Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMatthew Poole Commentary - Romans 2:4 - 2:4
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Here he taxeth such as thought God approved of their persons and courses, at least that he would not regard or punish their evil actions, because he had hitherto forborne them, and heaped up abundance of worldly blessings upon them, as he did upon the Romans especially, above other people. It is common for men to grow secure, and promise themselves impunity, when God forbears them, and gives them outward prosperity: see Psa_50:21 55:19 Ecc_8:11 Hos_12:8.
Despisest thou? the word signifies, to think amiss; he despiseth the goodness of God, who thinks otherwise of it than he should, that it is extended to him for other ends than it is: or, to despise the goodness of God, is, to turn it into wantonness.
The riches of his goodness; i.e. The abundance of his goodness: see Rom_9:23 Eph_1:7,18 2:4,7 3:8.
Forbearance and long-suffering; God’s long-suffering is a further degree of his forebearance: the Scripture speaks much of this attribute of God, and of his abounding therein, Exo_34:6 Num_14:11,18 Psa 86:15 Mat_23:37 Rom_9:22 1Ti_1:16 1Pe_3:20.
The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance; that is one great end of God’s goodness and forbearance; see Hos_11:4 2Pe_3:9. God’s goodness is abused when it is not used and improved to this end.