Matthew Henry Commentary Ruth 2:4-16

"And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, Jehovah be with you. And they answered him, Jehovah bless thee. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: And she said, Let me glean, I pray you, and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, save that she tarried a little in the house. Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens. Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found favor in thy sight, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a foreigner? And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people that thou knewest not heretofore. Jehovah recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of Jehovah, the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge. Then she said, Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken kindly unto thy handmaid, though I be not as one of thy handmaidens. And at meal-time Boaz said unto her, Come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers, and they reached her parched grain, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left thereof. And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not. And also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and rebuke her not." — Ruth 2:4-16 (ASV)

The devout and kind language between Boaz and his reapers shows that there were godly people in Israel. Such language as this is rarely heard in our field; too often, on the contrary, what is heard is immoral and corrupt. A stranger would form a very different opinion of our land from what Ruth would have formed of Israel based on the conversation and conduct of Boaz and his reapers. But true religion will teach a person to behave properly in all situations; it will form kind masters and faithful servants, and cause harmony in families.

True religion will cause mutual love and kindness among people of different ranks. It had these effects on Boaz and his men. When he came to them, he prayed for them. They did not curse him as soon as he was out of hearing, as some ill-natured servants do who hate their master's presence; instead, they returned his courtesy. Things are likely to go well where there is such goodwill between masters and servants.

They expressed their kindness to each other by praying for one another. Boaz asked about the stranger he saw and ordered her to be treated well. Masters must take care, not only that they do no harm themselves, but also that they do not allow their servants and those under them to do wrong. Ruth humbly acknowledged herself unworthy of favors, since she was born and brought up a heathen.

It is very fitting for us all to think humbly of ourselves, esteeming others better than ourselves. And let us, in the kindness of Boaz to Ruth, note the kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ to poor sinners.