Saturday Sayings 2026 MAR: Matthew Henry

This month I’m featuring quotes from Matthew Henry. He was a 17th century Puritan theologian and Bible commentator. His complete Bible commentary book series covers the entire Bible and is just as relevant today as it was when he penned it in the 17th  century. I first remember admiring Matthew Henry’s wisdom around 15 years ago while using a Life Application Bible that included his Bible commentaries. I found his Bible exposition and applications very insightful and helpful back then, and also now as well, as I currently access his Bible commentaries online while doing my current Bible studies. 

“Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces.” #MatthewHenry

This quote is associated with Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary on the book of Job concerning the extraordinary events in the life of Job. The book of Job teaches that suffering comes to everyone. However it is the man who has a genuine relationship with God who, after having gone through extraordinary affliction, continues to surrender to God and love God no matter what He’s allowed in our life. It is all by extraordinary grace, the grace of God; and while this may be hard for many to understand, it was only after Job, who by faith kept his eye on God after seemingly insurmountable tragedy and affliction that, 

“the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10 

March 7, 2026

#SaturdaySayings 

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“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not.” Jeremiah 5:21

“This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” Matthew 13:13 

“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 26:12 

Matthew Henry encapsulates the derived meaning from all three of these verses with this one saying:

“None so deaf as those that will not hear. None so blind as those that will not see.”

The truth is if someone doesn’t want to see a particular point of view, they’re more blind than a blind man because they have chosen to be blind. And of course the Bible is not just a point of view. The Bible is God’s love letter to all who will believe in Jesus Christ and turn to Him in repentance and faith. 

March 14, 2026

#SaturdaySayings 

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I think I have a fairly positive attitude and disposition in life but occasionally I do find myself in some sort of despair. During these times I try not to focus on whatever is bothering me but instead think about God’s goodness and mercy in my life. I try to focus on His promises; looking to Him with a thankful heart, and to others with a forgiving heart. Matthew Henry was not immune to despair either. The following is not only a good advice from Matthew Henry; it’s biblical: 

“The way to forget our miseries, is to remember the God of our mercies.”

God’s word tells us to remember His mercy:

“Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.” Psalms 25:6

His word tells us that God is not only rich in mercy, but that He abounds in mercy:

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5

His word tells us to bless the Lord and not to forget all that He has done for us: 

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalms 103:2-5

His word tells us to be ever thankful of Him:

“I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”Psalms 9:1-2 

And His word tells us to forgive one another: 

“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:13

#SaturdaySayings

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