Chapter 3
Objections
answered
|
1–8
|
All
mankind are sinners
|
9–18
|
Both
Jews and Gentiles cannot be justified by their own deeds
|
19,
20
|
It
is owing to the free grace of God, through faith in the righteousness of
Christ, yet the law is not done away
|
21–31
|
The law
could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining
salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God
and his service, and many favours shown to the children of Abraham, all were
means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But
especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God’s word and
ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God’s promises are made
only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors,
cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfil his promises to his
people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God’s judging the
world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice.
The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man’s need of the
righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let
us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of
sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer
knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit
any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may
thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just.
Verses 9–18
Here again
is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under
the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This
is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which
describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or
change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who
call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no
fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be
looked for.
Verses 19, 20
It is in
vain to seek for justification by the works of the law. All must plead guilty.
Guilty before God, is a dreadful word; but no man can be justified by a law
which condemns him for breaking it. The corruption in our nature, will for ever
stop any justification by our own works.
Verses 21–26
Must
guilty man remain under wrath? Is the wound for ever incurable? No; blessed be
God, there is another way laid open for us. This is the righteousness of God;
righteousness of his ordaining, and providing, and accepting. It is by that
faith which has Jesus Christ for its object; an anointed Saviour, so Jesus
Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a Saviour, in all his
three anointed offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King; trusting in him,
accepting him, and cleaving to him: in all these, Jews and Gentiles are alike
welcome to God through Christ. There is no difference, his righteousness is
upon all that believe; not only offered to them, but put upon them as a crown,
as a robe. It is free grace, mere mercy; there is nothing in us to deserve such
favours. It comes freely unto us, but Christ bought it, and paid the price. And
faith has special regard to the blood of Christ, as that which made the
atonement. God, in all this, declares his righteousness. It is plain that he
hates sin, when nothing less than the blood of Christ would satisfy for it. And
it would not agree with his justice to demand the debt, when the Surety has
paid it, and he has accepted that payment in full satisfaction.
Verses 27–31
God will
have the great work of the justification and salvation of sinners carried on
from first to last, so as to shut out boasting. Now, if we were saved by our
own works, boasting would not be excluded. But the way of justification by
faith for ever shuts out boasting. Yet believers are not left to be lawless;
faith is a law, it is a working grace, wherever it is in truth. By faith, not
in this matter an act of obedience, or a good work, but forming the relation
between Christ and the sinner, which renders it proper that the believer should
be pardoned and justified for the sake of the Saviour, and that the unbeliever
who is not thus united or related to him, should remain under condemnation. The
law is still of use to convince us of what is past, and to direct us for the
future. Though we cannot be saved by it as a covenant, yet we own and submit to
it, as a rule in the hand of the Mediator.
Excerpt from:
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible
Matthew Henry (1662 - 1714)
Rick Meyers.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary. e-Sword ®: www.e-sword.net
