1 Now about the giving of money for the saints, as I gave orders to the churches of Galatia, so do you.
Now after a number of years I came to give help and offerings to my nation:
Giving to the needs of the saints, ready to take people into your houses.
And now we give you news, brothers, about the grace of God which has been given to the churches of Macedonia; How while they were undergoing every sort of trouble, and were in the greatest need, they took all the greater joy in being able to give freely to the needs of others. For I give them witness, that as they were able, and even more than they were able, they gave from the impulse of their hearts, Seriously requesting us that they might have a part in this grace of being servants to the needs of the saints: And going even farther than our hope, they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us after the purpose of God. So that we made a request to Titus that, as he had made a start before, so he might make this grace complete in you. And that as you are full of every good thing, of faith, of the word, of knowledge, of a ready mind, and of love to us, so you may be full of this grace in the same way. I am not giving you an order, but using the ready mind of others as a test of the quality of your love. For you see the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how though he had wealth, he became poor on your account, so that through his need you might have wealth.
For this work of giving not only takes care of the needs of the saints, but is the cause of much praise to God; For when, through this work of giving, they see what you are, they give glory to God for the way in which you have given yourselves to the good news of Christ, and for the wealth of your giving to them and to all; While their hearts go out to you in love and in prayer for you, because of the great grace of God which is in you. Praise be to God for what he has given, which words have no power to say.
But if a man has this world's goods, and sees that his brother is in need, and keeps his heart shut against his brother, how is it possible for the love of God to be in him?
Hearing of the love and the faith which you have to the Lord Jesus and to all the saints;
For God is true, and will not put away from him the memory of your work and of your love for his name, in the help which you gave and still give to the saints.
Which they did, sending it to the rulers of the church by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Corinthians 16
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 16 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 16
In this chapter the apostle,
1Cr 16:1-4
In this chapter Paul closes this long epistle with some particular matters of less moment; but, as all was written by divine inspiration, it is all profitable for our instruction. He begins with directing them about a charitable collection on a particular occasion, the distresses and poverty of Christians in Judea, which at this time were extraordinary, partly through the general calamities of that nation and partly through the particular sufferings to which they were exposed. Now concerning this observe,
1Cr 16:5-9
In this passage the apostle notifies and explains his purpose of visiting them, concerning which, observe,
1Cr 16:10-12
In this passage,
1Cr 16:13-18
In this passage the apostle gives,
1Cr 16:19-24
The apostle closes his epistle,