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Scott's Reference Library
2 Corinthians 3:12 through 2 Corinthians
4:2 (NIV)
12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13We are not like
Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at
it while the radiance was fading away. 14But their minds were made dull, for to
this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been
removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15Even to this day when Moses
is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord,
the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of
the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect
the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing
glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 4
1Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose
heart. 2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use
deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth
the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of
God.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 12-18
It is the duty of the ministers of the gospel to use great plainness, or
clearness, of speech. The Old Testament believers had only cloudy and passing
glimpses of that glorious Saviour, and unbelievers looked no further than to the
outward institution. But the great precepts of the gospel, believe, love, obey,
are truths stated as clearly as possible. And the whole doctrine of Christ
crucified, is made as plain as human language can make it. Those who lived under
the law, had a veil upon their hearts. This veil is taken away by the doctrines
of the Bible about Christ. When any person is converted to God, then the veil of
ignorance is taken away. The condition of those who enjoy and believe the gospel
is happy, for the heart is set at liberty to run the ways of God’s commandments.
They have light, and with open face they behold the glory of the Lord.
Christians should prize and improve these privileges. We should not rest
contented without knowing the transforming power of the gospel, by the working
of the Spirit, bringing us to seek to be like the temper and tendency of the
glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and into union with Him.
We behold Christ, as in the glass of his word; and as the reflection from a
mirror causes the face to shine, the faces of Christians shine also.
VERSES 1-7
The best of men would faint, if they did not receive mercy from God. And that
mercy which has helped us out, and helped us on, hitherto, we may rely upon to
help us even to the end. The apostles had no base and wicked designs, covered
with fair and specious pretences. They did not try to make their ministry serve
a turn. Sincerity or uprightness will keep the favourable opinion of wise and
good men. Christ by his gospel makes a glorious discovery to the minds of men.
But the design of the devil is, to keep men in ignorance; and when he cannot
keep the light of the gospel of Christ out of the world, he spares no pains to
keep men from the gospel, or to set them against it. The rejection of the gospel
is here traced to the wilful blindness and wickedness of the human heart. Self
was not the matter or the end of the apostles’ preaching; they preached Christ
as Jesus, the Saviour and Deliverer, who saves to the uttermost all that come to
God through him. Ministers are servants to the souls of men; they must avoid
becoming servants to the humours or the lusts of men. It is pleasant to behold
the sun in the firmament; but it is more pleasant and profitable for the gospel
to shine in the heart. As light was the beginning of the first creation; so, in
the new creation, the light of the Spirit is his first work upon the soul. The
treasure of gospel light and grace is put into earthen vessels. The ministers of
the gospel are subject to the same passions and weaknesses as other men. God
could have sent angels to make known the glorious doctrine of the gospel, or
could have sent the most admired sons of men to teach the nations, but he chose
humbler, weaker vessels, that his power might be more glorified in upholding
them, and in the blessed change wrought by their ministry.