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651 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [First Timothy IV].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC54003.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC54005.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T T I M O T H Y.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. IV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Paul here foretels,
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I. A dreadful apostasy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>.
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II. He treats of Christian liberty,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:4,5">ver. 4, 5</A>.
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III. He gives Timothy divers directions with respect to himself, his
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doctrine, and the people under his care,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:6-16">ver. 6, to the end</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Apostasy Foretold; Christian Liberty.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 64.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times
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some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
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spirits, and doctrines of devils;
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2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared
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with a hot iron;
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3 Forbidding to marry, <I>and commanding</I> to abstain from meats,
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which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them
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which believe and know the truth.
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4 For every creature of God <I>is</I> good, and nothing to be
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refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
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5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here a prophecy of the apostasy of the latter times, which he
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had spoken of as a thing expected and taken for granted among
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Christians,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+2:1-17">2 Thess. ii</A>.</P>
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<P>
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I. In the close of the foregoing chapter, we had the mystery of
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godliness summed up; and therefore very fitly, in the beginning of this
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chapter, we have the mystery of iniquity summed up: <I>The Spirit
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speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the
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faith;</I> whether he means the Spirit in the Old Testament, or the
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Spirit in the prophets of the New Testament, or both. The prophecies
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concerning antichrist, as well as the prophecies concerning Christ,
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came from the Spirit. The Spirit in both spoke expressly of a general
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apostasy from the faith of Christ and the pure worship of God. This
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should come in the <I>latter times,</I> during the Christian
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dispensation, for these are called the latter days; in the following
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ages of the church, for the mystery of iniquity now began to work.
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<I>Some shall depart from the faith,</I> or there shall be an apostasy
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from the faith. Some, not all; for in the worst of times God will have
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a remnant, according to the election of grace. <I>They shall depart
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from the faith,</I> the faith delivered to the saints
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jude+1:3">Jude 3</A>),
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which was delivered at once, the sound doctrine of the gospel.
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<I>Giving heed to seducing spirits,</I> men who pretended to the
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Spirit, but were not really guided by the Spirit,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+4:1">1 John iv. 1</A>.
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<I>Beloved, believe not every spirit,</I> every one who pretends to the
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Spirit. Now here observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. One of the great instances of the apostasy, namely, giving heed to
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doctrines of demons, or concerning demons; that is, those doctrines
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which teach the worship of saints and angels, as a middle sort of
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deities, between the immortal God and mortal men, such as the heathen
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called demons, and worshipped under that notion. Now this plainly
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agrees to the church of Rome, and it was one of the first steps towards
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that great apostasy, the enshrining of the relics of martyrs, paying
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divine honours to them, erecting altars, burning incense, consecrating
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images and temples, and making prayers and praises to the honour of
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saints departed. This demon-worship is paganism revived, the image of
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the first beast.</P>
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<P>
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2. The instruments of promoting and propagating this apostasy and
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delusion.
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(1.) It will be done by hypocrisy of those that speak lies, the agents
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and emissaries of Satan, who promote these delusions by lies and
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forgeries and pretended miracles,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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It is done by their hypocrisy, professing honour to Christ, and yet at
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the same time fighting against all his anointed offices, and corrupting
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or profaning all his ordinances. This respects also the hypocrisy of
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those who have <I>their consciences seared with a red-hot iron,</I> who
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are perfectly lost to the very first principles of virtue and moral
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honesty. If men had not their consciences seared as with a hot iron,
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they could never maintain a power to dispense with oaths for the good
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of the catholic cause, could never maintain that no faith is to be kept
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with heretics, could never divest themselves of all remains of humanity
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and compassion, and clothe themselves with the most barbarous cruelty,
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under pretence of promoting the interest of the church.
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(2.) Another part of their character is that they forbid to marry,
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forbid their clergy to marry, and speak very reproachfully of marriage,
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though an ordinance of God; and that they command <I>to abstain from
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meats,</I> and place religion in such abstinence at certain times and
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seasons, only to exercise a tyranny over the consciences of men.</P>
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<P>
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3. On the whole observe,
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(1.) The apostasy of the latter times should not surprise us, because
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it was expressly foretold by the Spirit.
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(2.) The Spirit is God, otherwise he could not certainly foresee such
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distant events, which as to us are uncertain and contingent, depending
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on the tempers, humours, and lusts of men.
