Matthew Henry Commentary Nehemiah 6:10-14

"And I went unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. And I discerned, and, lo, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this cause was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear." — Nehemiah 6:10-14 (ASV)

The greatest mischief our enemies can do us is to frighten us from our duty and to lead us to do what is sinful. Let us never decline a good work, never do a bad one.

We should test all advice and reject whatever is contrary to the word of God. Everyone should strive to be consistent.

Should I, a professed Christian—called to be a saint, a child of God, a member of Christ, and a temple of the Holy Spirit—should I be covetous, sensual, proud, or envious? Should I yield to impatience, discontent, or anger? Should I be slothful, unbelieving, or unmerciful? What effects will such conduct have on others?

All that God has done for us, or by us, or given to us, should lead us to watchfulness, self-denial, and diligence. Next to the sinfulness of sin, we should dread the scandal.