John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And ye have forgotten the exhortation , etc..] Or consolation, the consolatory word or doctrine, in ( Proverbs 3:11). This, by their conduct, the apostle feared they had forgotten, and therefore puts them in mind of it; or it may be read by way of question, and have ye forgotten?, etc.. do not ye remember? it would be right to call it to mind: which speaketh unto you as unto children ; not as the children of Solomon, but as the children of God, or of Christ, the wisdom of God: here, by a prosopopeia, the word of exhortation is introduced as a person speaking, my son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord ; by which is meant, not vindictive punishment; this would not be speaking to them, nor dealing with them as children, and would be contrary to the love of God towards them; besides, chastisement in this sense has been upon Christ for them, and it would be unjust to lay it on them again; but a fatherly correction is designed, and which is given in love by God, as a Father, and for the instruction of his children, as the word used signifies: and it is called not the chastening of men, but of the Lord; every chastening, or afflictive providence, is appointed by God, and is looked upon by believers, when grace is in exercise, as coming from him; and it is directed, and governed, and limited by him, and is overruled by him for his own glory, and their good: and this is not to be despised, as something nauseous and loathsome, or as not useful and unprofitable, or as insignificant and unworthy of notice, but should be esteemed for the good ends, which are sometimes answered, by it: nor faint when thou art rebuked of him ; God has various ways of rebuking, reproving, and convincing, sometimes by his Spirit, sometimes by his word and ministers, and sometimes by afflictive providences; by these he rebukes his people for their sins, convinces them of them, and brings them to acknowledgment and confession; he makes them hereby sensible of their duty, in which they have been remiss, and brings them to a more constant and fervent discharge of it; he reproves them for, and convinces of their folly in trusting in the creature, or loving it too much, and of every wrong way they have been walking in; and these rebukes are not in a way of wrath, but love, and therefore saints should not faint at them: there are two extremes they are apt to run into, under such a dispensation; either to take no notice, and make light of an affliction, or else to be overwhelmed by it, and sink under it; both are guarded against in this exhortation.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - The persevering obedience of faith in Christ, was the race set befor the Hebrews, wherein they must either win the crown of glory, or have everlasting misery for their portion; and it is set before us. By the sin that does so easily beset us, understand that sin to which we ar most prone, or to which we are most exposed, from habit, age, or circumstances. This is a most important exhortation; for while a man' darling sin, be it what it will, remains unsubdued, it will hinder his from running the Christian race, as it takes from him every motive for running, and gives power to every discouragement. When weary and fain in their minds, let them recollect that the holy Jesus suffered, to save them from eternal misery. By stedfastly looking to Jesus, their thoughts would strengthen holy affections, and keep under their carna desires. Let us then frequently consider him. What are our littl trials to his agonies, or even to our deserts? What are they to the sufferings of many others? There is a proneness in believers to gro weary, and to faint under trials and afflictions; this is from the imperfection of grace and the remains of corruption. Christians shoul not faint under their trials. Though their enemies and persecutors ma be instruments to inflict sufferings, yet they are Divin chastisements; their heavenly Father has his hand in all, and his wis end to answer by all. They must not make light of afflictions, and be without feeling under them, for they are the hand and rod of God, an are his rebukes for sin. They must not despond and sink under trials nor fret and repine, but bear up with faith and patience. God may le others alone in their sins, but he will correct sin in his ow children. In this he acts as becomes a father. Our earthly parent sometimes may chasten us, to gratify their passion, rather than to reform our manners. But the Father of our souls never willingly grieve nor afflicts his children. It is always for our profit. Our whole lif here is a state of childhood, and imperfect as to spiritual things therefore we must submit to the discipline of such a state. When we come to a perfect state, we shall be fully reconciled to all God' chastisement of us now. God's correction is not condemnation; the chastening may be borne with patience, and greatly promote holiness Let us then learn to consider the afflictions brought on us by the malice of men, as corrections sent by our wise and gracious Father, for our spiritual good.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ εκλελησθε 1585 5769 V-RPI-2P της 3588 T-GSF παρακλησεως 3874 N-GSF ητις 3748 R-NSF υμιν 5213 P-2DP ως 5613 ADV υιοις 5207 N-DPM διαλεγεται 1256 5736 V-PNI-3S υιε 5207 N-VSM μου 3450 P-1GS μη 3361 PRT-N ολιγωρει 3643 5720 V-PAM-2S παιδειας 3809 N-GSF κυριου 2962 N-GSM μηδε 3366 CONJ εκλυου 1590 5744 V-PPM-2S υπ 5259 PREP αυτου 846 P-GSM ελεγχομενος 1651 5746 V-PPP-NSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. Ye have forgotten ( eklelhsqe). N.T.o . Common in Class., o LXX. The simple verb lanqanein means to escape notice; to be unseen or unknown. Middle and passive, to let a thing escape; forget. Some render interrogatively, "have ye forgotten?" Speaketh unto you (umin dialegetai). The verb always in the sense of mutual converse or discussion. See Mark ix. 34; Acts xvii. 2; xviii. 19. Rend. "reasoneth with you."My son, etc. From Prov. iii. 11, 12. Comp. Job v. 17.
Despise not ( mh oligwrei). N.T.o . LXX only in this passage. Quite often in Class. It means to make little of (oligov).
Chastening (paideiav). Mostly in Hebrews See on Eph. vi. 4, and 2 Timothy iii. 16.
