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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Second Corinthians IX].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D C O R I N T H I A N S.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. IX.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter the apostle seems to excuse his earnestness in pressing
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the Corinthians to the duty of charity
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>),
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and proceeds to give directions about the acceptable way and manner of
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performing it, namely, bountifully, deliberately, and freely; and gives
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good encouragement for so doing,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:6-15">ver. 6, to the end</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="2Co9_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co9_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co9_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co9_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co9_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>Charity Urged.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is
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superfluous for me to write to you:
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2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of
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you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and
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your zeal hath provoked very many.
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3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should
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be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
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4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you
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unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this
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same confident boasting.
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5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that
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they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your
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bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be
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ready, as <I>a matter of</I> bounty, and not as <I>of</I> covetousness.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these verses the apostle speaks very respectfully to the
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Corinthians, and with great skill; and, while he seems to excuse his
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urging them so earnestly to charity, still presses them thereto, and
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shows how much his heart was set upon this matter.</P>
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<P>
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I. He tells them it was needless to press them with further arguments
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to afford relief to their poor brethren
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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being satisfied he had said enough already to prevail with those of
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whom he had so good an opinion. For,
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1. <I>He knew their forwardness</I> to every good work, and how they
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had begun this good work a year ago, insomuch that,
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2. He had boasted of their zeal to the Macedonians, and this had
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provoked many of them to do as they had done. Wherefore he was
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persuaded, that, as they had begun well, they would go on well; and so,
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commending them for what they had done, he lays an obligation on them
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to proceed and persevere.</P>
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<P>
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II. He seems to apologize for sending Titus and the other brethren to
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them. He is unwilling they should be offended at him for this, as if he
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were too earnest, and pressed too hard upon them; and tells the true
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reasons why he sent them, namely,
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1. That, having this timely notice, they might be fully ready
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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and not surprised with hasty demands, when he should come to them. When
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we would have others to do that which is good we must act towards them
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prudently and tenderly, and give them time.
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2. That he might not be ashamed of his boasting concerning them, if
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they should be found unready,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
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He intimates that some from Macedonia might <I>haply come with him:</I>
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and, if the collection should not then be made, this would make him,
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not to say them, ashamed, considering the boasting of the apostle
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concerning them. Thus careful was he to preserve their reputation and
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his own. Note, Christians should consult the reputation of their
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profession, and endeavour to <I>adorn the doctrine of God our
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Saviour.</I></P>
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<A NAME="2Co9_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co9_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co9_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co9_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co9_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co9_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co9_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co9_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co9_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co9_15"> </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>Charity Urged.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</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 But this <I>I say,</I> He which soweth sparingly shall reap also
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sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also
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bountifully.
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7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, <I>so let him
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give;</I> not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful
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giver.
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8 And God <I>is</I> able to make all grace abound toward you; that
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ye, always having all sufficiency in all <I>things,</I> may abound to
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every good work:
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9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to
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the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
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10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister
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bread for <I>your</I> food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase
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the fruits of your righteousness;)
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11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which
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causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
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12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth
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the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many
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thanksgivings unto God;
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13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify
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God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and
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for <I>your</I> liberal distribution unto them, and unto all <I>men;</I>
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14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the
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exceeding grace of God in you.
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15 Thanks <I>be</I> unto God for his unspeakable gift.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. Proper directions to be observed about the right and acceptable
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manner of bestowing charity; and it is of great concernment that we not
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only do what is required, but do it as is commanded. Now, as to the
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manner in which the apostle would have the Corinthians give, observe,
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1. It should be bountifully; this was intimated,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>,
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that a liberal contribution was expected, a matter of bounty, not what
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savoured of covetousness; and he offers to their consideration that men
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who expect a good return at harvest are not wont to pinch and spare in
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sowing their seed, for the return is usually proportionable to what
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they sow,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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2. It should be deliberately <I>Every man, according as he purposes in
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his heart,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Works of charity, like other good works, should be done with thought
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and design; whereas some do good only by accident. They comply, it may
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be hastily, with the importunity of others, without any good design,
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and give more than they intended, and then repent of it afterwards. Or
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possibly, had they duly considered all things, they would have given
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more. Due deliberation, as to this matter of our own circumstances, and
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those of the persons we are about to relieve, will be very helpful to
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direct us how liberal we should be in our contributions for charitable
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uses.
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3. It should be freely, whatever we give, be it more or less: <I>Not
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grudgingly, nor of necessity,</I> but cheerfully,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Persons sometimes will give merely to satisfy the importunity of those
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who ask their charity, and what they give is in a manner squeezed or
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forced from them, and this unwillingness spoils all they do. We ought
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to give more freely than the modesty of some necessitous persons will
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allow them to ask: we should not only deal out bread, but draw out our
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souls to the hungry,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+58:10">Isa. lviii. 10</A>.