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(3.) The difference between the predictions of the Spirit and the
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oracles of the heathen is remarkable; the Spirit speaks expressly, but
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the oracles of the heathen were always doubtful and uncertain.
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(4.) It is comfortable to think that in such general apostasies all are
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not carried away, but only some.
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(5.) It is common for seducers and deceivers to pretend to the Spirit,
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which is a strong presumption that all are convinced that this is the
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most likely to work in us an approbation of what pretends to come from
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the Spirit.
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(6.) Men must be hardened, and their consciences seared, before they
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can depart from the faith, and draw in others to side with them.
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(7.) It is a sign that men have departed from the faith when they will
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command what God has forbidden, such as saint and angel or
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demon-worship; and forbid what God has allowed or commanded, such as
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marriage and meats.</P>
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<P>
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II. Having mentioned their hypocritical fastings, the apostle takes
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occasion to lay down the doctrine of the Christian liberty, which we
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enjoy under the gospel, of using God's good creatures,--that, whereas
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under the law there was a distinction of meats between clean and
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unclean (such sorts of flesh they might eat, and such they might not
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eat), all this is now taken away; and we are to call nothing common or
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unclean,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+10:15">Acts x. 15</A>.
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Here observe,
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1. We are to look upon our food as that which God has created; we have
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it from him, and therefore must use it for him.
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2. God, in making those things, had a special regard to <I>those who
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believe and know the truth,</I> to good Christians, who have a covenant
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right to the creatures, whereas others have only a common right.
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3. What God has created is to be <I>received with thanksgiving.</I> We
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must not refuse the gifts of God's bounty, nor be scrupulous in making
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differences where God has made none; but receive them, and be thankful,
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acknowledging the power of God the Maker of them, and the bounty of God
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the giver of them: <I>Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be
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refused,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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This plainly sets us at liberty from all the distinctions of meats
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appointed by the ceremonial law, as particularly that of swine's flesh,
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which the Jews were forbidden to eat, but which is allowed to us
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Christians, by this rule, <I>Every creature of God is good,</I> &c.
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Observe, God's good creatures are then good, and doubly sweet to us,
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when they are received with thanksgiving.--<I>For it is sanctified by
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the word of God and prayer,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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It is a desirable thing to have a sanctified use of our
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creature-comforts. Now they are sanctified to us,
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(1.) By the word of God; not only his permission, allowing us the
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liberty of the use of these things, but his promise to feed us with
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food convenient for us. This gives us a sanctified use of our
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creature-comforts.
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(2.) By prayer, which blesses our meat to us. The word of God and
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prayer must be brought to our common actions and affairs, and then we
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do all in faith. Here observe,
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[1.] Every creature is God's, for he made all. <I>Every beast in the
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forest is mine</I> (says God), <I>and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
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I know all the fowls of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field
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are mine,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:10,11">Ps. l. 10, 11</A>.
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[2.] Every creature of God is good: when the blessed God took a survey
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of all his works, God saw all that was made, and, behold, it was very
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good,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+1:31">Gen. i. 31</A>.
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[3.] The blessing of God makes every creature nourishing to us; man
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lives not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the
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mouth of God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:4">Matt. iv. 4</A>),
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and therefore nothing ought to be refused.
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[4.] We ought therefore to ask his blessing by prayer, and so to
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sanctify the creatures we receive by prayer.</P>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ti4_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Exhortation to Godliness; Exhortation to Ministerial Duties.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 64.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou
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shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the
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words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast
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attained.
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7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise
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thyself <I>rather</I> unto godliness.
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8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is
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profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now
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is, and of that which is to come.
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9 This <I>is</I> a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
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10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we
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trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially
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of those that believe.
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11 These things command and teach.
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12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the
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believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in
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faith, in purity.
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13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to
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doctrine.
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14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee
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by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
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15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them;
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that thy profiting may appear to all.
