16 Let G1774 the word G3056 of Christ G5547 dwell G1774 in G1722 you G5213 richly G4146 in G1722 all G3956 wisdom; G4678 teaching G1321 and G2532 admonishing G3560 one another G1438 in psalms G5568 and G2532 hymns G5215 and G2532 spiritual G4152 songs, G5603 singing G103 with G1722 grace G5485 in G1722 your G5216 hearts G2588 to the Lord. G2962
Thy word H565 have I hid H6845 in mine heart, H3820 that I might not sin H2398 against thee.
Let G3306 that therefore G3767 abide G3306 in G1722 you, G5213 which G3739 ye G5210 have heard G191 from G575 the beginning. G746 If G1437 that which G3739 ye have heard G191 from G575 the beginning G746 shall remain G3306 in G1722 you, G5213 ye G5210 also G2532 shall continue G3306 in G1722 the Son, G5207 and G2532 in G1722 the Father. G3962
But G2532 the anointing G5545 which G3739 ye G5210 have received G2983 of G575 him G846 abideth G3306 in G1722 you, G5213 and G2532 ye need G5532 G2192 not G3756 that G2443 any man G5100 teach G1321 you: G5209 but G235 as G5613 the same G846 anointing G5545 teacheth G1321 you G5209 of G4012 all things, G3956 and G2532 is G2076 truth, G227 and G2532 is G2076 no G3756 lie, G5579 and G2532 even as G2531 it hath taught G1321 you, G5209 ye shall abide G3306 in G1722 him. G846
For G1063 the word G3056 of God G2316 is quick, G2198 and G2532 powerful, G1756 and G2532 sharper G5114 than G5228 any G3956 twoedged G1366 sword, G3162 piercing G1338 even to G891 the dividing asunder G3311 of soul G5590 and G5037 G2532 spirit, G4151 and G5037 G2532 of the joints G719 and G2532 marrow, G3452 and G2532 is a discerner G2924 of the thoughts G1761 and G2532 intents G1771 of the heart. G2588 Neither G2532 G3756 is there G2076 any creature G2937 that is not manifest G852 in his G846 sight: G1799 but G1161 all things G3956 are naked G1131 and G2532 opened G5136 unto the eyes G3788 of him G846 with G4314 whom G3739 we have G2254 to do. G3056
Neither have I gone back H4185 from the commandment H4687 of his lips; H8193 I have esteemed H6845 the words H561 of his mouth H6310 more than my necessary H2706 food.
And G2532 that G3754 from G575 a child G1025 thou hast known G1492 the holy G2413 scriptures, G1121 which G3588 are able G1410 to make G4679 thee G4571 wise G4679 unto G1519 salvation G4991 through G1223 faith G4102 which G3588 is in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus. G2424
For G1223 this cause G5124 we G2249 also, G2532 since G575 the G3739 day G2250 we heard G191 it, do G3973 not G3756 cease G3973 to pray G4336 for G5228 you, G5216 and G2532 to desire G154 that G2443 ye might be filled G4137 with the knowledge G1922 of his G846 will G2307 in G1722 all G3956 wisdom G4678 and G2532 spiritual G4152 understanding; G4907
Wherefore G1223 G5124 be ye G1096 not G3361 unwise, G878 but G235 understanding G4920 what G5101 the will G2307 of the Lord G2962 is.
