Matthew Henry Commentary 2 Corinthians 3
Matthew Henry Commentary
2 Corinthians 3
Matthew Henry Commentary
2 Corinthians 3
"Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or from you? Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men; being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables [that are] hearts of flesh. And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written, [and] engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which [glory] was passing away: how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory? For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth. For if that which passeth away [was] with glory, much more that which remaineth [is] in glory." — 2 Corinthians 3:1-11 (ASV)
Even the appearance of self-praise and courting human applause is painful to the humble and spiritual mind. Nothing is more delightful to faithful ministers, or more to their praise, than the success of their ministry, as shown in the spirits and lives of those among whom they labor. The law of Christ was written in their hearts, and the love of Christ poured out there. Nor was it written on tables of stone, as the law of God given to Moses, but on the fleshy (not fleshly, as fleshliness denotes sensuality) tables of the heart (Ezekiel 36:26). Their hearts were humbled and softened to receive this impression by the new-creating power of the Holy Spirit.
He ascribes all the glory to God. And remember, as our whole dependence is on the Lord, so the whole glory belongs to him alone. The letter killeth: the letter of the law is the ministration of death; and if we rest only in the letter of the gospel, we will not be better for doing so. But the Holy Spirit gives spiritual life and eternal life. The Old Testament dispensation was the ministration of death, but the New Testament of life.
The law made known sin, and the wrath and curse of God; it showed us a God above us and a God against us. But the gospel makes known grace, and Emmanuel, God with us. In it the righteousness of God by faith is revealed; and this shows us that the just shall live by his faith. This also makes known the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ for obtaining the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. The gospel so much exceeds the law in glory that it eclipses the glory of the legal dispensation.
But even the New Testament will be a killing letter, if shown as a mere system or form, and without dependence on God the Holy Spirit, to give it a quickening power.
"Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, and [are] not as Moses, [who] put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look stedfastly on the end of that which was passing away: but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed [to them] that it is done away in Christ. But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart. But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, [there] is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit." — 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 (ASV)
It is the duty of ministers of the gospel to use great plainness, or clearness, of speech. Old Testament believers had only cloudy and fleeting glimpses of that glorious Savior, and unbelievers looked no further than the outward institution. But the great precepts of the gospel—believe, love, obey—are truths stated as clearly as possible.
And the whole doctrine of Christ crucified is made as plain as human language can make it. Those who lived under the law had a veil upon their hearts. This veil is taken away by the doctrines of the Bible about Christ. When any person is converted to God, the veil of ignorance is then taken away. The condition of those who enjoy and believe the gospel is blessed, for the heart is set at liberty to run the ways of God's commandments.
They have light, and with unveiled face they behold the glory of the Lord. Christians should prize and make good use of these privileges.
We should not rest content without experiencing the transforming power of the gospel, through the working of the Spirit. This power leads us to seek to be like the character and direction of the glorious gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to seek union with Him.
We behold Christ as in the mirror of His word. And just as the reflection from a mirror causes a face to shine, so the faces of Christians also shine.
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