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Proverbs 14:21
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Summary
Commentary
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
21 Whoever despiseth his neighbour committeth sin; But whoever hath compassion on the suffering - blessings on him! One should regard every human being, especially such as God has placed near to him, as a being having the same origin, as created in the image of God, and of the same lofty destination, and should consider himself as under obligation to love him. He who despiseth his neighbour (write בּז with Metheg, and vid., regarding the constr. with dat. object. Pro 6:30, cf. Pro 11:12; Pro 13:13) sins in this respect, that he raises himself proudly and unwarrantably above him; that the honour and love he shows to him he measures not by the rule of duty and of necessity, but according to that which is pleasing to himself; and in that he refuses to him that which according to the ordinance of God he owes him. In Pro 14:21 the Chethı̂b עניּים and the Kerı̂ ענוים (vid., at Psa 9:13) interchange in an inexplicable way; עני is the bowed down (cf. Arab. ma'nuww, particularly of the prisoner, from 'ana, fut. ya'nw, to bow, bend), ענו (Arab. 'anin, with the art. âl'niy, from the intrans. 'aniya, to be bowed down) the patient bearer who in the school of suffering has learned humility and meekness. One does not see why the Kerı̂ here exchanges that passive idea for this ethical one, especially since, in proving himself to be מחונן (compassionate) (for which elsewhere the part. Kal חונן, Pro 14:31; Pro 19:17; Pro 28:8), one must be determined only by the needy condition of his neighbour, and not by his (the neighbour's) moral worthiness, the want of which ought to make him twofold more an object of our compassion. All the old translators, from the lxx to the Venet. and Luther, on this account adopt the Chethı̂b.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
For such contempt of the poor is contrasted as sinful with the virtuous compassion of the good.
John Gill Bible Commentary
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth,.... He that despiseth his neighbour in his heart, speaks slightly of him, overlooks him, is not friendly to him, will neither converse with him, nor relieve him in his necessity; for it seems to be understood of his poor neighbour; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "he that despiseth the poor"; that despises him for his poverty; because of his pedigree and education, and the low circumstances he is in; or on account of his weakness and incapacity, or any outward circumstance that attends him; such an one sins very greatly, is guilty of a heinous sin; and he will be reckoned and dealt with as a sinner, and be condemned and punished, and so be unhappy and miserable; but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he; or, "that gives to the poor,'' as the Targum; who has compassion on him in his distress, and shows it by relieving him: he that shows favour to the meek and humble ones, as the word (s) may be rendered, and as they generally are that are in affliction and poverty, for these tend to humble men; and such who regard them in their low estate are "happy" or blessed; they are blessed in things temporal and spiritual, and both here and hereafter; see Psa 41:1. (s) "modestorum", Montanus, Mercerus; "mansuetos", Cocceius.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
See here how men's character and condition are measured and judged of by their conduct towards their poor neighbours. 1. Those that look upon them with contempt have here assigned them a bad character, and their condition will be accordingly: He that despises his neighbour because he is low in the world, because he is of a mean extraction, rustic education, and makes but a mean figure, that thinks it below him to take notice of him, converse with him, or concern himself about him, and sets him with the dogs of his flock, is a sinner, is guilty of a sin, is in the way to worse, and shall be dealt with as a sinner; unhappy is he. 2. Those that look upon them with compassion are here said to be in a good condition, according to their character: He that has mercy on the poor, is ready to do all the good offices he can to him, and thereby puts an honour upon him, happy is he; he does that which is pleasing to God, which he himself will afterwards reflect upon with great satisfaction, for which the loins of the poor will bless him, and which will be abundantly recompensed in the resurrection of the just.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
14:21 blessed are those who help the poor: See also 3:27-28; 11:24; 28:27; 29:7, 14.
Proverbs 14:21
The Wise Woman
20The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich. 21He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
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Testimony - Part 3
By Jackie Pullinger4.2K09:57TestimonyPSA 82:3PRO 14:21ISA 58:10MIC 6:8MAT 25:40LUK 10:25JAS 1:27In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the overwhelming number of people in need in Hong Kong. They express a desire to understand and love the people in their community, but feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of faces and stories. The speaker then shares their realization that they can make a difference in a specific area called the World City, where there is a need for a nursery to care for babies and support for teenagers who cannot afford to go to school. They also mention the presence of homeless individuals in the area. The speaker sees this as their calling and a way to make a positive impact in their community.