And these words, H1697 which I command H6680 thee this day, H3117 shall be in thine heart: H3824 And thou shalt teach them diligently H8150 unto thy children, H1121 and shalt talk H1696 of them when thou sittest H3427 in thine house, H1004 and when thou walkest H3212 by the way, H1870 and when thou liest down, H7901 and when thou risest up. H6965 And thou shalt bind H7194 them for a sign H226 upon thine hand, H3027 and they shall be as frontlets H2903 between thine eyes. H5869 And thou shalt write H3789 them upon the posts H4201 of thy house, H1004 and on thy gates. H8179
Charge G3853 them that are rich G4145 in G1722 this G3568 world, G165 that they be G5309 not G3361 highminded, G5309 nor G3366 trust G1679 in G1909 uncertain G83 riches, G4149 but G235 in G1722 the living G2198 God, G2316 who G3588 giveth G3930 us G2254 richly G4146 all things G3956 to G1519 enjoy; G619
And all Israel H3478 heard H8085 of the judgment H4941 which the king H4428 had judged; H8199 and they feared H3372 the king: H6440 for they saw H7200 that the wisdom H2451 of God H430 was in him, H7130 to do H6213 judgment. H4941
Thy statutes H2706 have been my songs H2158 in the house H1004 of my pilgrimage. H4033
Ye shall have a song, H7892 as in the night H3915 when a holy H6942 solemnity H2282 is kept; H6942 and gladness H8057 of heart, H3824 as when one goeth H1980 with a pipe H2485 to come H935 into the mountain H2022 of the LORD, H3068 to the mighty One H6697 of Israel. H3478
Thy words H1697 were found, H4672 and I did eat H398 them; and thy word H1697 was unto me the joy H8342 and rejoicing H8057 of mine heart: H3824 for I am called H7121 by thy name, H8034 O LORD H3068 God H430 of hosts. H6635
And G2532 he went down G2597 with G3326 them, G846 and G2532 came G2064 to G1519 Nazareth, G3478 and G2532 was G2258 subject G5293 unto them: G846 but G2532 his G846 mother G3384 kept G1301 all G3956 these G5023 sayings G4487 in G1722 her G846 heart. G2588
The LORD H3068 is my strength H5797 and my shield; H4043 my heart H3820 trusted H982 in him, and I am helped: H5826 therefore my heart H3820 greatly rejoiceth; H5937 and with my song H7892 will I praise H3034 him.
And G2532 they sung G103 a new G2537 song, G5603 saying, G3004 Thou art G1488 worthy G514 to take G2983 the book, G975 and G2532 to open G455 the seals G4973 thereof: G846 for G3754 thou wast slain, G4969 and G2532 hast redeemed G59 us G2248 to God G2316 by G1722 thy G4675 blood G129 out of G1537 every G3956 kindred, G5443 and G2532 tongue, G1100 and G2532 people, G2992 and G2532 nation; G1484
Searching G2045 what, G1519 G5101 or G2228 what manner G4169 of time G2540 the Spirit G4151 of Christ G5547 which G3588 was in G1722 them G846 did signify, G1213 when it testified beforehand G4303 the sufferings G3804 of G1519 Christ, G5547 and G2532 the glory G1391 that should follow. G3326 G5023 Unto whom G3739 it was revealed, G601 that G3754 not G3756 unto themselves, G1438 but G1161 unto us G2254 they did minister G1247 the things, G846 which G3739 are G312 now G3568 reported G312 unto you G5213 by G1223 them that have preached the gospel G2097 unto you G5209 with G1722 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 sent down G649 from G575 heaven; G3772 which things G3739 the angels G32 desire G1937 to look G3879 into. G1519
Wherefore G1352 comfort G3870 yourselves together, G240 and G2532 edify G3618 one G1520 another, G1520 even G2531 as also G2532 ye do. G4160 And G1161 we beseech G2065 you, G5209 brethren, G80 to know G1492 them which G3588 labour G2872 among G1722 you, G5213 and G2532 are over G4291 you G5216 in G1722 the Lord, G2962 and G2532 admonish G3560 you; G5209
Let your G5216 speech G3056 be alway G3842 with G1722 grace, G5485 seasoned G741 with salt, G217 that ye may know G1492 how G4459 ye G5209 ought G1163 to answer G611 every G1538 man. G1520
