Romans 2:4 Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering… I. ITS NATURE. It is one of those attributes which the sins of His creatures first called into exercise. We are not to suppose that it proceeds from any ignorance in God, for "He has set all our misdeeds before Him." Nor is it the fruit of indifference. On the contrary, it implies that "God is angry with the wicked every day." Neither must we ascribe it to a want of power to punish. We sometimes bear with provocations because we are unable to avenge them; but the Omnipotent has at all times the means of vengeance. II. ITS SOURCE. Solely God's goodness. These attributes are mentioned together, and the one must be regarded as the origin of the other. Goodness, when exercised in withholding vengeance is patience; and when continued under repeated provocations, is long suffering. There is, however, a distinction to be made between the goodness and the patience of God. Man, as needy, is the partaker of the one, whilst man, as guilty, is the object of the other. Goodness supplies our wants, patience bears with our sins. The one will endure forever, and is inseparable from the Divine nature; the other is adapted only to the present scene of things, and may end tomorrow. III. ITS GREATNESS, or its "riches." Every blessing Christ has purchased in abundance. The mercy He has obtained is "great" and "tender," the grace "manifold and exceeding," the redemption "plenteous," the joy "unspeakable," the glory "an exceeding great and eternal weight." In regard to God's patience consider — 1. How long it has been exercised. 2. How many sins every man commits. 3. How aggravated and daring many of our provocations have been. 4. How many sinners there are. IV. ITS DESIGNED EFFECT. "Repentance." The forbearance of the Almighty — 1. Gives us time for repentance. 2. Shows that the penitent may obtain forgiveness. 3. Has a tendency to produce repentance in our hearts.Experience proves that man's stubborn heart is much less likely to be subdued by the contemplation of vengeance, than by the influence of mercy. V. THE HANGER OF DESPISING IT. We are undoubtedly guilty of this sin — 1. When we are unmindful of the patience which bears with us, when we either think nothing at all about it, or think of it lightly. 2. When we draw encouragement from it to continue in sin. Parallel Verses KJV: Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? |
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