Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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We must enquire what we ought to do, not what the majority do; because we must be judged by our Master, not by our fellow-servants, and it is too great a compliment to be willing to go to hell for company.
3 neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.
They must not pervert judgment, no, not in favour of a poor man, Ex 23:3. Right must in all cases take place and wrong must be punished, and justice never biassed nor injury connived at under pretence of charity and compassion. If a poor man be a bad man, and do a bad thing, it is foolish pity to let him fare the better for his poverty, De 1:16,17.
4 If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt
surely bring it back to him again.
5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden,
and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
Commands concerning neighbourly kindnesses. We must be ready to do all good offices, as there is occasion, for any body, yea even for those that have done us ill offices, Ex 23:4,5. The command of loving our enemies, and doing good to those that hate us, is not only a new, but an old commandment, Pr 25:21,22. Infer hence,
1. If we must do this kindness for an enemy, much more for a friend, though an enemy only is mentioned, because it is supposed that a man would not be unneighbourly to any unless such as he had a particular spleen against.
2. If it be wrong not to prevent our enemy's loss and damage, how much worse is it to occasion harm and loss to him, or any thing he has.
3. If we must bring back our neighbours' cattle when they go astray, much more must we endeavour, by prudent admonitions and instructions, to bring back our neighbours themselves, when they go astray in any sinful path, see Jam 5:19,20. And, if we must endeavour to help up a fallen ass,