Search G2045 the scriptures; G1124 for G3754 in G1722 them G846 ye G5210 think G1380 ye have G2192 eternal G166 life: G2222 and G2532 they G1565 are they G1526 which testify G3140 of G4012 me. G1700 And G2532 ye will G2309 not G3756 come G2064 to G4314 me, G3165 that G2443 ye might have G2192 life. G2222
And G2532 when they had sung an hymn, G5214 they went out G1831 into G1519 the mount G3735 of Olives. G1636
Now will I sing H7891 to my wellbeloved H3039 a song H7892 of my beloved H1730 touching his vineyard. H3754 My wellbeloved H3039 hath a vineyard H3754 in a very fruitful H1121 H8081 hill: H7161
Thou hast turned H2015 for me my mourning H4553 into dancing: H4234 thou hast put off H6605 my sackcloth, H8242 and girded H247 me with gladness; H8057 To the end that my glory H3519 may sing H2167 praise to thee, and not be silent. H1826 O LORD H3068 my God, H430 I will give thanks H3034 unto thee for ever. H5769
So the number H4557 of them, with their brethren H251 that were instructed H3925 in the songs H7892 of the LORD, H3068 even all that were cunning, H995 was two hundred H3967 fourscore H8084 and eight. H8083
Give H5414 therefore thy servant H5650 an understanding H8085 heart H3820 to judge H8199 thy people, H5971 that I may discern H995 between good H2896 and bad: H7451 for who is able H3201 to judge H8199 this thy so great H3515 a people? H5971 And the speech H1697 pleased H3190 H5869 the Lord, H136 that Solomon H8010 had asked H7592 this thing. H1697 And God H430 said H559 unto him, Because thou hast asked H7592 this thing, H1697 and hast not asked H7592 for thyself long H7227 life; H3117 neither hast asked H7592 riches H6239 for thyself, nor hast asked H7592 the life H5315 of thine enemies; H341 but hast asked H7592 for thyself understanding H995 to discern H8085 judgment; H4941 Behold, I have done H6213 according to thy words: H1697 lo, I have given H5414 thee a wise H2450 and an understanding H995 heart; H3820 so that there was none like thee before H6440 thee, neither after H310 thee shall any arise H6965 like unto thee.
Therefore shall ye lay up H7760 these my words H1697 in your heart H3824 and in your soul, H5315 and bind H7194 them for a sign H226 upon your hand, H3027 that they may be as frontlets H2903 between your eyes. H5869 And ye shall teach H3925 them your children, H1121 speaking H1696 of them when thou sittest H3427 in thine house, H1004 and when thou walkest H3212 by the way, H1870 when thou liest H7901 down, and when thou risest up. H6965 And thou shalt write H3789 them upon the door posts H4201 of thine house, H1004 and upon thy gates: H8179
And G2532 I fell G4098 at G1715 his G846 feet G4228 to worship G4352 him. G846 And G2532 he said G3004 unto me, G3427 See G3708 thou do it not: G3361 I am G1510 thy G4675 fellowservant, G4889 and G2532 of thy G4675 brethren G80 that have G2192 the testimony G3141 of Jesus: G2424 worship G4352 God: G2316 for G1063 the testimony G3141 of Jesus G2424 is G2076 the spirit G4151 of prophecy. G4394
Whom G3739 we G2249 preach, G2605 warning G3560 every G3956 man, G444 and G2532 teaching G1321 every G3956 man G444 in G1722 all G3956 wisdom; G4678 that G2443 we may present G3936 every G3956 man G444 perfect G5046 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus: G2424
[[A Psalm of David.]] H1732 Bless H1288 the LORD, H3068 O my soul: H5315 and all that is within H7130 me, bless his holy H6944 name. H8034 Bless H1288 the LORD, H3068 O my soul, H5315 and forget H7911 not all his benefits: H1576
Through desire H8378 a man, having separated H6504 himself, seeketh H1245 and intermeddleth H1566 with all wisdom. H8454
And G2532 they sing G103 the song G5603 of Moses G3475 the servant G1401 of God, G2316 and G2532 the song G5603 of the Lamb, G721 saying, G3004 Great G3173 and G2532 marvellous G2298 are thy G4675 works, G2041 Lord G2962 God G2316 Almighty; G3841 just G1342 and G2532 true G228 are thy G4675 ways, G3598 thou King G935 of saints. G40
