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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Preach; proclaim like a herald, cry like a common crier in the hearing of a multitude. Thus God to Isaiah, Isa_58:1: Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet. The word; the word of truth, Isa_2:15, or the gospel, called the word by way of emphasis: see Mat_4:23 24:14 Mar_1:14 13:10 16:15. The word of God, not old wives’ fables, endless genealogies, perverse disputings, unedifying questions, &c. This precept reflects upon unpreaching ministers, and impertinent, vain preachers.
Be instant; be earnest and diligent. This reflects upon a cold and perfunctory preaching. God bid Isaiah cry aloud, lift up his voice like a trumpet. Sinners are like deaf adders.
In season, out of season; that is, at all times, not on the Lord’s days only, but any other time when thou hast opportunity; not in times when thou mayst do it with safety, but when the wisdom of the flesh tells thee it is out of season. This reflects upon such as preach rarely, and consult their flesh, whether they should perform it at all, or no.
Reprove; elegzon, convince such as gainsay the truth.
Rebuke all sinners, all that live an ill life. This reflects upon those effeminate preachers, against whom Ezekiel denounced the woe, Eze_13:18, that sew pillows to all armholes; that prophesy smooth things instead of the right things of the word.
Exhort; persuade or comfort, (the word signifies both), as thou seest occasion.
With all longsuffering; but do what thou doest prudently, with meekness. God needeth not thy passion, though he makes use of thy art in instruction.
And doctrine; do it so as to join instruction with thy reproof. This reflects upon flattering, fawning, unfaithful preachers, and such as vent their own passion, rather than pursue their due end for instruction and reformation of souls.