MATTHEW HENRY: A FOUNTAIN OF SPIRITUAL INSIGHT: The Eighteenth Century (pt.4)

In the Eighteenth Century, God used Matthew Henry to teach us to endure persecution, to have joy in the midst of suffering, to pray, and to study the Bible. 

EIGHTEENTH CENTURY (pt.4) MEMORY VERSE. 

“Sanctify us in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). 

EIGHTEENTH CENTURY (pt.4) MEMORY QUOTE. 

“Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt of the evening” (Matthew Henry).

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MATTHEW HENRY: A FOUNTAIN OF SPIRITUAL INSIGHT

Matthew Henry (1662-1704)

Let us first consider the historical tapestry of Matthew Henry’s life, woven with threads of faith, hardship, and divine purpose. Born on October 18, 1662, in Broad Oak, Flintshire, Wales, Matthew Henry entered the world during a tempestuous time for English Christians. The Restoration of the monarchy had ushered in the Act of Uniformity, which demanded strict adherence to the Church of England. Those who dissented, known as nonconformists, faced severe persecution. Matthew Henry’s parents, devout Puritans, stood among these faithful dissenters. His father, Philip Henry, a godly minister, was ejected from his pulpit in 1662 for refusing to conform, mere months before Matthew’s premature birth. This event, known as the Great Ejection, marked the Henry family with a legacy of steadfast commitment to biblical truth.

  Despite his frail health, young Matthew displayed extraordinary intellectual gifts. By age three, he read the Bible fluently, his heart captivated by the Word of God. Raised in a home of fervent prayer and Reformed theology, he was educated primarily by his father and private tutors, as nonconformist restrictions barred him from traditional schools. His studies in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew equipped him for a life of ministry, though legal barriers persisted. In 1687, at age twenty-five, Matthew was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in Chester, England, where he shepherded a growing congregation for twenty-five years. His preaching, warm and practical, and his pastoral care shone as beacons of hope amid ongoing persecution.

  Henry’s personal life was not without sorrow. In 1687, he married Katherine Hardware, who tragically died two years later after childbirth. He later married Mary Warburton, with whom he had nine children, though only three survived to adulthood. These losses taught him to trust God through profound grief. In 1704, Henry embarked on his monumental work, Commentary on the Whole Bible, completing it up to Acts by 1714. After his death, friends finished this timeless resource using his notes and previous sermons he had preached on that unfinished section of commentary. Henry’s complete Bible commentary is his magnum opus. In it he blends scholarly insight with devotional warmth, guiding Christians to holiness and revealing God’s redemptive plan. As Henry wrote, “The Scriptures were written, not to make us astronomers, but to make us saints” (Commentary, Genesis 1:1). Every home should own a set a Matthew Henry’s Complete Bible Commentary (unabridged).

  In 1712, Henry moved to Hackney, London, to pastor a larger congregation, where his influence expanded. He published A Method for Prayer, teaching believers to pray biblically, with words that still resonate: “Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt of the evening.” Despite lifelong health challenges, he rose early to study and write, modeling disciplined stewardship of time for God’s glory. On June 22, 1714, at age fifty-one, Henry died unexpectedly of a stroke while traveling—he fell from his horse. Though his commentary remained unfinished, his legacy endured, encapsulated in his conviction: “The Bible is worth all the other books which have ever been printed.” Above all, he cherished communion with God, declaring, “To be with God is to be happy forever,” a truth that fueled his ministry and beckons us to seek God’s presence as our ultimate joy.

  An amusing anecdote reveals Henry’s humanity: he occasionally indulged in imported figs or candied fruits, a small luxury noted by his friend William Tong, which brought a smile to his frugal nonconformist circle. Yet it is his spiritual legacy that captivates us, for in the eighteenth century, God used Matthew Henry to teach us four vital lessons: to endure persecution, to find joy in suffering, to pray fervently, and to study the Bible diligently. 

Theological Lessons from Matthew Henry

1. Enduring Persecution

First, Matthew Henry teaches us to endure persecution. The Apostle Paul exhorts us in 2 Timothy 2:3, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” Henry, living under the shadow of nonconformist persecution, understood this call. He wrote, “God may allow persecutors to trample on His people a great while, yet He will certainly reckon with them at last.” His life bore witness to this truth, as he pastored faithfully despite legal and social opposition. Like him, we are called to stand firm, trusting that Christ, who builds His church, will uphold us through every trial.

2. Finding Joy in Suffering

Second, Matthew Henry teaches us to be joyful in suffering. Romans 5:2-4 reminds us, “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” Henry, who endured personal loss and societal hostility, affirmed, “It is not only possible but it is usual for the people of God to rejoice in their afflictions, because they see God in them and they see God through them.” His joy was anchored in God’s sovereignty, a lesson for us to embrace trials with hope, knowing Christ’s conquest is certain.

3. The Priority of Prayer

Third, Matthew Henry teaches us to pray. His words in A Method for Prayer guide us: “Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt of the evening,” and “It is not the length of prayer, but the strength of prayer that prevails with God; not the labour of the lips, but the travail of the heart.” Henry’s life of disciplined prayer sustained him through persecution and loss, reminding us that communion with God is the lifeline of our faith. In a world of distraction, let us, like Henry, make prayer the cornerstone of our days.

4. The Study of Scripture

Finally, Matthew Henry teaches us to study the Bible. Jeremiah 15:16 declares, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” Henry’s love for Scripture inspired his bold claim: “The Bible is worth all the other books which have ever been printed.” His Commentary remains, as F.B. Meyer described, “a fountain of spiritual insight… like a faithful friend, ever ready to guide the seeker after truth.” Let us heed Henry’s example, immersing ourselves in God’s Word as the foundation for life and doctrine.

Conclusion: Christ’s Triumph Through Matthew Henry

In the eighteenth century, God used Matthew Henry to advance Christ’s church, teaching us to endure persecution, to find joy in suffering, to pray fervently, and to study the Bible diligently. His life, though marked by trials, radiated the triumph of Christ, who builds His church and conquers the nations. As we reflect on Henry’s legacy, let us commit to these timeless truths, living as faithful soldiers of the cross. May we, like Henry, cherish communion with God above all, knowing that “to be with God is to be happy forever.” Amen.