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16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in
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them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them
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that hear thee.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The apostle would have Timothy to instil into the minds of Christians
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such sentiments as might prevent their being seduced by the judaizing
|
||
|
|
teachers. Observe, Those are good ministers of Jesus Christ who are
|
||
|
|
diligent in their work; not that study to advance new notions, but that
|
||
|
|
<I>put the brethren in remembrance of those things which they have
|
||
|
|
received and heard. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always
|
||
|
|
in remembrance of these things, though you knew them,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+1:12">2 Pet. i. 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And elsewhere, <I>I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+3:1">2 Pet. iii. 1</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And, says the apostle Jude, <I>I will therefore put you in
|
||
|
|
remembrance,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jude+1:5">Jude 5</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
You see that the apostles and apostolical men reckoned it a main part
|
||
|
|
of their work to put their hearers in remembrance; for we are apt to
|
||
|
|
forget, and slow to learn and remember, the things of God.--<I>Nourished
|
||
|
|
up in the words of faith and good doctrine, whereunto thou hast
|
||
|
|
attained.</I> Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Even ministers themselves have need to be growing and increasing in
|
||
|
|
the knowledge of Christ and his doctrine: they must be nourished up in
|
||
|
|
the words of faith.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The best way for ministers to grow in knowledge and faith is to put
|
||
|
|
the brethren in remembrance; while we teach others, we teach ourselves.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. Those whom ministers teach are brethren, and are to be treated like
|
||
|
|
brethren; for ministers are not lords of God's heritage.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Godliness is here pressed upon him and others: <I>Refuse profane and
|
||
|
|
old wives' sayings,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:7,8"><I>v.</I> 7, 8</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Jewish traditions, which some people fill their heads with, have
|
||
|
|
nothing to do with them. <I>But exercise thyself rather unto
|
||
|
|
godliness;</I> that is, mind practical religion. Those who would be
|
||
|
|
godly must exercise themselves unto godliness; it requires a constant
|
||
|
|
exercise. The reason is taken from the fain of godliness; <I>bodily
|
||
|
|
exercise profits little,</I> or for a little time. Abstinence from
|
||
|
|
meats and marriage, and the like, though they pass for acts of
|
||
|
|
mortification and self-denial, yet profit little, they turn to little
|
||
|
|
account. What will it avail us to mortify the body if we do not mortify
|
||
|
|
sin? Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. There is a great deal to be got by godliness; it will be of use to
|
||
|
|
us in the whole of our life, for it has <I>the promise of the life that
|
||
|
|
now is, and of that which is to come.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The gain of godliness lies much in the promise: and the promises
|
||
|
|
made to godly people relate to the life that now is, but especially
|
||
|
|
they relate to the life that is to come. Under the Old Testament the
|
||
|
|
promises were mostly of temporal blessings, but under the New Testament
|
||
|
|
of spiritual and eternal blessings. If godly people have but little of
|
||
|
|
the good things of the life that now is, yet it shall be made up to
|
||
|
|
them in the good things of the life that is to come.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. There were profane and old wives' fables in the days of the
|
||
|
|
apostles; and Timothy, though an excellent man, was not above such a
|
||
|
|
word of advice, <I>Refuse profane,</I> &c.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. It is not enough that we refuse profane and old wives' fables, but
|
||
|
|
we must exercise ourselves to godliness; we must not only cease to do
|
||
|
|
evil, but we must learn to do well
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+1:16,17">Isa. i. 16, 17</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and we must make a practice of exercising ourselves to godliness. And,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. Those who are truly godly shall not be losers at last, whatever
|
||
|
|
becomes of those who content themselves with bodily exercise, for
|
||
|
|
godliness has the promise, &c.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. The encouragement which we have to proceed in the ways of
|
||
|
|
godliness, and to exercise ourselves to it, notwithstanding the
|
||
|
|
difficulties and discouragements that we meet with in it. He had said
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
that it <I>is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life
|
||
|
|
which now is.</I> But the question is, Will the profit balance the
|
||
|
|
loss? For, if it will not, it is not profit. Yes, we are sure it will.
