Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 49

We seldom encounter a more solemn introduction: there is no truth of greater importance. Let all hear this, applying it to ourselves. The poor are in danger from an undue desire for the world's wealth, just as rich people are from an undue delight in it.

The psalmist begins by applying it to himself, and that is the right method for discussing divine matters. Before he describes the folly of carnal security, he first presents, from his own experience, the benefit and comfort of a holy, gracious security, which those who trust in God, and not in their worldly wealth, enjoy.

In the day of judgment, the iniquity of our heels—that is, of our steps, our past sins—will surround us. In those days, worldly, wicked people will be afraid; but why should a person who has God with them fear death?

Here is a description of the spirit and way of worldly people. A person may have wealth and have their heart enlarged in love, thankfulness, and obedience, and may do good with it. Therefore, it is not a person's having riches that proves them to be worldly, but their setting their hearts on them as the best things. Worldly people have only some floating thoughts about the things of God, while their fixed thoughts, their inward thoughts, are about the world; that lies nearest the heart.

But with all their wealth, they cannot save the life of the dearest friend they have. This looks further, to the eternal redemption to be accomplished by the Messiah. The redemption of the soul will be very costly; but, once accomplished, it will never need to be repeated. And He, the Redeemer, will rise again before He sees corruption, and then will live forevermore (Revelation 1:18). This also shows the folly of worldly people, who sell their souls for that which will never buy them.

With all their wealth, they cannot secure themselves from the stroke of death. Yet one generation after another applauds their maxims; and the character of a fool, as drawn by heavenly Wisdom itself (Luke 12:16–21), continues to be followed even among professed Christians. Death will ask the proud sinner, "Where is your wealth, your pomp?" And in the morning of the resurrection, when all that sleep in the dust will awake, the upright will be advanced to the highest honor, when the wicked will be filled with everlasting shame and contempt (Daniel 12:2). Let us now judge things as they will appear in that day.

The beauty of holiness is that alone which the grave cannot touch or damage.

Believers should not fear death. The distinction of people's outward conditions, however great in life, makes no difference at death; but the difference in people's spiritual states, though in this life it may seem of little importance, is very great at and after death. The soul is often understood to mean life. The God of life, who was its Creator at first, can and will be its Redeemer at last. This includes the salvation of the soul from eternal ruin.

Believers will be under strong temptation to envy the prosperity of sinners. People will praise you, and extol you, as having done well for yourself in building an estate and family. But what will it benefit us to be approved by people, if God condemns us? Those who are rich in the graces and comforts of the Spirit have something of which death cannot strip them; indeed, which death will improve. But as for worldly possessions, as we brought nothing into the world, so it is certain that we shall carry nothing out; we must leave all to others.

The sum of the whole matter is that it profits a man nothing to gain the whole world, to become possessed of all its wealth and all its power, if he loses his own soul and is cast away for lack of that holy and heavenly wisdom which distinguishes humans from the animals, in life and at death. And are there people who can prefer the lot of the rich sinner to that of poor Lazarus, in life and death, and for eternity? Certainly, there are.

What need we have, then, of the teaching of the Holy Ghost, when, with all our boasted powers, we are prone to such folly in the most important of all concerns!