Matthew Henry Commentary Philippians 4

The believing hope and prospect of eternal life should make us steady and constant in our Christian course. There are differences in gifts and graces, yet, being renewed by the same Spirit, we are brothers and sisters. To stand fast in the Lord is to stand fast in his strength and by his grace.

Let believers be of one mind and ready to help each other. As the apostle had found the benefit of their assistance, he knew how comfortable it would be to his fellow laborers to have the help of others. Let us seek to make it sure that our names are written in the book of life. Joy in God is of great consequence in the Christian life; and Christians need to be called to it again and again.

It more than outweighs all causes for sorrow. Let their enemies perceive how moderate they were in outward things and how composedly they suffered loss and hardships. The day of judgment will soon arrive, with full redemption to believers and destruction to ungodly men. There is a care of diligence which is our duty and agrees with a wise forecast and due concern; but there is a care of fear and distrust, which is sin and folly, and only perplexes and distracts the mind.

As a remedy against perplexing care, constant prayer is recommended. Not only stated times for prayer, but in everything by prayer. We must join thanksgivings with prayers and supplications; we should not only seek supplies of good but also acknowledge the mercies we have received. God does not need to be told our wants or desires; He knows them better than we do, but He wants us to show that we value the mercy and feel our dependence on Him.

The peace of God—the comfortable sense of being reconciled to God, having a part in His favor, and the hope of heavenly blessedness—is a greater good than can be fully expressed. This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under troubles and from sinking under them; it will keep us calm and provide inward satisfaction. Believers are to get and keep a good name: a reputation for good things with God and good people.

We should walk in all the ways of virtue and abide in them; then, whether our praise comes from people or not, it will come from God. The apostle serves as an example. His doctrine and life agreed. The way to have the God of peace with us is to keep close to our duty.

All our privileges and salvation arise from the free mercy of God; yet their enjoyment depends on our sincere and holy conduct. These are works of God, pertaining to God, and to Him only are they to be ascribed, and to no other—neither to men, nor to words, nor to deeds.

It is a good work to support and help a good minister in trouble. The nature of true Christian sympathy is not only to feel concern for our friends in their troubles, but also to do what we can to help them. The apostle was often in bonds, imprisonments, and hardships; but in all these situations, he learned to be content, to reconcile his mind to his circumstances, and to make the best of it.

Pride, unbelief, vain longing for something we do not have, and fickle dissatisfaction with present things make people discontented even in favorable circumstances. Let us pray for patient submission and hope when we are humbled; for humility and a heavenly mind when we are exalted. It is a special grace to always maintain a balanced state of mind.

In a humble state, this grace means not losing our comfort in God, nor distrusting His providence, nor taking any wrong path to provide for ourselves. In a prosperous condition, it means not being proud, overconfident, or worldly. This latter is a harder lesson than the former; for the temptations of abundance and prosperity are greater than those of affliction and need.

The apostle had no intention to urge them to give more, but to encourage such kindness as will receive a glorious reward in the life to come. Through Christ we have grace to do what is good, and through Him we must expect the reward; and since we have all things through Him, let us do all things for Him and to His glory.

The apostle ends with praises to God. We should look upon God, under all our weakness and fears, not as an enemy, but as a Father, disposed to pity us and help us. We must give glory to God as a Father. God's grace and favour, which reconciled souls enjoy, with the whole of the graces in us, which flow from it, are all purchased for us by Christ's merit, and applied by his pleading for us; and therefore are justly called the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.