Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Nehemiah Ch.8 / 13 Ch.s
NE:8
* The reading and expounding the law. (1-8) The people called
upon to be joyful. (9-12) The feast of tabernacles, The joy of
the people. (13-18)
#1-8 Sacrifices were to be offered only at the door of the
temple; but praying and preaching were, and are, services of
religion, as acceptably performed in one place as in another.
Masters of families should bring their families with them to the
public worship of God. Women and children have souls to save,
and are therefore to acquaint themselves with the word of God,
and to attend on the means of grace. Little ones, as they come
to reason, must be trained up in religion. Ministers when they
go to the pulpit, should take their Bibles with them; Ezra did
so. Thence they must fetch their knowledge; according to that
rule they must speak, and must show that they do so. Reading the
Scriptures in religious assemblies is an ordinance of God,
whereby he is honoured, and his church edified. Those who hear
the word, should understand it, else it is to them but an empty
sound of words. It is therefore required of teachers that they
explain the word, and give the sense of it. Reading is good, and
preaching is good, but expounding makes reading the better
understood, and preaching the more convincing. It has pleased
God in almost every age of the church to raise up, not only
those who have preached the gospel, but also those who have
given their views of Divine truth in writing; and though many
who have attempted to explain Scripture, have darkened counsel
by words without knowledge, yet the labours of others are of
excellent use. All that we hear must, however, be brought to the
test of Scripture. They heard readily, and minded every word.
The word of God demands attention. If through carelessness we
let much slip in hearing, there is danger that through
forgetfulness we shall let all slip after hearing.
#9-12 It was a good sign that their hearts were tender, when
they heard the words of the law. The people were to send
portions to those for whom nothing was prepared. It is the duty
of a religious feast, as well as of a religious fast, to draw
out the soul to the hungry; God's bounty should make us
bountiful. We must not only give to those that offer themselves,
but send to those out of sight. Their strength consisted in joy
in the Lord. The better we understand God's word, the more
comfort we find in it; the darkness of trouble arises from the
darkness of ignorance.
#13-18 They found written in the law about the feast of
tabernacles. Those who diligently search the Scriptures, find
things written there which they have forgotten. This feast of
tabernacles was a representation of the believer's tabernacle
state in this world, and a type of the holy joy of the gospel
church. The conversion of the nations to the faith of Christ, is
foretold under the figure of this feast, #Zec 14:16|. True
religion will render us strangers and pilgrims upon earth. We
read and hear the word acceptably and profitably, when we do
according to what is written therein; when what appears to be
our duty is revived, after it has been neglected. They minded
the substance; else the ceremony had been of no use. They did
it, rejoicing in God and his goodness. These are the means which
the Spirit of God crowns with success, in bringing the hearts of
sinners to tremble and to become humbled before God. But those
are enemies to their own growth in holiness, who always indulge
sorrow, even for sin, and put away from them the consolations
tendered by the word and Spirit of God.