And G2532 they sung G103 as it were G5613 a new G2537 song G5603 before G1799 the throne, G2362 and G2532 before G1799 the four G5064 beasts, G2226 and G2532 the elders: G4245 and G2532 no man G3762 could G1410 learn G3129 that song G5603 but G1508 the hundred G1540 and forty G5062 and four G5064 thousand, G5505 which G3588 were redeemed G59 from G575 the earth. G1093
I have written G1125 unto you, G5213 fathers, G3962 because G3754 ye have known G1097 him that is from G575 the beginning. G746 I have written G1125 unto you, G5213 young men, G3495 because G3754 ye are G2075 strong, G2478 and G2532 the word G3056 of God G2316 abideth G3306 in G1722 you, G5213 and G2532 ye have overcome G3528 the wicked one. G4190
Wherefore G1352 lift up G461 the hands G5495 which hang down, G3935 and G2532 the feeble G3886 knees; G1119 And G2532 make G4160 straight G3717 paths G5163 for your G5216 feet, G4228 lest that G3363 which is lame G5560 be turned out of the way; G1624 but G1161 let it G2390 rather G3123 be healed. G2390 Follow G1377 peace G1515 with G3326 all G3956 men, and G2532 holiness, G38 without G5565 which G3739 no man G3762 shall see G3700 the Lord: G2962 Looking diligently G1983 lest G3361 any man G5100 fail G5302 of G575 the grace G5485 of God; G2316 lest G3361 any G5100 root G4491 of bitterness G4088 springing G5453 up G507 trouble G1776 you, and G2532 thereby G1223 G5026 many G4183 be defiled; G3392
How G5101 is it G2076 then, G3767 brethren? G80 when G3752 ye come together, G4905 every one G1538 of you G5216 hath G2192 a psalm, G5568 hath G2192 a doctrine, G1322 hath G2192 a tongue, G1100 hath G2192 a revelation, G602 hath G2192 an interpretation. G2058 Let G1096 all things G3956 be done G1096 unto G4314 edifying. G3619
And G1161 I G1473 myself G846 also G2532 am persuaded G3982 of G4012 you, G5216 my G3450 brethren, G80 that G3754 ye G846 also G2532 are G2075 full G3324 of goodness, G19 filled G4137 with all G3956 knowledge, G1108 able G1410 also G2532 to admonish G3560 one another. G240
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Colossians 3
Commentary on Colossians 3 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 3
Col 3:1-4
The apostle, having described our privileges by Christ in the former part of the epistle, and our discharge from the yoke of the ceremonial law, comes here to press upon us our duty as inferred thence. Though we are made free from the obligation of the ceremonial law, it does not therefore follow that we may live as we list. We must walk the more closely with God in all the instances of evangelical obedience. He begins with exhorting them to set their hearts on heaven, and take them off from this world: If you then have risen with Christ. It is our privilege that we have risen with Christ; that is, have benefit by the resurrection of Christ, and by virtue of our union and communion with him are justified and sanctified, and shall be glorified. Hence he infers that we must seek those things which are above. We must mind the concerns of another world more than the concerns of this. We must make heaven our scope and aim, seek the favour of God above, keep up our communion with the upper world by faith, and hope, and holy love, and make it our constant care and business to secure our title to and qualifications for the heavenly bliss. And the reason is because Christ sits at the right hand of God. He who is our best friend and our head is advanced to the highest dignity and honour in heaven, and has gone before to secure to us the heavenly happiness; and therefore we should seek and secure what he has purchased at so vast an expense, and is taking so much care about. We must live such a life as Christ lived here on earth and lives now in heaven, according to our capacities.
