Chapter 39:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis 39
Concise Complete
Joseph preferred by Potiphar. (1-6) Joseph resists
temptation. (7-12) Joseph is falsely accused by his mistress. (13-18) He is cast
into prison, God is with him there. (19-23)
Verses 1-6 Our
enemies may strip us of outward distinctions and ornaments; but wisdom and grace
cannot be taken from us. They may separate us from friends, relatives, and
country; but they cannot take from us the presence of the Lord. They may shut us
from outward blessings, rob us of liberty, and confine us in dungeons; but they
cannot shut us out from communion with God, from the throne of grace, or take
from us the blessings of salvation. Joseph was blessed, wonderfully blessed,
even in the house where he was a slave. God's presence with us, makes all we do
prosperous. Good men are the blessings of the place where they live; good
servants may be so, though mean and lightly esteemed. The prosperity of the
wicked is, one way or other, for the sake of the godly. Here was a wicked family
blessed for the sake of one good servant in it.
Verses 7-12
Beauty either in men or women, often proves a snare both to themselves and
others. This forbids pride in it, and requires constant watchfulness against the
temptation that attends it. We have great need to make a covenant with our eyes,
lest the eyes infect the heart. When lust has got power, decency, and
reputation, and conscience, are all sacrificed. Potiphar's wife showed that her
heart was fully set to do evil. Satan, when he found he could not overcome
Joseph with the troubles and the frowns of the world, for in them he still held
fast his principle, assaulted him with pleasures, which have ruined more than
the former. But Joseph, by the grace of God, was enabled to resist and overcome
this temptation; and his escape was as great an instance of the Divine power, as
the deliverance of the three children out of the fiery furnace. This sin was one
which might most easily beset him. The tempter was his mistress, one whose
favour would help him forward; and it was at his utmost peril if he slighted
her, and made her his enemy. The time and place favoured the temptation. To all
this was added frequent, constant urging. The almighty grace of God enabled
Joseph to overcome this assault of the enemy. He urges what he owed both to God
and his master. We are bound in honour, as well as justice and gratitude, not in
any thing to wrong those who place trust in us, how secretly soever it may be
done. He would not offend his God. Three arguments Joseph urges upon himself. 1.
He considers who he was that was tempted. One in covenant with God, who
professed religion and relation to him. 2. What the sin was to which he was
tempted. Others might look upon it as a small matter; but Joseph did not so
think of it. Call sin by its own name, and never lessen it. Let sins of this
nature always be looked upon as great wickedness, as exceedingly sinful. 3.
Against whom he was tempted to sin, against God. Sin is against God, against his
nature and his dominion, against his love and his design. Those that love God,
for this reason hate sin. The grace of God enabled Joseph to overcome the
temptation, by avoiding the temper. He would not stay to parley with the
temptation, but fled from it, as escaping for his life. If we mean not to do
iniquity, let us flee as a bird from the snare, and as a roe from the hunter.
Verses 13-18
Joseph's mistress, having tried in vain to make him a guilty man, endeavoured to
be avenged on him. Those that have broken the bonds of modesty, will never be
held by the bonds of truth. It is no new thing for the best of men to be falsely
accused of the worst of crimes, by those who themselves are the worst of
criminals. It is well there is a day of discovery coming, in which all shall
appear in their true characters.
Verses 19-23
Joseph's master believed the accusation. Potiphar, it is likely, chose that
prison, because it was the worst; but God designed to open the way to Joseph's
honour. Joseph was owned and righted by his God. He was away from all his
friends and relations; he had none to help or comfort him; but the Lord was with
Joseph, and showed him mercy. Those that have a good conscience in a prison,
have a good God there. God gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the
prison; he trusted him to manage the affairs of the prison. A good man will do
good wherever he is, and will be a blessing even in bonds and banishment. Let us
not forget, through Joseph, to look unto Jesus, who suffered being tempted, yet
without sin; who was slandered, and persecuted, and imprisoned, but without
cause; who by the cross ascended to the throne. May we be enabled to follow the
same path in submitting and in suffering, to the same place of glory.
Chapter 39:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
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Habakkuk
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Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
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John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
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Philippians
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1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
