Chapter 4
The apostles laboured with much diligence, sincerity, and
faithfulness
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1–7
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Their sufferings for the gospel were great, yet with rich
supports
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8–12
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Prospects of eternal glory keep believers from fainting
under troubles
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13–18
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Verses 1–7
The best of men would faint, if they did not receive mercy
from God. And that mercy which has helped us out, and helped us on, hitherto,
we may rely upon to help us even to the end. The apostles had no base and
wicked designs, covered with fair and specious pretences. They did not try to
make their ministry serve a turn. Sincerity or uprightness will keep the
favourable opinion of wise and good men. Christ by his gospel makes a glorious
discovery to the minds of men. But the design of the devil is, to keep men in
ignorance; and when he cannot keep the light of the gospel of Christ out of the
world, he spares no pains to keep men from the gospel, or to set them against
it. The rejection of the gospel is here traced to the wilful blindness and
wickedness of the human heart. Self was not the matter or the end of the
apostles’ preaching; they preached Christ as Jesus, the Saviour and Deliverer,
who saves to the uttermost all that come to God through him. Ministers are
servants to the souls of men; they must avoid becoming servants to the humours
or the lusts of men. It is pleasant to behold the sun in the firmament; but it
is more pleasant and profitable for the gospel to shine in the heart. As light
was the beginning of the first creation; so, in the new creation, the light of
the Spirit is his first work upon the soul. The treasure of gospel light and
grace is put into earthen vessels. The ministers of the gospel are subject to
the same passions and weaknesses as other men. God could have sent angels to
make known the glorious doctrine of the gospel, or could have sent the most
admired sons of men to teach the nations, but he chose humbler, weaker vessels,
that his power might be more glorified in upholding them, and in the blessed
change wrought by their ministry.
Verses 8–12
The apostles were great sufferers, yet they met with
wonderful support. Believers may be forsaken of their friends, as well as
persecuted by enemies; but their God will never leave them nor forsake them.
There may be fears within, as well as fightings without; yet we are not
destroyed. The apostle speaks of their sufferings as a counterpart of the
sufferings of Christ, that people might see the power of Christ’s resurrection,
and of grace in and from the living Jesus. In comparison with them, other
Christians were, even at that time, in prosperous circumstances.
Verses 13–18
The grace of faith is an effectual remedy against fainting
in times of trouble. They knew that Christ was raised, and that his
resurrection was an earnest and assurance of theirs. The hope of this
resurrection will encourage in a suffering day, and set us above the fear of
death. Also, their sufferings were for the advantage of the church, and to
God’s glory. The sufferings of Christ’s ministers, as well as their preaching
and conversation, are for the good of the church and the glory of God. The
prospect of eternal life and happiness was their support and comfort. What
sense was ready to pronounce heavy and long, grievous and tedious, faith
perceived to be light and short, and but for a moment. The weight of all
temporal afflictions was lightness itself, while the glory to come was a
substance, weighty, and lasting beyond description. If the apostle could call
his heavy and long-continued trials light, and but for a moment, what must our
trifling difficulties be! Faith enables to make this right judgment of things.
There are unseen things, as well as things that are seen. And there is this
vast difference between them; unseen things are eternal, seen things but
temporal, or temporary only. Let us then look off from the things which are
seen; let us cease to seek for worldly advantages, or to fear present
distresses. Let us give diligence to make our future happiness sure.
Excerpt from:
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible
Matthew Henry (1662 - 1714)
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