Message 11
By George Verwer1.7K51:03PRO 14:21PRO 16:23PRO 16:28PRO 16:312CO 12:1In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the practical wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. He emphasizes the importance of hard work and warns against mere talk that leads to poverty. The preacher also highlights the significance of showing kindness to the poor, as it reflects our attitude towards their Creator. He shares personal anecdotes to illustrate the need for grace in everyday situations and encourages the congregation to fear the Lord and shun evil. The sermon concludes with a reminder to spread the gospel and be grateful for the grace that is sufficient in our weaknesses.
(The Lord - Merciful and Gracious) 3. the Lord on the Side of the Poor and Needy
By Roy Hession1.5K51:32Mercy Of GodEXO 22:22PSA 40:17PSA 74:21PSA 113:6PRO 14:21ISA 41:17MAT 6:33In this sermon, the speaker begins by describing the dramatic and thunderous opening of the sermon, comparing it to the witches in Hammett's play. The speaker then mentions a beautiful flute melody that he heard in Switzerland and relates it to the act of mercy and loving kindness. The sermon then shifts to discussing the concept of mercy and how it is shown to the poor and needy. The speaker emphasizes that God is on the side of the poor and oppressed, just like David facing Goliath, and that there is hope for those who are unable to help themselves. The sermon concludes by stating that the poor and needy are in their situation because of the oppression of their enemies.
William Booth Recording (Audio Restored)
By William Booth96802:41ClassicPSA 82:3PRO 14:21PRO 19:17ISA 1:17MAT 25:35LUK 6:38JAS 1:27In this sermon, the preacher addresses the various struggles and hardships faced by different groups of people in society. He mentions the unemployed, criminals, and women engaged in immoral activities, as well as children living in poverty and neglect. The preacher emphasizes the importance of not judging these individuals but rather helping and supporting them. He urges the congregation to take action by providing food, rehabilitation, and employment opportunities. The sermon emphasizes the need to make a positive impact on the lives of those in need and to serve the Lord with gladness.
The Preeminence of Christ
By Erlo Stegen7461:28:54PRO 14:21MAT 22:39LUK 10:30JHN 19:17COL 1:17REV 1:8The video is a sermon transcript discussing the impact of Jesus' birth and death on the world. It emphasizes that the birth of Jesus has changed the world, while also highlighting the significance of his death. The speaker mentions a booklet written by the CFT branch in Pretoria, which summarizes the teachings of Dr. Kennedy on this matter. The sermon also touches on the connection between the Gospel and modern economic progress, stating that those involved in missions have experienced economic and educational advancement. Additionally, the speaker warns against prioritizing politics over Jesus Christ, emphasizing the eternal significance of Christ's preeminence.
46 - Questions on the Church Response to the Opening of North Korea
By Ben Torrey68006:57North KoreaLEV 25:23PRO 14:21ISA 1:17MAT 22:21LUK 12:48ACT 2:44JAS 2:14In this sermon transcript, the speaker discusses the importance of addressing questions related to the Church's response to the opening of North Korea. They emphasize the need for both spiritual and practical readiness in order to effectively share the love of Jesus Christ in North Korea. The speaker specifically focuses on the issue of land ownership in North Korea and the responsibility of Christians who hold claims to land. They raise questions about whether Christians should publicly cancel their claims to promote peaceful land distribution and justice for the poor. The speaker emphasizes the need for the Church to come up with compassionate and just answers to these questions before it's too late.
