Deuteronomy 8:17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:10-20

Moses, having mentioned the great plenty they would find in the land of Canaan, finds it necessary to caution them against the abuse of that plenty, which was a sin they would be the more prone to new that they came into the vineyard of the Lord, immediately out of a barren desert. I. He directs them to the duty of a prosperous condition, Deut. 8:10. They are allowed to eat even to fulness, not to surfeiting no excess; but let them always remember their benefactor, the founder of their feast,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:17

And thou say in thine heart ,.... These words are in connection with the former part of the Deuteronomy 8:14 , and thou forget the Lord thy God ; the author and giver of all the good things enjoyed, and think within themselves, though they might not express it in words at length: my power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth ; so ascribing that to themselves, their labour, and diligence, which ought to be ascribed to the bounty and blessing of God; see Hosea 12:8 ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 8:17

Verse 17 17.And thou say in, thy heart. He describes that kind of pride of which we have lately spoken, viz., when men attribute to their own industry, or labor, or foresight, what they ought to refer to the blessing of God. It has indeed been said, that our hearts are uplifted in other ways also; but this is the principal ground of pride, to assume and assign to ourselves what belongs to God. For nothing so greatly confines us within the boundaries of humility and modesty as the acknowledgment... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:7-20

The land on which they were about to enter is described as a good laud, fertile and well watered, and yielding abundant produce to its cultivators; and they are cautioned against forgetting, in their enjoyment of the gift, the bounty of the Giver, or congratulating themselves on having achieved the conquest of such a land, instead of gratefully acknowledging the grace which had sustained them during their protracted wandering in the wilderness, and by which alone they had been enabled to take... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:7-20

Wealth perilous to piety. God's policy in the government of men is to win by prodigal kindness. A churlish parsimony has never been found with him; the very opposite. An open eye discovers widespread munificence—a royal banquet. The present is only a sample of the future. The full inheritance is always the object of hope. The children of a king have large expectations. This passage contains— I. A NOTABLE INSTANCE OF DIVINE MUNIFICENCE . 1. The heritage of Israel was a "... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:7-20

God forgotten amid second causes. The support of the wilderness was manifestly miraculous. They could not doubt their dependence there upon God. They might murmur even amid daily miracle, but they could not doubt it. It would be different in Canaan, and it is in view of this Moses warns them. There they would get sustenance in ordinary ways; and they might say that their own power, and not God's blessing, made them wealthy. I. THERE IS A VERY GREAT TENDENCY TO FORGET GOD... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:10-19

The dangers of wealth. I. WEALTH IS DANGEROUS WITHOUT THE PREVIOUS TRAINING OF ADVERSITY . Those who, cradled in the lap of luxury, have never known struggle and difficulty are rarely persons of meek, humble, chastened dispositions. As rarely are those whose schemes have been so uniformly prosperous as to give color to the thought, "My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth." The former class lack moral fiber, are seldom competent to grapple with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:11-18

(See Homiletics: Deuteronomy 6:10-19 .) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:17-18

The blessing in store for them was God's free gift to them; and when they came to enjoy it they were not to allow themselves to say in their heart , i . e . to think or imagine, that the prosperous condition in which they were placed was the result of their own exertions; they were to ascribe all to God's gracious bounty, for from him had come the power by which prosperity had been gained, and this he had given, not on account of any merit in them, but that he might fulfill his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 8:17-18

Danger of self-glorification. The enjoyment of God's mercies, which should be so provocative of thankfulness, may become a snare, if we are not careful to guard against their misuse. Several of the dangers to which prosperity makes us liable are dealt with in the Homily referred to above. Here, there is one specially named, which is perhaps the most common of all, viz. that of attributing success in life to one's own skill, or wisdom, or might: "And thou say in thine heart, My power and... read more

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