with h…
Christ the Rose of Sharon
CHRIST THE ROSE OF SHARON. See here, I. What Christ is pleased to compare himself to; and he condescends very much in the comparison. He that is the Son of the Highest, the bright and morning star, calls and owns himsel…
The Love of the Church to Christ
THE LOVE OF THE CHURCH TO CHRIST. Here, I. The spouse commends her beloved and prefers him before all others: As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, which perhaps does not grow so high, nor spread so wide, as so…
Mutual Love of Christ and the Church
MUTUAL LOVE OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH. The church is here pleasing herself exceedingly with the thoughts of her further communion with Christ after she has recovered from her fainting fit. I. She rejoices in his approach…