Col 3:5-7
The apostle exhorts the Colossians to the mortification of sin, the great hindrance to seeking the things which are above. Since it is our duty to set our affections upon heavenly things, it is our duty to mortify our members which are upon the earth, and which naturally incline us to the things of the world: "Mortify them, that is, subdue the vicious habits of mind which prevailed in your Gentile state. Kill them, suppress them, as you do weeds or vermin which spread and destroy all about them, or as you kill an enemy who fights against you and wounds you.'-Your members which are upon the earth; either the members of the body, which are the earthly part of us, and were curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth (Ps. 139:15), or the corrupt affections of the mind, which lead us to earthly things, the members of the body of death, Rom. 7:24. He specifies,
Col 3:8-11
As we are to mortify inordinate appetites, so we are to mortify inordinate passions (v. 8): But now you also put off all these, anger wrath, malice; for these are contrary to the design of the gospel, as well as grosser impurities; and, though they are more spiritual wickedness, have not less malignity in them. The gospel religion introduces a change of the higher as well as the lower powers of the soul, and supports the dominion of right reason and conscience over appetite and passion. Anger and wrath are bad, but malice is worse, because it is more rooted and deliberate; it is anger heightened and settled. And, as the corrupt principles in the heart must be cut off, so the product of them in the tongue; as blasphemy, which seems there to mean, not so much speaking ill of God as speaking ill of men, giving ill language to them, or raising ill reports of them, and injuring their good name by any evil arts,-filthy communication, that is, all lewd and wanton discourse, which comes from a polluted mind in the speaker and propagates the same defilements in the hearers,-and lying: Lie not one to another (v. 9), for it is contrary both to the law of truth and the law of love, it is both unjust and unkind, and naturally tends to destroy all faith and friendship among mankind. Lying makes us like the devil (who is the father of lies), and is a prime part of the devil's image upon our souls; and therefore we are cautioned against this sin by this general reason: Seeing you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, v. 10. The consideration that we have by profession put away sin and espoused the cause and interest of Christ, that we have renounced all sin and stand engaged to Christ, should fortify us against this sin of lying. Those who have put off the old man have put it off with its deeds; and those who have put on the new man must put on all its deeds-not only espouse good principles but act them in a good conversation. The new man is said to be renewed in knowledge, because an ignorant soul cannot be a good soul. Without knowledge the heart cannot be good, Prov. 19:2. The grace of God works upon the will and affections by renewing the understanding. Light is the first thing in the new creation, as it was in the first: after the image of him who created him. It was the honour of man in innocence that he was made after the image of God; but that image was defaced and lost by sin, and is renewed by sanctifying grace: so that a renewed soul is something like what Adam was in the day he was created. In the privilege and duty of sanctification there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, v. 11. There is now no difference arising from different country or different condition and circumstance of life: it is as much the duty of the one as of the other to be holy, and as much the privilege of the one as of the other to receive from God the grace to be so. Christ came to take down all partition-walls, that all might stand on the same level before God, both in duty and privilege. And for this reason, because Christ is all in all. Christ is a Christian's all, his only Lord and Saviour, and all his hope and happiness. And to those who are sanctified, one as well as another and whatever they are in other respects, he is all in all, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end: he is all in all things to them.
Col 3:12-17
The apostle proceeds to exhort to mutual love and compassion: Put on therefore bowels of mercy, v. 12. We must not only put off anger and wrath (as v. 8), but we must put on compassion and kindness; not only cease to do evil, but learn to do well; not only not do hurt to any, but do what good we can to all.
Col 3:18-25
The apostle concludes the chapter with exhortations to relative duties, as before in the epistle to the Ephesians. The epistles which are most taken up in displaying the glory of divine grace, and magnifying the Lord Jesus, are the most particular and distinct in pressing the duties of the several relations. We must never separate the privileges and duties of the gospel religion.
It is probable that the apostle has a particular respect, in all these instances of duty, to the case mentioned 1 Co. 7 of relations of a different religion, as a Christian and heathen, a Jewish convert and an uncircumcised Gentile, where there was room to doubt whether they were bound to fulfil the proper duties of their several relations to such persons. And, if it hold in such cases, it is much stronger upon Christians one towards another, and where both are of the same religion. And how happy would the gospel religion make the world, if it every where prevailed; and how much would it influence every state of things and every relation of life!