The flower of youth never appears more beautiful than when it bends toward the sun of righteousness.
– Matthew Henry
Holiness | Youth | Beauty
What we count the ills of life are often blessings in disguise, resulting in good to us in the end. Though for the present not joyous but grievous, yet, if received in a right spirit, they work out fruits of righteousness for us at last.
– Matthew Henry
Blessings | Holiness | Righteousness
Grace is the free, undeserved goodness and favor of God to mankind.
– Matthew Henry
Grace
The joy of the Lord will arm us against the assaults of our spiritual enemies and put our mouths out of taste for those pleasures with which the tempter baits his hooks.
– Matthew Henry
Contentment | Enemies | Joy
Come, and see the victories of the cross. Christ’s wounds are thy healings, His agonies thy repose, His conflicts thy conquests, His groans thy songs, His pains thine ease, His shame thy glory, His death thy life, His sufferings thy salvation.
– Matthew Henry
The Cross
Christ died He left a will in which He gave His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to the soldiers, and His mother to John. But to His disciples, who had left all to follow Him, He left not silver or gold, but something far better – His PEACE!
– Matthew Henry
Peace
It is common for those that are farthest from God, to boast themselves most of their being near to the Church.
– Matthew Henry
Hypocrisy | Boasting
Seducers are more dangerous enemies to the church than persecutors.
– Matthew Henry
Rebellion | Enemies | Persecution
The devil visits idle men with his temptations. God visits industrious men with His favors.
– Matthew Henry
Idleness | Temptation
Those that boast most of the religion may be suspected of partiality and hypocrisy in it.
– Matthew Henry
Religion | Hypocrisy | Boasting
By the light of nature we see God as a God above us, by the light of the law we see Him as a God against us, but by the light of the gospel we see Him as Emmanuel, God with us.
– Matthew Henry
GodNature | The Gospel
The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved by him.
– Matthew Henry
Women
Woman was taken out of man; not out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled underfoot; but out of his side to be equal to him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved.
– Matthew Henry
Love | Family
Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth.
– Matthew Henry
Peace
All the grace contained in [the Bible] is owing to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior; and, unless we consent to Him as our Lord we cannot expect any benefit by Him as our Savior.
– Matthew Henry
Grace | The Bible
Holy joy will be oil to the wheels of our obedience.
– Matthew Henry
Joy | Obedience
An active faith can give thanks for a promise, though it be not as yet performed; knowing that God’s bonds are as good as ready money.
– Matthew Henry
Faith | Money | Thankfulness
That which is won ill, will never wear well, for there is a curse attends it which will waste it. The same corrupt dispositions which incline men to sinful ways of getting, will incline them to the like sinful ways of spending.
– Matthew Henry
Greed
If men’s religion prevails not to conquer and cure the wickedness of their hearts, it shall not always serve for a cloak. The day is coming when hypocrites will be stripped of their fig-leaves.
– Matthew Henry
Religion | Hypocrisy
None can know their election but by their conformity to Christ; for all who are chosen are chosen to sanctification.
– Matthew Henry
Sanctification
If we would be angry and not sin (says one), we must be angry at nothing but sin; and we should be more jealous for the glory of God than for any interest or reputation of our own.
– Matthew Henry
Anger
Idleness gives great advantage to the tempter. Standing waters gather filth.
– Matthew Henry
Idleness
If the solemnities of our fasting, though frequent, long, and severe, do not serve to put an edge upon devout affections, to quicken prayer, to increase Godly sorrow, and to alter the temper of our minds, and the course of our lives, for the better, they do not at all answer the intention, and God will not accept them as performed to Him.
– Matthew Henry
Fasting
Christ is our temple, in whom by faith all believers meet.
– Matthew Henry
Christ | Faith
The first lesson in Christ’s school is self-denial.
– Matthew Henry
Self-denial
The way to preserve the peace of the church is to preserve its purity.
– Matthew Henry
Peace | Purity
Many good purposes and intentions lie in the churchyard.
– Matthew Henry
Death
He whose head is in heaven need not fear to put his feet into the grave.
– Matthew Henry
Heaven | Death
Goodness makes greatness truly valuable, and greatness make goodness much more serviceable.
