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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 50:16-23

God, by the psalmist, having instructed his people in the right way of worshipping him and keeping up their communion with him, here directs his speech to the wicked, to hypocrites, whether they were such as professed the Jewish or the Christian religion: hypocrisy is wickedness for which God will judge. Observe here, I. The charge drawn up against them. 1. They are charged with invading and usurping the honours and privileges of religion (Ps. 50:16): What has thou to do, O wicked man! to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 50:18

When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him ,.... Or "didst run with him" F1 תרץ עמו συνετρεχες αυτω , Sept. "currebas cum eo", V. L. sic Eth. Syr. Targum, so Vatablus, Musculus, Piscator, Ainsworth. ; joined and agreed with him in the commission of the same things; which was literally true of the Scribes and Pharisees: they devoured widows' houses, and robbed them of their substance, under a pretence of long prayers; they consented to the deeds of Barabbas, a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 50:18

When thou sawest a thief - Rapine, adulteries, and adulterous divines, were common among the Jews in our Lord's time. The Gospels give full proof of this. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:1-23

The psalm consists of four portions: 1. An introduction (divided off by the pause-mark, "Selah," from the rest of the psalm), announcing the "appearance," and calling on heaven and earth to witness it ( Psalms 50:1-6 ). 2. An address to the godly Israelites ( Psalms 50:7-15 ). 3. An address to the ungodly Israelites ( Psalms 50:16-21 ). 4. A conclusion, divided equally between threat and promise ( Psalms 50:22 , Psalms 50:23 ). The psalm is ascribed to Asaph,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:1-23

The Judge, the judged, and the eternal judgment. A psalm-writer whom we have not met before, appears to have penned this psalm—Asaph. But whether it was by him or for his choir is somewhat uncertain. " Asaph was the leader and superintendent of the Levitic choirs appointed by David ( 1 Chronicles 16:4 , 1 Chronicles 16:5 ; cf. 2 Chronicles 29:30 ). He and his sons presided over four out of the twenty-four groups, consisting each of twelve Levites, who conducted, in turn, the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:1-23

God the righteous Judge. I. THAT GOD WILL JUDGE ALL MEN . Even now there is judgment. Every act of our lives has its moral character, and carries its consequences of good or evil. But this judgment is but partial and incomplete. Reason, conscience, and Holy Scripture proclaim a judgment to come which will be perfect and final. The supreme Judge of all men is God. He and he alone has the right and the power. Be has perfect knowledge, and cannot err; he has absolute... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:7-21

True religion and its counterfeits. The great evil to which Israel was exposed was the separation of religion from morality. This comes out lamentably in their history, and forms the burden of much of the teaching of their prophets. So in this psalm, which contains a powerful demonstration of the worthlessness of religion without godliness. The psalm may help us to consider true religion and its counterfeits. I. SUPERSTITION . ( Psalms 50:7 .) Nothing in religion can be real and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:16-21

While even the more godly among the Israelites have been thus, to a certain extent, reproved ( Psalms 50:8-14 ), the psalmist now addresses to the ungodly, the open and wilful transgressors, a far sterner rebuke. They claim the privileges of God's covenanted servants ( Psalms 50:16 ), but perform none of the duties ( Psalms 50:17-20 ), thus bringing down upon themselves a terrible menace. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:16-23

Hypocrisy. God speaks to the whole nation in the previous part of the psalm; here to hypocrites. I. THEY MADE PROFESSION OF RELIGION , WHICH THEIR LIVES CONTRADICTED . ( Psalms 50:16-20 .) 1 . They treated the Divine Law with open contempt. ( Psalms 50:17 .) Because they "hated" the control that it imposes. 2 . They were guilty of the grossest violations of that Law. ( Psalms 50:18-20 .) Theft, adultery, and false witness, not only against their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:18

When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst unto him . God tests his professed, but really disobedient, servants by the second table of the Decalogue, and finds them wanting. If they do not themselves actually rob, they give their consent, they become accessories before the fact, to robbery. They probably participate in the gains. And hast been partaker with adulterers; rather, and with adulterers is thy portion ; i.e. thou hast thrown in thy lot with them, hast adopted their... read more

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