Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Deuteronomy
Book: Deuteronomy
Chapter: 19
Overview:
The cities of
Refuge, The
Man-slayer, The murderer.
(1-13)
Landmarks not to be removed.
(14) The
Punishment of false
witnesses.
(15-21)
1-13 Here is the
Law settled between the
Blood of the murdered,
and the
Blood of the murderer; provision is made, that the
cities of
Refuge should be a protection,
So that a
Man should
not die for that as a crime, which was not his willing act. In
Christ, the
Lord our
Righteousness,
Refuge is provided for those
who
By Faith flee unto him. But there is
No Refuge in
Jesus
Christ for presumptuous sinners, who go
On still in their
trespasses. Those who flee to
Christ from their sins, shall be
safe in him, but not those who expect to be sheltered
By him in
their sins.
14 Direction is given to fix landmarks in
Canaan. It is the
will of
God that every one should know his own; and that means
should be used to hinder the doing and suffering of wrong. This,
without doubt, is a moral precept, and still binding. Let every
Man be content with his own
Lot, and be just to his neighbours
in all things.
15-21 Sentence should never be passed upon the
Testimony of one
Witness alone. A false
Witness should suffer the same
Punishment
which he sought to have inflicted upon the person he accused.
Nor could any
Law be more just. Let all Christians not only be
cautious in bearing
Witness in public, but be careful not to
join in private slanders; and let all whose consciences accuse
them of crime, without delay flee for
Refuge to the
Hope set
before them in
Jesus Christ.