– Matthew Henry
Achievement
The more we accommodate ourselves to plain things, and the less we indulge in those artificial delights which gratify pride and luxury, the nearer we approach to a state of innocency.
– Matthew Henry
Contentment
We are too apt to rest in a bare profession of faith, and to think that this will save us; it is a cheap and easy religion to say, “We believe in the articles of the Christian faith;” but it is a great delusion to imagine that this is enough to bring us to heaven.
– Matthew Henry
Apathy
Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their life, or else they pull down with one hand what they build up with the other.
– Matthew Henry
Examples | Doctrine
I thank Thee first because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse they did not take my life; third, although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed and not I who robbed.
– Matthew Henry
Gratitude
We read of preaching the Word out of season, but we do not read of praying out of season, for that is never out of season.
– Matthew Henry
Prayer | Reading
The frequent requiring and using of oaths, is a poor reflection on Christians, who should be of such acknowledged fidelity, as that their sober words should be as sacred as their solemn oaths.
– Matthew Henry
Honesty
It is not talking but walking that will bring us to heaven.
– Matthew Henry
Examples
God’s promises are to be our pleas in prayer.
– Matthew Henry
Prayer
It is more to the honor of a Christian by faith to overcome the world, than by monastical vows to retreat from it; more for the honor of Christ to serve him in the city, than to serve him in the cell.
– Matthew Henry
Faith | Overcoming
Absalom, who was a fool, wished himself a judge; Solomon, who was a wise man, trembles at the undertaking, and suspects his own fitness for it. The more knowing and considerate men are, the better they are acquainted with their own weakness, and the more jealous of themselves.
– Matthew Henry
Humility | Weakness
The Scriptures were written, not to make us astronomers, but to make us saints.
– Matthew Henry
Scripture
Though we cannot by our prayers give God any information, yet we must by our prayers give him honor.
– Matthew Henry
PrayerPraise
You may as soon find a living man who does not breathe, as a living Christian who does not pray.
– Matthew Henry
Prayer
The saints are God’s jewels, highly esteemed by and dear to him; they are a royal diadem in his hand.
– Matthew Henry
Christians
To wait on God is to live a life of desire toward Him, delight in Him, dependence on Him, and devotedness to Him.
– Matthew Henry
Surrender
Prayer is the midwife of mercy, that helps to bring it forth.
– Matthew Henry
Prayer
The riches we impart are the only wealth we shall always retain.
– Matthew Henry
Charity | Wealth
The worse men are, the less they are bound by oaths; the better they are, the less there is need for them. Our Lord does not enjoin the precise terms wherein we are to affirm or deny, but such a constant regard to truth as would render oaths unnecessary.
– Matthew Henry
Honesty
Those that disobey the commandments of God do so foolishly for themselves. Sin is folly, and sinners are the greatest fools.
– Matthew Henry
Foolishness
Wherever the fear of God rules in the heart, it will appear both in works of charity and piety, and neither will excuse us from the other.
– Matthew Henry
Piety | The Heart
Inordinate desires commonly produce irregular endeavors. If our wishes be not kept in submission to God’s providence, our pursuits will scarcely be kept under the restraints of his precepts.
– Matthew Henry
Selfishness | Providence | Submission
There is a burden of care in getting riches; fear in keeping them; temptation in using them; guilt in abusing them; sorrow in losing them; and a burden of account at last to be given concerning them.
– Matthew Henry
Finances
Prayer time must be kept up as duly as meal-time.
– Matthew Henry
Prayer | Perseverance
Hypocrites do the devil’s drudgery in Christ’s livery.
– Matthew Henry
Hypocrisy
You have been used to take notice of the sayings of dying men. This is mine: that a life spent in the service of God, and communion with Him, is the most comfortable and pleasant life that anyone can live in this world.
– Matthew Henry
Death | Life
While we are zealous for good works, let us be careful not to put them in the place of Christ’s righteousness, and not to advance anything which may betray others into so dreadful a delusion.
– Matthew Henry
Service | Discretion | Zeal
When I cannot enjoy the faith of assurance, I live by the faith of adherence.
