Matthew Henry on Genesis 20:9-13

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

See here much to blame, even in the father of the faithful. Mark his distrust of God, his undue care about life, his intent to deceive. He also threw temptation in the way of others, caused affliction to them, exposed himself and Sarah to just rebukes, and yet attempted an excuse.

These things are written for our warning, not for us to imitate. Even Abraham hath not whereof to glory. He cannot be justified by his works, but must be indebted for justification, to that righteousness which is upon all and unto all them that believe.

We must not condemn all as hypocrites who fall into sin, if they do not continue in it. But let the unhumbled and impenitent take heed that they do not sin on, thinking that grace may abound. Abimelech, being warned of God, takes the warning; and being truly afraid of sin and its consequences, he rose early to pursue the directions given him.

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commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 20:1-18EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 20:1-18Abraham in Gerar, or two royal sinners. I. THE SIN OF THE HEBREW PATRIARCH 1. An old sin repeated. "Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister." Twenty years before the same miserable equivocation had been circula…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryAbimelech's Conduct Towards Abraham. (b. c. 1898.)ABIMELECH'S CONDUCT TOWARDS ABRAHAM. (B. C. 1898.) Abimelech, being thus warned of God in a dream, takes the warning, and, as one truly afraid of sin and its consequences, he rises early to obey the directions given him…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 20:9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him (in the presence of his people), What hast thou done unto us?—identifying himself once more with his people, as he had already done in responding to God (Genesis 20:4)—an…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 20:10And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou,—either, What hadst thou in view? (Knobel, Delitzsch, Keil, Murphy, et alii), or, What didst thou see? Didst thou see any of my people taking the wives of strangers and…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 20:11And Abraham said (offering as his first apology for his sinful behavior the fear which he entertained of the depravity of the people), Because I thought,—literally, said (sc. in my heart)—Surely the fear of God is not i…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 20:12And yet indeed she is my sister. This was the second of the patriarch's extenuating pleas, that he had not exactly lied, having uttered at least a half truth. She is the daughter of my father (Terah), But not the daught…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 20:13And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander (or to go on pilgrimages) from my father's house,—Elohim, usually construed with a singular verb, is here joined with a verb in the plural, as an accommodation to the po…Joseph S. Exell and contributors