The Tulip Driven Life

  Matthew Henry on Genesis 34: "Dinah was, for aught that appears, Jacob’s only daughter, and we may suppose her therefore the mother’s fondling and the darling of the family, and yet she proves neither a joy nor a credit to them; for those children seldom prove either the best or the happiest that are most indulged. She is reckoned now but fifteen or sixteen years of age when she here occasioned so much mischief. Observe, 1. Her vain curiosity, which exposed her. She went out, perhaps unknown to her father, but by the connivance of her mother, to see the daughters of the land (v. 1); probably it was at a ball, or on some public day. Being an only daughter, she thought herself solitary at home, having none of her own age and sex to converse with; and therefore she must needs go abroad to divert herself, to keep off melancholy, and to accomplish herself by conversation better than she could in her father’s tents. Note, It is a very good thing for children to love home; it is parent...

  But in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves;  but cherish and exercise true Christian modesty and meekness, (which is of another kind than that the heathen philosophers did prescribe), in a due preference of each other,  Matthew 11:29   Romans 12:10   Ephesians 4:2  5:21  1 Peter 5:5 ; as the apostle himself gave example,  1 Corinthians 15:8 ,9 . Question.  If any say: How is this consistent with what the apostle writes to them to think of  praise  and  good report,  Philippians 4:8 , and of himself,  not a whit,  and  nothing, behind the very chiefest apostles?   2 Corinthians 11:5  12:11 ; and further, how can some think others better than themselves in truth, unless they reckon good evil and evil good? I answer, 1. Be sure Christian modesty and real humility, with prudence and mildness, are very commendable graces, and  in the sight of God of great price,  1...

 https://biblehub.com/commentaries/calvin/deuteronomy/6.htm  And these words. In these four next verses God again commands (as before) the study of His Law. And first, indeed, He would have it implanted in their hearts, lest forgetfulness of it should ever steal over them; and by the word "heart" He designates the memory and other faculties of the mind; as though He had said that this was so great a treasure, that there was good cause why they should hide it in their hearts, or so fix this doctrine deeply in their minds that it should never escape. Afterwards He enjoins that constant conversation should be held about it with their children, in order that fathers should diligently attend and apply themselves to the duty of instruction. The word snn [234] shanan, which Moses uses, means properly "to whet." Commentators think that it is employed metaphorically for "to reiterate," or "to repeat constantly," because, when the heavenly doctrine is incu...

  Calvin on visiting the iniquities of fathers to the children unto the 3rd and 4th generation: https://biblehub.com/commentaries/calvin/deuteronomy/5.htm "To visit iniquities," is equivalent to inquiring into them, or taking cognizance of them, in order that punishment should be inflicted in proportion to the crime; for as long as God spares men and suspends His judgment, He seems to connive at them, or to pay no attention to them. Therefore, when men shall think that their sin is buried, He declares that He will bear it in memory. But it may be asked, how it is consistent for God to exact punishment from the children or grandchildren on account of the sins of their fathers? for nothing is more unreasonable than that the innocent and guilty should be involved in the same punishment; and the declaration of the Prophet is well known, "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; but the soul that sinneth, it sha...

  Matthew Henry on 1 Tim. 6, stating that Christianity heightens the duties of slaves to their masters, and that the Gospel/grace does not erase nature or civil relations, but underscores them: "Here is the duty of servants. The apostle had spoken before of church-relations, here of our family-relations. Servants are here said to be under the yoke, which denotes both subjection and labour ; they are yoked to work, not to be idle. If Christianity finds servants under the yoke, it continues them under it; for the gospel does not cancel the obligations any lie under either by the law of nature or by mutual consent . They must respect their masters, count them worthy of all honour (because they are their masters), of all the respect, observance, compliance, and obedience, that are justly expected from servants to their masters. Not that they were to think that of them which they were not; but as their masters they must count them worthy of all that honour which was fit for them to re...

  Matthew Henry on the great duty and value of Family Worship and making the home a little church: "The pious and zealous endeavours both of magistrates and ministers for the reformation of manners, and the suppression of vice and profaneness, are the joy and encouragement of all good people in the land, and a happy indication that God has yet mercy in store for us: If the Lord had been pleased to kill us, he would not have shewed us such things as these. Now I know not any thing that will contribute more to the furtherance of this good work than the bringing of family -religion more into practice and reputation. Here the reformation must begin. Other methods may check the disease we complain of, but this, if it might universally obtain, would cure it. Salt must be cast into these springs, and then the waters would be healed. Many a time, no doubt, you have been urged to this part of your duty ; many a good sermon perhaps you have heard, and many a good book has been put into you...