Blessed Night, Loves 😊

I Pray All Is Well With Everyone… And Your Hearts And Minds Are Full Of Love, Joy, And Compassion… For Yourselves And Everyone Else… All Around The World. And Radiating Our Love And Light All Throughout The World Is Indeed Required… For Mankind’s Survival. So, Where Do We Start? We Already Have; With Our Individual Selves And Not With The Outer World Illusions; By Developing A Loving Relationship With Our Very Own “Mighty I AM Presence”… The Presence Of The Living God… Within Us. From This Point… We Are Naturally And Lovingly Led… Out Of The Darkness Of The Deceit And Hate In This World… And Onto The Illumining Pathway Of Love And Light – That Is Not Only Our Individual Authority And Power; But Becomes The Collective Energy Of The Loving Power And Light Required… For Mankind’s Healing And Survival! And YES… LOVE AND POWER… TO THE PEOPLE! Amen…    

Give Thanks And Praises For Love And Life…    

And Y’all Be Love…  

2 Corinthians 10:7-18:

“In these verses, the apostle proceeds to reason the case with the Corinthians, in opposition to those who despised him, judged him, and spoke hardly of him. “Do you”, says he, “look on things after the outward appearance? (2 Corinthians 10:7). Is this a fit measure or rule to make an estimate of things or persons by and to judge between me and my adversaries?” In outward appearance, Paul was mean and despicable with some; he did not make a figure, as perhaps some of his competitors might do, but this was a false rule to make a judgment by. It should seem that some boasted mighty things of themselves and made a fair show, but there are often false appearances. A man may seem to be learned who has not learned Christ; and appear virtuous when he has not a principle of grace in his heart. However, the apostle asserts two things of himself:

1. His relation to Christ: If any man trusts to himself that he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s, (2 Corinthians 10:7). It would seem by this that Paul’s adversaries boasted of their relation to Christ as his ministers and servants. Now the apostle reasons thus with the Corinthians: “Suppose it to be so, allowing what they say to be true (and let us observe that, in fair arguing, we should allow all that may be reasonably granted, and should not think it impossible that those who differ from us very much may yet belong to Christ, as well as we), allowing them”, might the apostle say, “what they boast of, yet they ought also to allow this to us, that we also are Christ’s.”

Note, 1, We must not, by the most charitable allowances we make to others who differ from us, cut ourselves off from Christ, nor deny our relation to him. For 2, There is room in Christ for many; and those who differ much from one another may yet be one in him. It would help to heal the differences that are among us if we would remember that how confident soever we may be that we belong to Christ, yet, at the same time, we must allow that those who differ from us may belong to Christ too, and therefore should be treated accordingly. We must not think that we are the people and that none belong to Christ but ourselves. This we may plead for ourselves against those who judge us and despise us, that how weak soever we are, yet, as they are Christ’s, so are we. We profess the same faith, we walk by the same rule, we build upon the same foundation, and hope for the same inheritance.

2. His authority from Christ as an apostle. This he had mentioned before (2 Corinthians 10:6), and now he tells them that he might speak of it again, and that with some sort of boasting, seeing it was a truth that the Lord had given it to him, and it was more than his adversaries could justly pretend to. It was certainly what he should not be ashamed of, 2 Corinthians 10:8. Concerning this, observe 1, The nature of his authority – it was for edification, and not for destruction. This indeed is the end of all authority, civil and ecclesiastical, and was the end of that extraordinary authority which the apostles had, and of all church discipline. 2, The caution with which he speaks of his authority, professing that his design was not to terrify them with big words, nor by angry letters, 2 Corinthians 10:9. Thus, he seems to obviate an objection that might have been formed against him, 2 Corinthians 10:10. But the apostle declares he did not intend to frighten those who were obedient, nor did he write any thing in his letters that he was not able to make good by deeds against the disobedient; and he would have his adversaries know this (2 Corinthians 10:11), that he would, by the exercise of his apostolical power committed to him, make it appear to have a real efficacy.

2 Corinthians 10:12. In these verses, observe:

1. The apostle refuses to justify himself, or to act by such rules as the false apostles did, 2 Corinthians 10:12. He plainly intimates that they took a wrong method to commend themselves, in measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, which was not wise. They were pleased, and did pride themselves in their own attainments, and never considered those who far exceeded them in gifts and graces, in power and authority; and this made them haughty and insolent.

Note, If we would compare ourselves with others who excel us, this would be a good method to keep us humble; we should be pleased and thankful for what we have of gifts or graces, but never pride ourselves therein, as if there were none to be compared with us, or that did excel us. The apostle would not be of the number of such vain men. Let us resolve that we will not make ourselves of that number.

2. He fixes a better rule for his conduct, namely, not to boast of things without his measure, which was the measure God had distributed to him, 2 Corinthians 10:13. His meaning is, either that he would not boast of more gifts or graces, or power and authority than God had really bestowed on him; or, rather, that he would not act beyond his commission as to persons or things, nor go beyond the line prescribed to him, which he plainly intimates the false apostles did, while they boasted of other men’s labors. The apostle’s resolution was to keep within his own province, and that compass of ground which God had marked out for him. His commission as an apostle was to preach the gospel everywhere, especially among the Gentiles, and he was not confined to one place; yet he observed the directions of Providence, and the Holy Spirit as to the particular places whither he went or where he did abide.

3. He acted according to this rule: We stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, 2 Corinthians 10:14. And, particularly, he acted according to this rule in preaching at Corinth, and in the exercise of his apostolical authority there; for he came thither by divine direction, and there he converted many to Christianity; and, therefore, in boasting of them as his charge, he acted not contrary to his rule, he boasted not of other men’s labours, 2 Corinthians 10:15.

4. He declares his success in observing this rule. His hope was that their faith was increased, and that others beyond them, even in the remoter parts of Achaia, would embrace the gospel also; and in all this he exceeded not his commission, nor acted in another man’s line.

5. He seems to check himself in this matter, as if he had spoken too much in his own praise. The unjust accusations and reflections of his enemies had made it needful he should justify himself; and the wrong methods they took gave him good occasion to mention the better rule he had observed. Yet he is afraid of boasting, or taking any praise to himself, and therefore he mentions two things which ought to be regarded: 1, He that glorieth should glory in the Lord, 2 Corinthians 10:17. If we are able to fix good rules for our conduct, or act by them, or have any good success in so doing, the praise and glory of all are owing unto God. Ministers in particular must be careful not to glory in their performances, but must give God the glory of their work, and the success thereof.   2, Not he that commendeth himself is approved, but he whom the Lord commendeth, 2 Corinthians 10:18.

Of all flattery, self-flattery is the worst, and self-applause is seldom any better than self-flattery and self-deceit. At the best, self-commendation is no praise, and it is oftentimes as foolish and vain, as it is proud. Therefore, instead of praising or commending ourselves, we should strive to approve ourselves to God, and his approbation will be our best commendation.”

Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible: 2 Corinthians Chapter 10, by Matthew Henry, 1706