Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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2 Kings
Book: 2 Kings
Chapter: 5
Overview:
Naaman's
Leprosy.
(1-8) The cure of it.
(9-14) Elisha refuses
Naaman's
Gifts.
(15-19) Gehazi's
Covetousness and falsehood.
(20-27)
1-8 Though the Syrians were idolaters, and oppressed
God's
people, yet the deliverance of which
Naaman had been the means,
is here ascribed to the
Lord. Such is the correct language of
Scripture, while those who write common history, plainly show
that
God is not in all their thoughts.
No Man's greatness, or
honour, can place him out of the reach of the sorest calamities
of human
Life: there is many a sickly, crazy body under rich and
gay clothing. Every
Man has some but or other, something that
blemishes and diminishes him, some allay to his grandeur, some
damp to his joy. This little maid, though only a girl, could
give an account of the famous
Prophet the Israelites had among
them. Children should be early told of the wondrous
Works of
God, that, wherever they go, they may talk of them. As became a
good servant, she desired the health and welfare of her master,
though she was a
Captive, a servant
By force; much more should
servants
By choice, seek their masters' good. Servants may be
blessings to the families where they are,
By telling what they
know of the
Glory of
God, and the honour of his prophets.
Naaman
did not despise what she told, because of her meanness. It would
be
Well if men were as sensible of the
Burden of
Sin as they are
of bodily disease. And when they seek the blessings which the
Lord sends in answer to the prayers of his
Faithful people, they
will find nothing can be had, except they come as beggars for a
free
Gift, not as lords to demand or purchase.
9-14 Elisha knew
Naaman to be a proud
Man, and he would let him
know, that before the great
God all men stand upon the same
level. All
God's commands make trial of men's spirits,
especially those which direct a sinner how to apply for the
blessings of
Salvation. See in
Naaman the folly of pride; a cure
will not content him, unless he be cured with pomp and parade.
He scorns to be healed, unless he be humoured. The way
By which
a sinner is received and made holy, through the
Blood, and
By
the
Spirit of
Christ, through
Faith alone in his name, does not
sufficiently humour or employ self, to please the sinner's
Heart. Human
Wisdom thinks it can supply wiser and better
methods of cleansing. Observe, masters should be willing to hear
reason. As we should be deaf to the counsel of the ungodly,
though given
By great and respected names,
So we are to have our
ears open to good advice, though brought
By those below us.
Wouldst thou not do any thing? When diseased sinners are content
to do any thing, to submit to any thing, to part with any thing,
for a cure, then, and not till then, is there any
Hope of them.
The methods for the healing of the
Leprosy of
Sin, are
So Plain,
that we are without excuse if we do not observe them. It is but,
Believe, and be saved; Repent, and be pardoned; Wash, and be
Clean. The believer applies for
Salvation, not neglecting,
altering, or adding to the
Saviour's directions; he is thus made
Clean from guilt, while others, who neglect them, live and die
in the
Leprosy of
Sin.
15-19 The
Mercy of the cure affected
Naaman more than the
Miracle. Those are best able to speak of the power of Divine
Grace, who themselves experience it. He also shows himself
grateful to
Elisha the
Prophet.
Elijah refused any recompence,
not because he thought it unlawful, for he received presents
from others, but to show this new convert that the servants of
the
God of
Israel looked upon worldly wealth with a holy
contempt. The whole work was from
God, in such a manner, that
the
Prophet would not give counsel when he had
No directions
from the
Lord. It is not
Well violently to oppose the lesser
mistakes which unite with men's first convictions; we cannot
bring men forward any faster than the
Lord prepares them to
receive instruction. Yet as to us, if, in covenanting with
God,
we desire to reserve any known
Sin, to continue to indulge
ourselves in it, that is a
Breach of his
Covenant. Those who
truly hate evil, will make
Conscience of abstaining from all
appearances of evil.
20-27 Naaman, a Syrian, a courtier, a soldier, had many
servants, and we read how
Wise and good they were.
Elisha, a
holy
Prophet, a
Man of
God, has but one servant, and he proves a
base liar. The
Love of
Money, that root of all evil, was at the
bottom of
Gehazi's
Sin. He thought to impose upon the
Prophet,
but soon found that the
Spirit of
Prophecy could not be
deceived, and that it was in vain to
Lie to the
Holy Ghost. It
is folly to presume upon
Sin, in hopes of secrecy. When thou
goest aside into any
By-path, does not thy own
Conscience go
with thee? Does not the
Eye of
God go with thee? He that covers
his
Sin, shall not prosper; particularly, a lying tongue is but
for a moment. All the foolish hopes and contrivances of
Carnal
worldlings are open before
God. It is not a time to increase our
wealth, when we can only do it in such ways as are dishonourable
to
God and religion, or injurious to others.
Gehazi was
punished. If he will have
Naaman's
Money, he shall have his
disease with it. What was
Gehazi profited, though he gained two
talents, when thereby he lost his health, his honour, his peace,
his service, and, if
Repentance prevented not, his soul for
ever? Let us beware of hypocrisy and
Covetousness, and dread the
Curse of spiritual
Leprosy remaining
On our souls.