Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
2:15-17 The things of the world may be
desired and possessed for the uses and
purposes which God intended, and they are
to be used by his grace, and to his glory; but
believers must not seek or value them for
those purposes to which sin abuses them. The
world draws the heart from God; and the
more the love of the world prevails, the more
the love of God decays. The things of the
world are classed according to the three
ruling inclinations of depraved nature. 1. The
lust of the flesh, of the body: wrong desires of
the heart, the appetite of indulging all things
that excite and inflame sensual pleasures. 2.
The lust of the eyes: the eyes are delighted
with riches and rich possessions; this is the
lust of covetousness. 3. The pride of life: a
vain man craves the grandeur and pomp of a
vain-glorious life; this includes thirst after
honour and applause. The things of the world
quickly fade and die away; desire itself will
ere long fail and cease, but holy affection is
not like the lust that passes away. The love
of God shall never fail. Many vain efforts
have been made to evade the force of this
passage by limitations, distinctions, or
exceptions. Many have tried to show how
far we may be carnally-minded, and love the
world; but the plain meaning of these verses
cannot easily be mistaken. Unless this victory
over the world is begun in the heart, a man
has no root in himself, but will fall away, or
at most remain an unfruitful professor. Yet
these vanities are so alluring to the corruption
in our hearts, that without constant watching
and prayer, we cannot escape the world, or
obtain victory over the god and prince of it.
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