|
||
|
|
Here is another of Paul's faithful sayings, worthy of all
|
||
|
|
acceptation--that all our labours and losses in the service of God and
|
||
|
|
the work of religion will be abundantly recompensed, so that though we
|
||
|
|
lose for Christ we shall not lose by him. <I>Therefore we labour and
|
||
|
|
suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Godly people must labour and expect reproach; they must do well, and
|
||
|
|
yet expect at the same time to suffer ill: toil and trouble are to be
|
||
|
|
expected by us in this world, not only as men, but as saints.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Those who labour and suffer reproach in the service of God and the
|
||
|
|
work of religion may depend upon the living God that they shall not
|
||
|
|
lose by it. Let this encourage them, <I>We trust in the living God.</I>
|
||
|
|
The consideration of this, that the God who has undertaken to be our
|
||
|
|
pay-master is the living God, who does himself live for ever and is the
|
||
|
|
fountain of life to all who serve him, should encourage us in all our
|
||
|
|
services and in all our sufferings for him, especially considering that
|
||
|
|
he is <I>the Saviour of all men.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) By his providences he protects the persons, and prolongs the
|
||
|
|
lives, of the children of men.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) He has a general good-will to the eternal salvation of all men
|
||
|
|
thus far that he is not willing that any should perish, but that all
|
||
|
|
should come to repentance. He desires not the death of sinners; he is
|
||
|
|
thus far the Saviour of all men that none are left in the same
|
||
|
|
desperate condition that fallen angels are in. Now, if he be thus the
|
||
|
|
Saviour of all men, we may hence infer that much more he will be the
|
||
|
|
rewarder of those who seek and serve him; if he has such a good-will
|
||
|
|
for all his creatures, much more will he provide well for those who are
|
||
|
|
new creatures, who are born again. He is the Saviour of all men, but
|
||
|
|
<I>especially of those that believe;</I> and the salvation he has in
|
||
|
|
store for those that believe is sufficient to recompense them for all
|
||
|
|
their services and sufferings. Here we see,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] The life of a Christian is a life of labour and suffering: <I>We
|
||
|
|
labour and suffer.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] The best we can expect to suffer in the present life is reproach
|
||
|
|
for our well-doing, for our work of faith and labour of love.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] True Christians trust in the living God; for cursed is the man
|
||
|
|
that trusts in man, or in any but the living God; and those that trust
|
||
|
|
in him shall never be ashamed. <I>Trust in him at all times.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[4.] God is the general Saviour of all men, as he has put them into a
|
||
|
|
salvable state; but he is in a particular manner the Saviour of true
|
||
|
|
believers; there is then a general and a special redemption.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. He concludes the chapter with an exhortation to Timothy,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. To <I>command and teach these things</I> that he had now been
|
||
|
|
teaching him. "Command them to exercise themselves unto godliness,
|
||
|
|
teach them the profit of it, and that if they serve God they serve one
|
||
|
|
who will be sure to bear them out."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. To conduct himself with that gravity and prudence which might gain
|
||
|
|
him respect, notwithstanding his youth: "<I>Let no man despise thy
|
||
|
|
youth;</I> that is, give no man an occasion to despise thy youth."
|
||
|
|
Men's youth will not be despised if they do not by youthful vanities
|
||
|
|
and follies make themselves despicable; and this men may do who are
|
||
|
|
old, who may therefore thank themselves if they be despised.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. To confirm his doctrine by a good example: <I>Be thou an example of
|
||
|
|
the believers,</I> &c. Observe, Those who teach by their doctrine must
|
||
|
|
teach by their live, else they pull down with one hand what they build
|
||
|
|
up with the other: they must be examples both <I>in word and
|
||
|
|
conversation.</I> Their discourse must be edifying, and this will be a
|
||
|
|
good example: their conversation must be strict, and this will be a
|
||
|
|
good example: they must be examples <I>in charity,</I> or love to God
|
||
|
|
and all good men, examples <I>in spirit,</I> that is, in
|
||
|
|
spiritual-mindedness, in spiritual worship,--<I>in faith,</I> that is,
|
||
|
|
in the profession of Christian faith,--and <I>in purity</I> or
|
||
|
|
chastity.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. He charges him to study hard: <I>Till I come, give attendance to
|
||
|
|
reading, to exhortation, to doctrine, to meditation upon these
|
||
|
|
things,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Though Timothy had extraordinary gifts, yet he must use ordinary means.