– Matthew Henry
Faith | Assurance
Those who have a saving interest in Christ must be willing to part with all for Him, leave all to follow Him. Whatever stands in opposition to Christ, or in completion with Him for our love and service, we must cheerfully quit it, though ever so dear to us.
– Matthew Henry
Submission
The remains of great and good men, like Elijah’s mantle, ought to be gathered up and preserved by their survivors; that as their works follow them in the reward of them, they may stay behind in their benefit.
– Matthew Henry
Examples | Rewards
Some people do not like to hear much of repentance; but I think it is so necessary that if I should die in the pulpit, I would desire to die preaching repentance, and if out of the pulpit I would desire to die practicing it.
– Matthew Henry
Repentance
Honest policy is a good friend, both to our safety and to our usefulness. The serpent’s head may well become a good Christian’s body, especially if it have a dove’s eye in it.
– Matthew Henry
Honesty
What think we of Christ? Is He altogether glorious in our eyes, and precious to our hearts? May Christ be our joy, our confidence, our all. May we daily be made more like to Him, and more devoted to His service.
– Matthew Henry
Faithful | Joy | Service
The anger of a meek man is like fire struck out of steel, hard to be got out, and when got out, soon gone. The meek enjoy almost a perpetual Sabbath.
– Matthew Henry
Anger | Meekness
Nothing exposes religion more to the reproach of its enemies than the worldliness and hard-heartedness of its professors.
– Matthew Henry
Worldliness | Enemies | Religion
Wise anger is like fire from the flint; there is a great ado to bring it out; and when it does come, it is out again immediately.
– Matthew Henry
Anger | Fire
God has wisely kept us in the dark concerning future events and reserved for himself the knowledge of them, that he may train us up in a dependence upon himself and a continued readiness for every event.
– Matthew Henry
Prophecy | The Future
Those who would bring great things to pass must rise early. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty.
– Matthew Henry
Finances | Achievement
None so deaf as those that will not hear.
– Matthew Henry
Apathy
When passion is on the throne reason is out of doors.
– Matthew Henry
Reasoning | Passion
We do not trust God, but tempt him, when our expectations slacken our exertions.
– Matthew Henry
Achievement | Trust
If therefore our houses be houses of the Lord, we shall for that reason love home, reckoning our daily devotion the sweetest of our daily delights; and our family-worship the most valuable of our family-comforts… A church in the house will be a good legacy, nay, it will be a good inheritance, to be left to your children after you.
– Matthew Henry
Home
It is a good thing to have a heart within us smiting us for sins that seem little; it is a sign that conscience is awake and tender, and will be the means of preventing greater sins.
– Matthew Henry
Conscience
Many mourn for their sins that do not truly repent of them, weep bitterly for them, and yet continue in love and league with them.
– Matthew Henry
Repentance
Many a dangerous temptation comes to us in gay, fine colors, that are but skin-deep.
– Matthew Henry
Temptation
We have no sufficient strength of our own. All our sufficiency is of God. We should stir up ourselves to resist temptations in a reliance upon God’s all-sufficiency and the omnipotence of his might.
– Matthew Henry
Temptation | Strength
Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces. Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions.
– Matthew Henry
Grace | Affliction
Cast not away your confidence because God defers his performances. That which does not come in your time, will be hastened in his time, which is always the more convenient season. God will work when he pleases, how he pleases, and by what means he pleases. He is not bound to keep our time, but he will perform his word, honour our faith, and reward them that diligently seek him.
– Matthew Henry
Contentment | Diligence | Rewards
Those who complain most are most to be complained of.
– Matthew Henry
Hypocrisy
It is good for us to keep some account of our prayers, that we may not unsay them in our practice.
– Matthew Henry
Prayer
Tears are a tribute to our deceased friends. When the body is sown, it must be watered. But we must not sorrow as those that have no hope; for we have a good hope through grace both concerning them and concerning ourselves.
– Matthew Henry
Death
Nothing can make a man truly great but being truly good, and partaking of God’s holiness.
– Matthew Henry
Holiness
Knowledge is vain and fruitless which is not reduced to practice.
– Matthew Henry
Knowledge | Hypocrisy
Every tear of sorrow sown by the righteous springs up a pearl.
– Matthew Henry
Suffering | Righteousness