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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 19:1-10

Moses is ordered to deliver the summary of the laws to all the congregation of the children of Israel (Lev. 19:2); not to Aaron and his sons only, but to all the people, for they were all concerned to know their duty. Even in the darker ages of the law, that religion could not be of God which boasted of ignorance as its mother. Moses must make known God's statutes to all the congregation, and proclaim them through the camp. These laws, it is probable, he delivered himself to as many of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 19:10

And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard ,.... Or cut off the little clusters which are, as Aben Ezra observes, like an infant, as the word signifies, infant clusters, which were small in comparison of the large ones, as infants are to men; those which had but a grape or two, or very few upon them, were not to be cut off, but left for the poor: and Gersom says, if the whole vine consisted of such clusters, it all belonged to the poor: neither shall thou gather every grape of thy vineyard ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 19:1-37

These four laws are, in their positive aspects, In Leviticus 20:11 , Leviticus 20:14 , Leviticus 20:16 , 35, 36, obedience is inculcated to the eighth and the ninth commandments, which are the laws of honesty and of truthfulness; in Leviticus 20:12 to the third commandment, which is the law of reverence; in Leviticus 20:17 , Leviticus 20:18 , 33, 34, to the sixth commandment, which is the law of love; in Leviticus 20:20 , 29, to the seventh commandment, which is the law of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 19:1-37

Religion and superstition. It is not always easy or even possible to distinguish between religion and superstition. We may fall into the latter when we are seeking to practice the former; or we may, from undue fear of the latter, neglect the former. In this chapter the Jews were taught (and we are thereby encouraged) to avoid the one, and to perfect the other in the fear of God. I. THE SUPERSTITION WHICH WAS TO BE SHUNNED . 1 . Clearly and decisively everything that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 19:1-37

Social morality. cf. Matthew 22:35-40 ; Romans 12:1-21 ; James, passim. From the primary principle of unworldliness, we now have to proceed to sundry details about social morality. Although these details are given indiscriminately, it is yet possible to discern certain great principles among them. And— I. ALL SOCIAL MORALITY IS MADE TO REST ON OUR RELATION TO GOD HIMSELF . In the Decalogue we have social morality, that is, our duty to man, based upon... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 19:3-32

Honour to whom honor. It is uncertain whether we shall receive the honour which is due to us. Possibly we may be denied some to which we are entitled; probably we have experienced this wrong already, in larger or smaller measure, and know the pain of heart which attends it. Let us, therefore, resolve that we will give that which is due to others. The two passages connected in the text remind us that we should pay deference to— I. THOSE WHO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF YEARS .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 19:3-37

The holy Law in the holy life. I. REVERENCE FOR PARENTS . True religion is seen in common, everyday life. If we love God, we love man. Family peace and order is best preserved by appeal to deep, religious motives. Natural affection is not sufficient against fallen human nature. "God says, Thou shalt," must be the support of natural feeling. II. SABBATH KEEPING . Not as a Jewish regulation, but as both the demand of physical nature and the gracious provision of God for us.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 19:9-10

The injunction contained in these verses, to not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither … gather the gleanings of thy harvest, is twice afterwards repeated ( Leviticus 23:22 ; Deuteronomy 24:19-22 ). In Deuteronomy, the oliveyard is specified together with the harvest-field and the vineyard, and it is added that, if a sheaf be by chance left behind, it is to remain for the benefit of the poor. The object of this law is to inculcate a general spirit of mercy, which is willing to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 19:9-10

The law of kindness is a necessary complement to the other laws, to make up the perfect character. A stern, just man is not the Christian ideal. The mercy and loving-kindness of God must be our model, as well as his other qualities. "The quality of mercy … is twice blessed: It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes." The man who leaves something for others that he might have taken for himself, such as the gleanings of his field, rises from the level of justice to that of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 19:9-14

Kindliness. In the earlier portion of this chapter purity of worship, with its associated reverence for the authority of God, in his representatives, viz. natural parents, and his institutions, as the sabbath, are enjoined. In the verses following our duties towards our fellows come more prominently before us, and in the text that class of those duties whose spirit is kindliness. Charity is sister to piety. We have here enjoined— I. A GENEROUS CONSIDERATION FOR THE POOR . ... read more

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