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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:17

Here is, I. The duty of charity described. It includes two things:?1. Compassion, which is the inward principle of charity in the heart; it is to have pity on the poor. Those that have not a penny for the poor, yet may have pity for them, a charitable concern and sympathy; and, if a man give all his goods to feed the poor and have not this charity in his heart, it is nothing, 1 Cor. 13:3. We must draw out our souls to the hungry, Isa. 58:10. 2. Bounty and liberality. We must not only pity the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:17

He that hath pity unto the poor lendeth unto the Lord ,.... A man, whose heart is full of compassion to the poor, and whose hands distribute to their necessities, from a true principle of love and charity to men, and with a view to the glory of God, and not from any selfish principle and with a end; such a man's gift to the poor is a loan to the Lord; it is not cast away upon the creature, but is a "depositum" in the hands of God, and shall be returned with advantage; and that which he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 19:17

Lendeth unto the Lord - O what a word is this! God makes himself debtor for every thing that is given to the poor! Who would not advance much upon such credit? God will pay it again. And in no case has he ever forfeited his word. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:8-17

Maxims of intelligence I. THE WORTH OF INTELLIGENCE . 1 . It is self-conservative ( Proverbs 19:8 ). We all love our own soul or life in any healthy state of body and mind. We all want to live as long as possible. It is natural to desire to live again beyond the grave. Then let us understand that there is no way to these ends except that of intelligence, in the highest and in every sense. 2 . It is the source of happiness. ( Proverbs 19:8 .) The truth is very... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:17

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord. English Church people are familiar with this distich, as being one of the sentences of Scripture read at the Offertory. The word for "poor" is here dal, "feeble" (see on Proverbs 19:1 and Proverbs 19:4 ). It is a beautiful thought that by showing mercy and pity we are, as it were, making God our debtor; and the truth is wonderfully advanced by Christ, who pronounces ( Matthew 25:40 ), "Inasmuch as ye have done it mite one of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:17

Lending into the Lord I. IN WHAT LENDING TO THE LORD CONSISTS . It is having pity upon the poor. This is more than almsgiving. Doles of charity may be given to the needy from very mixed motives, Inasmuch as "the Lord looketh at the heart," the thoughts and feelings that prompt our charity are of primary importance with him. In the same way, also, sympathy is prized by our suffering brethren on its own account, and the gifts that are flung from an unfeeling hand bring little... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:17

(see also Proverbs 10:14 , Proverbs 10:31 ; Proverbs 17:5 ) Valuable kindness We gather— I. THAT HAUGHTY UNKINDNESS IS A HEINOUS SIN . To mock the poor or to oppress the poor is to reproach our Maker. For he that made us made them; and, in many instances, made them to be as they are. The Son of man himself was poor, having nowhere to lay his head; and although it is true that poverty is very often the consequence and penalty of sin, yet, on the other hand, it is... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 19:17

Proverbs 19:17. He that hath pity on the poor And relieves their necessities; lendeth unto the Lord Doth not empoverish, but enrich himself: for the Lord takes what is done to them as done to himself, because it is done to those whom he has appointed in his own stead to be his receivers, and whom he hath, in a peculiar manner, commended to the care and charity of all other men. He therefore will not fail to make a full compensation; he will return the benefit done to others, with large... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:1-29

Lessons heeded and ignored (19:1-29)Moral uprightness is more important than wealth, and wise action is more important than hasty action. People are foolish when they blame God for the trouble they bring upon themselves through their own mistakes (19:1-3).Often the reason the rich have many friends is that these ‘friends’ hope to gain personally from their wealth or influence (4-6). The poor lose their friends, though in a sense they are rich if they maintain their understanding (7-8). People... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 19:17

"He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again."Who should hesitate to lend unto God? Assistance and help that are provided for the poor are exactly that. The great distinction of Christianity is its love and concern for the poor; and no man is a genuine Christian who does not exhibit that quality of character. read more

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