Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 20
Matthew Henry Commentary
Genesis 20
Matthew Henry Commentary
Genesis 20
"And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the land of the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur. And he sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, because of the woman whom thou hast taken. For she is a man`s wife. Now Abimelech had not come near her. And he said, Lord, wilt thou slay even a righteous nation? Said he not himself unto me, She is my sister? And she, even she herself said, He is my brother. In the integrity of my heart and the innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in the dream, Yea, I know that in the integrity of thy heart thou has done this, and I also withheld thee from sinning against me. Therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man`s wife. For he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live. And if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. And Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. And the men were sore afraid." — Genesis 20:1-8 (ASV)
Deceitful conduct will not prosper: it brings ourselves and others into danger. God warns Abimelech of his danger of sin, and his danger of death for his sin. Every willful sinner is spiritually dead, but Abimelech pleads ignorance.
If our consciences testify that, even though we may have been deceived into a trap, we have not knowingly sinned against God, this will be our source of joy in the day of adversity. It is a source of comfort to those who are honest that God knows their honesty and will acknowledge it. It is a great mercy to be prevented from sinning; for this, God must receive the glory.
But if we have ignorantly done wrong, that will not excuse us if we knowingly persist in it. Anyone who does wrong, whoever they are, prince or peasant, will certainly receive the due recompense for the wrong they have committed, unless they repent and, if possible, make restitution.
"Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? And wherein have I sinned against thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? Thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place. And they will slay me for my wife`s sake. And moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife: and it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father`s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me. At every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother." — Genesis 20:9-13 (ASV)
See here much to blame, even in the father of the faithful. Mark his distrust of God, his excessive concern for his life, and his intent to deceive. He also placed temptation in the way of others, caused them affliction, exposed himself and Sarah to deserved rebukes, and yet attempted to make an excuse.
These things are written for our warning, not for us to imitate. Even Abraham has no grounds for boasting. He cannot be justified by his works but must be indebted for justification to that righteousness which is upon all and to all those who believe.
We must not condemn all as hypocrites who fall into sin, if they do not continue in it. But let the unhumbled and impenitent take care that they do not continue in sin, thinking that grace may abound. Abimelech, being warned by God, heeds the warning; and being truly afraid of sin and its consequences, he rose early to follow the directions given to him.
"And Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and men-servants and women-servants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee. Dwell where it pleaseth thee. And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for thee a covering of the eyes to all that are with thee. And in respect of all thou art righted. And Abraham prayed unto God. And God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants. And they bare children. For Jehovah had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham`s wife." — Genesis 20:14-18 (ASV)
We often trouble ourselves, and even are led into temptation and sin, by groundless suspicions; and find the fear of God where we expected it not.
Agreements to deceive generally end in shame and sorrow; and restraints from sin, though by suffering, should be thankfully acknowledged.
Though the Lord rebuke, yet he will pardon and deliver his people, and he will give them favour in the sight of those with whom they sojourn; and overrule their infirmities, when they are humbled for them, so that they shall prove useful to themselves and others.
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