Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Exodus Ch.34 / 40 Ch.s
EX:34
* The tables of the law renewed. (1-4) The name of the Lord
proclaimed, The entreaty of Moses. (5-9) God's covenant. (10-17)
The festivals. (18-27) The vail of Moses. (28-35)
#1-4 When God made man in his own image, the moral law was
written in his heart, by the finger of God, without outward
means. But since the covenant then made with man was broken, the
Lord has used the ministry of men, both in writing the law in
the Scriptures, and in writing it in the heart. When God was
reconciled to the Israelites, he ordered the tables to be
renewed, and wrote his law in them. Even under the gospel of
peace by Christ, the moral law continues to bind believers.
Though Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, yet not
from the commands of it. The first and the best evidence of the
pardon of sin, and peace with God, is the writing the law in the
heart.
#5-9 The Lord descended by some open token of his presence and
manifestation of his glory in a cloud, and thence proclaimed his
NAME; that is, the perfections and character which are denoted
by the name JEHOVAH. The Lord God is merciful; ready to forgive
the sinner, and to relieve the needy. Gracious; kind, and ready
to bestow undeserved benefits. Long-suffering; slow to anger,
giving time for repentance, only punishing when it is needful.
He is abundant in goodness and truth; even sinners receive the
riches of his bounty abundantly, though they abuse them. All he
reveals is infallible truth, all he promises is in faithfulness.
Keeping mercy for thousands; he continually shows mercy to
sinners, and has treasures, which cannot be exhausted, to the
end of time. Forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin; his
mercy and goodness reach to the full and free forgiveness of
sin. And will by no means clear the guilty; the holiness and
justice of God are part of his goodness and love towards all his
creatures. In Christ's sufferings, the Divine holiness and
justice are fully shown, and the evil of sin is made known.
God's forgiving mercy is always attended by his converting,
sanctifying grace. None are pardoned but those who repent and
forsake the allowed practice of every sin; nor shall any escape,
who abuse, neglect, or despise this great salvation. Moses bowed
down, and worshipped reverently. Every perfection in the name of
God, the believer may plead with Him for the forgiveness of his
sins, the making holy of his heart, and the enlargement of the
Redeemer's kingdom.
#10-17 The Israelites are commanded to destroy every monument of
idolatry, however curious or costly; to refuse all alliance,
friendship, or marriage with idolaters, and all idolatrous
feasts; and they were reminded not with idolaters, and all
idolatrous feats; and they were reminded not to repeat the crime
of making molten images. Jealously is called the rage of a man,
#Pr 6:34|; but in God it is holy and just displeasure. Those
cannot worship God aright, who do not worship him only.
#18-27 Once a week they must rest, even in ploughing time, and
in harvest. All worldly business must give way to that holy
rest; even harvest work will prosper the better, for the
religious observance of the sabbath day in harvest time. We must
show that we prefer our communion with God, and our duty to him,
before the business or the joy of harvest. Thrice a year they
must appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. Canaan was a
desirable land, and the neighbouring nations were greedy; yet
God says, They shall not desire it. Let us check all sinful
desires against God and his glory, in our hearts, and then trust
him to check all sinful desires in the hearts of others against
us. The way of duty is the way of safety. Those who venture for
him never lose by him. Three feasts are here mentioned: 1. The
Passover, in remembrance of the deliverance out of Egypt. 2. The
feast of weeks, or the feast of Pentecost; added to it is the
law of the first-fruits. 3. The feast of in-gathering, or the
feast of Tabernacles. Moses is to write these words, that the
people might know them better. We can never be enough thankful
to God for the written word. God would make a covenant with
Israel, in Moses as a mediator. Thus the covenant of grace is
made with believers through Christ.
#28-35 Near and spiritual communion with God improves the graces
of a renewed and holy character. Serious godliness puts a lustre
upon a man's countenance, such as commands esteem and affection.
The vail which Moses put on, marked the obscurity of that
dispensation, compared with the gospel dispensation of the New
Testament. It was also an emblem of the natural vail on the
hearts of men respecting spiritual things. Also the vail that
was and is upon the nation of Israel, which can only be taken
away by the Spirit of the Lord showing to them Christ, as the
end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Fear and unbelief would put the vail before us, they would
hinder our free approach to the mercy-seat above. We should
spread our wants, temporal and spiritual, fully before our
heavenly Father; we should tell him our hinderances, struggles,
trails, and temptations; we should acknowledge our offences.