Psalms 15:2

He that walketh uprightly,.... Or "perfectly" (e); see Genesis 17:1; not so as to be without sin entirely, but as not to be chargeable with any notorious crime, and living in it; moreover, perfection

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Uprightly, or perfectly, or sincerely, without guile or hypocrisy, loving, worshipping, and serving God, and loving his neighbour, not in word and show only, but in truth and reality; and this constantly, and in the whole course of his life, as walking implies. Worketh righteousness; maketh it his work and business to do justly, i.e. to give to every one his due, first to God, and then to men; for the words are general, and not restrained to either. Speaketh the truth in his heart; his words and professions to God and men agree with and proceed from the thoughts and purposes of his heart.

Psalms 15:2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.Ver. 2. He that walketh uprightly] This is God’ s answer, for men are unsound, and unfit to judge, saith Calvin. They judge according to opinion and appearance many times, and send those to heaven that can never come there; as the pope doth his canonized saints; Mahomet, those that die in defence of Turkism; and parasitical preachers their irreligious benefactors. But God only admitteth such as are righteously religious and religiously righteous; such as through whose whole lives godliness runneth, as the woof doth through the warp. He, then, that shall be an inhabitant of heaven must first walk uprightly, or evenly. Christians, saith Tertullian, are funambulones, as those that walk on ropes, if they tread but one step awry they are utterly gone; they must be sine terrena et profunda fraude, as R. David here glosseth, without guile, and unacquainted with the depths of the devil, Proverbs 11:22; the upright in their way are opposed to the froward in heart. And such only shall dwell with devouring fire, that is, with God, Isaiah 33:14-15. The Arabic version for uprightly here hath, without a cloud of vices. And worketh righteousness] This is wrought by faith, Hebrews 11:33, and such a man is acceptable to God, Acts 10:35. But the whole life of unbelievers is sin, saith Austin, neither is there anything good without the chiefest good. It was well said of Luther, Walk in the heaven of the promise, but in the earth of the law; that in respect of believing, this of obeying. And speaketh the truth in his heart] His λογοςενδιαθετος and προφορικος are all one, he speaks as he thinks; his speech is the lively image of his inward affection. That was no commendation to that pope and his nephew, of whom it was said, that the one never spoke as he thought, the other never performed what he spoke.

(2) Uprightly.—Literally, he whose walking is perfect rectitude. In Proverbs 28:18 the same phrase occurs. Comp. Isaiah 33:15. Speaketh the truth in his heart—i.e., both thinks and speaks the truth.“This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.” : Hamlet.

Verse 2. He that walketh uprightly] הולך תמים holech tamim, 1. He walks perfectly. Who sets God before his eyes, takes his word for the rule of his conduct, considers himself a sojourner on earth, and is continually walking to the kingdom of God. He acts according to the perfections of God's law; he has respect to all its parts, and feels the weight and importance of all its injunctions. And worketh righteousness] 2. He is not satisfied with a contemplative life; he has duties to perform. The law of righteousness has placed him in certain relations, and each of these relations has its peculiar duties. פעל צדק poel tsedek, the words here used, signify to give just weight, to render to all their dues. 1. As he is the creature of GOD, he has duties to perform to him. He owes God his heart: May son, give me thy heart; and should love him with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is giving GOD his due. 2. As a member of civil society, he has various duties to perform to his fellows, as they have to him. He is to love them as himself, and do unto all men as he would they should do unto him. 3. There are duties which he owes to himself. That his body may be in health, vigour, and activity, he should avoid every thing by which it might be injured, particularly all excesses in eating, drinking, sleeping, c. That his soul may be saved, he should avoid all sin all irregular and disorderly passions. He owes it to his soul to apply to God for that grace which produces repentance, faith, and holiness; and in order to get all these blessings, he should read, watch, pray, hear the word preached, and diligently use all the ordinances of God. He who acts not thus, defrauds both his body and soul: but the person in the text works righteousness-gives to all their due; and thus keeps a conscience void of offence, both towards God and man. And speaketh the truth in his heart.] 3. He is a true man; in him there is no false way. He is no man of pretenses; speaking one thing, and meaning another. He professes nothing but what he feels and intends; with him there are no hollow friendships, vain compliments, nor empty professions of esteem, love, regard, or friendship. His mouth speaks nothing but what his heart dictates. His heart, his tongue, and his hand, are all in unison. Hypocrisy, guile, and deceit, have no place in his soul.

2. The conditions of access stated positively. The man must be ‘integer vitae scelerisque purus.’ He that walketh uprightly] Or, perfectly. Integrity is the rule of his life in relation to God as well as man. The word tβmξm means (1) complete, (2) without blemish, of sacrificial victims, (3) in a moral sense, perfect, sincere, blameless. It includes whole-hearted devotion to God, and complete integrity in dealing with men. Cp. Genesis 17:1; Deuteronomy 18:13; Psalms 18:23; Psalms 101:2; Psalms 101:6; Psalms 119:1; Psalms 7:8; Psalms 26:1; Psalms 26:11; Matthew 5:48. The Sept rendering is ἄμωμος, for which comp. Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 1:22, &c. and worketh righteousness] Cp. Acts 10:35; 1 John 3:7. and speaketh the truth in his heart] Truth is the substance of his thoughts. But it is preferable to render speaketh truth with his heart. He speaks truth, and his whole heart goes along with it, unlike the double-hearted flatterers of Psa 12:2.

He that walketh uprightly - Hebrew, “walking perfectly;” that is, one who walks or lives “perfectly.” The word “walk” in the Scriptures is often used to denote the manner of life; life being represented as a journey.

2. Walketh uprightly—Whose daily life is blameless, pure. Worketh righteousness—Whose works are conformed to the law of God, in obedience to his will. “Righteousness” is obedience to the law of God.