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We should give liberally, with an open hand, and cheerfully, with an
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open countenance, being glad we have ability and an opportunity to be
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charitable.</P>
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<P>
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II. Good encouragement to perform this work of charity in the manner
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directed. Here the apostle tells the Corinthians,</P>
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<P>
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1. They themselves would be no losers by what they gave in charity.
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This may serve to obviate a secret objection in the minds of many
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against this good work who are ready to think they may want what they
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give away; but such should consider that what is given to the poor in a
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right manner is far from being lost; as the precious seed which is cast
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into the ground is not lost, though it is buried there for a time, for
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it will spring up, and bear fruit; the sower shall receive it again
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with increase,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Such good returns may those expect who give freely and liberally in
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charity. For,
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(1.) God loveth a cheerful giver
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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and what may not those hope to receive who are the objects of the
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divine love? Can a man be a loser by doing that with which God is
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pleased? May not such a one be sure that he shall some way or other be
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a gainer? Nay, are not the love and favour of God better than all other
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things, <I>better than life</I> itself?
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(2.) God is able to make our charity redound to our advantage,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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We have no reason to distrust the goodness of God, and surely we have
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no reason to question his power; he is <I>able to make all grace
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abound</I> towards us, and abound in us; to give a large increase of
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spiritual and temporal good things. He can cause us to have a
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sufficiency in all things, to be content with what we have, to make up
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what we give, to be able to give yet more: as it is written
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+112:9">Ps. cxii. 9</A>)
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concerning the charitable man, <I>He hath dispersed abroad. He hath
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given to the poor. His righteousness,</I> that is, his almsgiving,
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<I>endureth for ever.</I> The honour of it is lasting, the reward of it
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eternal, and he is still able to live comfortably himself and to give
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liberally to others.
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(3.) The apostle puts up a prayer to God in their behalf that they
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might be gainers, and not losers,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
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Here observe,
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[1.] To whom the prayer is made--to God, <I>who ministereth seed to the
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sower,</I> who by his providence giveth such an increase of the fruits
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of the earth that we have not only bread sufficient to eat for one
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year, but enough to sow again for a future supply: or thus, It is God
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who giveth us not only a competency for ourselves, but that also
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wherewith we may supply the wants of others, and so should be as seed
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to be sown.
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[2.] For what he prayeth. There are several things which he desires for
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them, namely, that they may have <I>bread for their food,</I> always a
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competency for themselves, <I>food convenient,</I>--that God will
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<I>multiply their seed sown,</I> that they may still be able to do more
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good,--and that there may be <I>an increase of the fruits of
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righteousness,</I> that they may reap plentifully, and have the best
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and most ample returns of their charity, so as to be <I>enriched in
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every thing to all bountifulness</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),--
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that upon the whole they may find it true that they shall be no losers,
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but great gainers. Note, Works of charity are so far from
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impoverishing us that they are the proper means truly to enrich us, or
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make us truly rich.</P>
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<P>
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2. While they would be no losers, the poor distressed saints would be
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gainers; for this service would <I>supply their wants,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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If we have reason to think them to be saints, whom we believe to be of
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the household of faith, whose wants are great, how ready should we be
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to do them good! Our goodness can not extend unto God, but we should
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freely extend it to these <I>excellent ones of the earth,</I> and thus
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show that we delight in them.</P>
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<P>
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3. This would redound to the praise and glory of God. Many
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thanksgivings would be given to God on this account, by the apostle,
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and by those who were employed in this ministration,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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These would bless God, who had made them happy instruments in so good a
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work, and rendered them successful in it. Besides these, others also
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would be thankful; the poor, who were supplied in their wants, would
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not fail to be very thankful to God, and bless God for them; and all
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who wished well to the gospel would <I>glorify God for this
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experiment,</I> or proof <I>of subjection to the gospel of Christ,</I>
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and true love to all men,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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Note,
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(1.) True Christianity is a subjection to the gospel, a yielding of
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ourselves to the commanding influence of its truths and laws.
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(2.) We must evince the sincerity of our subjection to the gospel by
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works of charity.
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(3.) This will be for the credit of our profession, and to the praise
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and glory of God.</P>
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<P>
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4. Those whose wants were supplied would make the best return they were
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able, by sending up many prayers to God for those who had relieved
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them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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And thus should we recompense the kindnesses we receive when we are not
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in a capacity of recompensing them in any other way; and, as this is
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the only recompence the poor can make, so it is often greatly for the
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advantage of the rich.</P>
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<P>
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<I>Lastly,</I> The apostle concludes this whole matter with this
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doxology, <I>Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+9:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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Some think that by this unspeakable gift he means the gift of grace
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bestowed on the churches, in making them able and willing to supply the
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necessities of the saints, which would be attended with unspeakable
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benefit both to the givers and receivers. It should seem rather that he
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means Jesus Christ, who is indeed the unspeakable gift of God unto this
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world, a gift we have all reason to be very thankful for.</P>
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<!-- (End Body) -->
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC47008.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC47010.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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