Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 6:8-11

"But Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, [and] perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God. And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence." — Genesis 6:8-11 (ASV)

Noah did not find favor in the eyes of men; they hated and persecuted him because, by both his life and preaching, he condemned the world. But he found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and this made him more truly honorable than the men of renown. Let this be our chief desire; let us labor that we may be accepted by Him. When the rest of the world was wicked, Noah kept his integrity.

God's goodwill toward Noah produced this good work in him. He was a just man, that is, justified before God by faith in the promised Seed. As such, he was made holy and had right principles; and he was righteous in his conduct. He was not only honest but devout; it was his constant care to do the will of God. God looks down upon those with an eye of favor who sincerely look up to Him with an eye of faith.

It is easy to be religious when religion is in fashion; but it shows strong faith and resolution to swim against the stream and to appear for God when no one else appears for Him. Noah did so. All kinds of sin were found among men. They corrupted God's worship. Sin fills the earth with violence, and this fully justified God's resolution to destroy the world.

The contagion spread. When wickedness has become general, ruin is not far off. While there is a remnant of praying people in a nation to empty the measure as it fills, judgments may be kept off for a long time; but when all hands are at work to pull down the fences by sin, and none stand in the gap to make up the breach, what can be expected but a flood of wrath?