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These words seem directed to the guides of the church, who are called overseers, Act_20:28, and therefore the apostle requires them to see that none render evil, &c. Or if to the whole church, as before, then it is a solemn charge which they ought to be all circumspect in observing. And the charge is:
1. Negative, not to render evil for evil; which is to revenge themselves; and that is forbidden by the apostle, Rom_12:17,19 1Pe_3:9; and is the resisting of evil forbidden by our Saviour, Mat_5:39. But it is to be understood of private revenge rising out of malice, not of public censures, either civil or ecclesiastical, or of seeking reparations for injuries received in courts of justice according to law and equity. This private revenge cannot consist with that patience that he required towards all men in the foregoing verse, nor is it conformable to the example of Christ, 1Pe_2:23, nor to the Christian calling and profession, 1Pe_2:21.
2. Positive; good in itself, or that which is good to others, as the word is often taken, Mat_7:11 Luk_1:53 Gal_6:6; and so stands opposite here to the rendering of evil. And the word follow signifies an earnest following, which is sometimes taken in a bad sense, for persecution, Mat_5:11, and sometimes in a good sense, as Heb_12:14 1Pe_3:11; and to follow good imports more than only to do good, 1Pe_3:11, when the inward bent of the soul and the outward endeavours are towards doing good. And this ought to be ever, or always, that is, in all places, times, occasions, company. Man’s course of life ought in this to be uniform, though his outward condition vary; sometimes to do good to the souls, sometimes to the bodies of men, and that either in a privative or positive good; preventing evil, or bestowing that which is good.
Both among yourselves, and to all men: Do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith, Gal_6:10. As they say of good, the commoner the better; but the contrary of evil. Christians stand in a special relation to one another, but in a common relation to all, and every relation ought to be filled up with good. As love is a common debt to all men, so the fruit of it, which is doing good. Our doing good should not be confined among Christians only of one way, opinion, or congregation; nor to men only under some limiting circumstances; but it should reach all men as we have ability, opportuniy, and call, even enemies themselves, as our Saviour requires, Mat_5:44. This is to act like God, and may commend religion to all men, and is not to be looked upon as commended by way of counsel, as the papists say, but commanded by precept. And it is not enough not to do evil, but we must do good: not to save a man’s life when we have power to do it, is to kill him, as Christ argues, Mar_3:4; so not to save a man’s estate when we may, is to steal from him.