PRETENSE AND TRUTH III

This is the third entry of dealing with a passage from Philippians 1:18 where Paul, an apostle, wrote “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.”

Matthew Henry (1662-1714) pastor and Bible commentator wrote on this scripture:

“The preaching of Christ is the joy of all who wish well to his kingdom among men. Since it may tend to the good of many, we ought to rejoice in it, though it be done in pretense, and not in reality. It is God’s prerogative to judge of the principles men act upon; this is out of our line. Paul was so far from envying those who had liberty to preach the gospel while he was under confinement that he rejoiced in the preaching of it even by those who do it in pretense, and not in truth. How much more then should we rejoice in the preaching of the gospel by those who do it in truth, yea, though it should be with much weakness and some mistake!”

Matthew Henry said so many things well.

‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The workers said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them.’” Jesus