|
||
|
|
Or it may be meant of the public reading of the scriptures; he must
|
||
|
|
<I>read and exhort,</I> that is, read and expound, read and press what
|
||
|
|
he read upon them; he must expound it both by way of exhortation and by
|
||
|
|
way of doctrine; he must teach them both what to do and what to
|
||
|
|
believe. Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Ministers must teach and command the things that they are
|
||
|
|
themselves taught and commanded to do; they must teach people to
|
||
|
|
observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+28:20">Matt. xxviii. 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The best way for ministers to avoid being despised is to teach and
|
||
|
|
practise the things that are given them in charge. No wonder if
|
||
|
|
ministers are despised who do not teach these things, or who, instead
|
||
|
|
of being examples of good to believers, act directly contrary to the
|
||
|
|
doctrines they preach; for ministers are to be ensamples of their
|
||
|
|
flock.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) Those ministers that are the best accomplished for their work must
|
||
|
|
yet mind their studies, that they may be improving in knowledge; and
|
||
|
|
they must mind also their work; they are to give attendance to reading,
|
||
|
|
to exhortation, to doctrine.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. He charges him to beware of negligence: <I>Neglect not the gift that
|
||
|
|
is in thee,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The gifts of God will wither if they be neglected. It may be understood
|
||
|
|
either of the office to which he was advanced, or of his qualifications
|
||
|
|
for that office; if of the former, it was ordination in an ordinary
|
||
|
|
way; if of the latter, it was extraordinary. It seems to be the former,
|
||
|
|
for it was by <I>laying on of hands,</I> &c. Here see the scripture-way
|
||
|
|
of ordination: it was by the laying on of hands, and the laying on of
|
||
|
|
the hands of the presbytery. Observe, Timothy was ordained by men in
|
||
|
|
office. It was an extraordinary gift that we read of elsewhere as being
|
||
|
|
conferred on him by the laying on of Paul's hands, but he was invested
|
||
|
|
in the office of the ministry by the laying on of the hands of the
|
||
|
|
presbytery.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) We may note, The office of the ministry is a gift, it is the gift
|
||
|
|
of Christ; when he ascended on high, he received gifts for men, and he
|
||
|
|
gave some apostles, and some pastors and teachers
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+4:8,11">Eph. iv. 8, 11</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and this was a very kind gift to his church.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Ministers ought not to neglect the gift bestowed upon them,
|
||
|
|
whether by gift we are here to understand the office of the ministry or
|
||
|
|
the qualifications for the office; neither the one nor the other must
|
||
|
|
be neglected.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) Though there was a prophecy in the case of Timothy (the gift was
|
||
|
|
given by prophecy), yet this was accompanied by the laying on of the
|
||
|
|
hands of the presbytery, that is, a number of presbyters; the office
|
||
|
|
was conveyed to him this way; and I should think here is a sufficient
|
||
|
|
warrant for ordination by presbyters, since it does not appear that
|
||
|
|
Paul was concerned in Timothy's ordination. It is true, extraordinary
|
||
|
|
gifts were conferred on him by the laying on of the apostle's hands
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+1:6">2 Tim. i. 6</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but, if he was concerned in his ordination, the presbytery was not
|
||
|
|
excluded, for that is particularly mentioned, whence it seems pretty
|
||
|
|
evident that the presbytery have the inherent power of ordination.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
6. Having this work committed to him, he must <I>give himself
|
||
|
|
wholly</I> to it: "Be wholly in those things, <I>that thy profiting may
|
||
|
|
appear.</I>" He was a wise knowing man, and yet must still be
|
||
|
|
profiting, and make it appear that he improved in knowledge. Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Ministers are to be much in meditation. They are to consider
|
||
|
|
beforehand how and what they must speak. They are to meditate on the
|
||
|
|
great trust committed to them, on the worth and value of immortal
|
||
|
|
souls, and on the account they must give at the last.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Ministers must be wholly in these things, they must mind these
|
||
|
|
things as their principal work and business: <I>Give thyself wholly to
|
||
|
|
them.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) By this means their profiting will appear in all things, as well a
|
||
|
|
to all persons; this is the way for them to profit in knowledge and
|
||
|
|
grace, and also to profit others.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
7. He presses it upon him to be very cautious: "<I>Take heed to thyself
|
||
|
|
and to the doctrine,</I> consider what thou preachest; <I>continue in
|
||
|
|
them,</I> in the truths that thou hast received; and this will be the
|
||
|
|
way to <I>save thyself, and those that hear thee.</I>" Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Ministers are engaged in saving work, which makes it a good work.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The care of ministers should be in the first place to save
|
||
|
|
themselves: "Save thyself in the first place, so shalt thou be
|
||
|
|
instrumental to save those that hear thee."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) Ministers in preaching should aim at the salvation of those that
|
||
|
|
hear them, next to the salvation of their own souls.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) The best way to answer both these ends is to take heed to
|
||
|
|
ourselves, &c.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
|
||
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|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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||
|
|
<TR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC54003.HTM">Previous</A>]
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC54005.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
||
|
|
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
||
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|
<TR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
|
||
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|
||
|
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<!--Matthew_Henry's_Commentary_on_the_Whole_Bible:_First_Timothy_IV.--><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank"><b>Back to Bibles Net . Com - Online Christian Library </b></a><br>
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<b>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Free Download</b></a><br>
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