The Beatitudes the Fifth Beatitude
By A.W. Pink0MercyCharacter of a BelieverPSA 18:25PRO 11:17PRO 14:21PRO 21:21MIC 7:18MAT 5:7MAT 6:15MAT 7:2GAL 6:72TI 1:16A.W. Pink emphasizes the significance of the fifth Beatitude, 'Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy,' highlighting that true mercifulness is a reflection of the mercy received from God. He explains that this trait is not a prerequisite for receiving mercy but rather a natural outcome of being filled with Christ's love and grace. Pink clarifies that mercifulness involves compassion, forgiveness, and a non-retaliating spirit, which stems from the new nature given by the Holy Spirit. He warns against the misinterpretation of this Beatitude as a basis for salvation by works, asserting that it describes the character of genuine disciples. Ultimately, Pink concludes that the merciful will not only find joy in their actions but will also receive mercy from God and others.
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
21 Whoever despiseth his neighbour committeth sin; But whoever hath compassion on the suffering - blessings on him! One should regard every human being, especially such as God has placed near to him, as a being having the same origin, as created in the image of God, and of the same lofty destination, and should consider himself as under obligation to love him. He who despiseth his neighbour (write בּז with Metheg, and vid., regarding the constr. with dat. object. Pro 6:30, cf. Pro 11:12; Pro 13:13) sins in this respect, that he raises himself proudly and unwarrantably above him; that the honour and love he shows to him he measures not by the rule of duty and of necessity, but according to that which is pleasing to himself; and in that he refuses to him that which according to the ordinance of God he owes him. In Pro 14:21 the Chethı̂b עניּים and the Kerı̂ ענוים (vid., at Psa 9:13) interchange in an inexplicable way; עני is the bowed down (cf. Arab. ma'nuww, particularly of the prisoner, from 'ana, fut. ya'nw, to bow, bend), ענו (Arab. 'anin, with the art. âl'niy, from the intrans. 'aniya, to be bowed down) the patient bearer who in the school of suffering has learned humility and meekness. One does not see why the Kerı̂ here exchanges that passive idea for this ethical one, especially since, in proving himself to be מחונן (compassionate) (for which elsewhere the part. Kal חונן, Pro 14:31; Pro 19:17; Pro 28:8), one must be determined only by the needy condition of his neighbour, and not by his (the neighbour's) moral worthiness, the want of which ought to make him twofold more an object of our compassion. All the old translators, from the lxx to the Venet. and Luther, on this account adopt the Chethı̂b.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
For such contempt of the poor is contrasted as sinful with the virtuous compassion of the good.
John Gill Bible Commentary
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth,.... He that despiseth his neighbour in his heart, speaks slightly of him, overlooks him, is not friendly to him, will neither converse with him, nor relieve him in his necessity; for it seems to be understood of his poor neighbour; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "he that despiseth the poor"; that despises him for his poverty; because of his pedigree and education, and the low circumstances he is in; or on account of his weakness and incapacity, or any outward circumstance that attends him; such an one sins very greatly, is guilty of a heinous sin; and he will be reckoned and dealt with as a sinner, and be condemned and punished, and so be unhappy and miserable; but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he; or, "that gives to the poor,'' as the Targum; who has compassion on him in his distress, and shows it by relieving him: he that shows favour to the meek and humble ones, as the word (s) may be rendered, and as they generally are that are in affliction and poverty, for these tend to humble men; and such who regard them in their low estate are "happy" or blessed; they are blessed in things temporal and spiritual, and both here and hereafter; see Psa 41:1. (s) "modestorum", Montanus, Mercerus; "mansuetos", Cocceius.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
See here how men's character and condition are measured and judged of by their conduct towards their poor neighbours. 1. Those that look upon them with contempt have here assigned them a bad character, and their condition will be accordingly: He that despises his neighbour because he is low in the world, because he is of a mean extraction, rustic education, and makes but a mean figure, that thinks it below him to take notice of him, converse with him, or concern himself about him, and sets him with the dogs of his flock, is a sinner, is guilty of a sin, is in the way to worse, and shall be dealt with as a sinner; unhappy is he. 2. Those that look upon them with compassion are here said to be in a good condition, according to their character: He that has mercy on the poor, is ready to do all the good offices he can to him, and thereby puts an honour upon him, happy is he; he does that which is pleasing to God, which he himself will afterwards reflect upon with great satisfaction, for which the loins of the poor will bless him, and which will be abundantly recompensed in the resurrection of the just.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
14:21 blessed are those who help the poor: See also 3:27-28; 11:24; 28:27; 29:7, 14.