Philippians 4:17

Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. A GIFT. 'It is not that I seek after the gift [ to (G3588) doma (G1390)], but I do seek after the fruit that aboundeth to your account:' the abounding of fruits of your faith to be put down to your account against the day of reward (Hebrews 6:10)....

17._Not that I demand a gift. _Again he repels an unfavourable opinion that might be formed of immoderate cupidity, that they might not suppose that it was an indirect hint, (252) as if they ought singly to stand in the room of all, (253) and as if he abused their kindness. He accordingly declares, that he consulted not so much his own advantage as theirs. “While I receive from you,” says he, _“there _is proportionably much advantage that redounds to yourselves; for there are just so many articles that you may reckon to have been transferred to the table of accounts.” The meaning of this word (254) is connected with the similitude formerly employed of exchange or compensation in pecuniary matters....

10-19 It is a good work to succour and help a good minister in trouble. The nature of true Christian sympathy, is not only to feel concern for our friends in their troubles, but to do what we can to help them. The apostle was often in bonds, imprisonments, and necessities; but in all, he learned to be content, to bring his mind to his condition, and make the best of it. Pride, unbelief, vain hankering after something we have not got, and fickle disrelish of present things, make men discontented even under favourable circumstances. Let us pray for patient submission and hope when we are abased; for humility and a heavenly mind when exalted. It is a special grace to have an equal temper of mind always. And in a low state not to lose our comfort in God, nor distrust his providence, nor take any wrong course for our own supply. In a prosperous condition not to be proud, or secure, or worldl...

Verse 17. _NOT BECAUSE I DESIRE A GIFT_] I do not speak thus to incite you to send me a farther gift; I speak this on the general subject, because I wish you to bear such fruit as shall abound to your account in the day of the Lord....

NOT BECAUSE I DESIRE A GIFT - “The reason why I rejoice in the reception of what you have sent to me, is not that I am covetous.” From the interest with which he had spoken of their attention to him, some might perhaps be disposed to say, that it arose from this cause. He says, therefore, that, grateful as he was for the favor which he had received, his chief interest in it arose from the fact that it would contribute ultimately to their own good. It showed that they were governed by Christian principle, and this would not fall to be rewarded. What Paul states here is by no means impossible; though it may not be very common. In the reception of layouts from others, it is practicable to rejoice in them mainly, because their bestowment will be a means of good to the benefactor himself. All our selfish feelings and gratifications may be absorbed and lost in the superior joy which we have in...

EXPOSITION PHILIPPIANS 4:1 THEREFORE, MY BRETHREN DEARLY BELOVED AND LONGED FOR, MY JOY AND CROWN. The apostle here, as in 1 Corinthians 15:58, urges the hope of a glorious resurrection as an incentive to steadfastness in the Christian life. He seems scarcely able to find words adequate to express his love for the Philippians; he heaps together epithets of affection, dwelling tenderly on the word "beloved." He tells them of his longing desire to see them, repeating the word used in Philippians 1:8. He calls them his "joy and crown"—his joy now, his crown hereafter. He uses the same words of the other great Macedonian Church in...

NOT BECAUSE I DESIRE A GIFT,.... This commendation of them he entered into, not because he desired another present to be made to him, either by them or others; he was not a man of such a disposition, he was not like one of those that could never have enough; he was fully satisfied and highly contented with what he had; he was not like the false teachers, that made merchandise of men; he sought not theirs, but them: BUT I DESIRE FRUIT THAT MAY ABOUND TO YOUR ACCOUNT; he had planted them, or had been an instrument in planting of them, as trees of righteousness, Isaiah 61:3; and his great desire was to see fruits of righteousness grow upon them, Philippians 1:11; by which sometimes are meant acts of beneficence, as in...

Philippians 4:1. _Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the lord, my dearly beloved._ Paul had a very warm affection for the church at Philippi. You remember how that church was established,-first with the baptized household of Lydia, and afterwards with the baptized household of the jailer. These saints at Philippi were in a special sense Paul's spiritual children, they were very generous and kind to him and his heart was very warm with love to them, so he called them, «my brethren dearly beloved,» and then again, «my dearly beloved.» Philippians 4:2. _I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord._ These two women had fallen out with one another, they evidently differe

IV. CHRIST, THE BELIEVER'S STRENGTH, SUFFICIENT FOR ALL CIRCUMSTANCES CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Stand fast and rejoice (Philippians 4:1)_ 2. Dependence on God and true heart occupation (Philippians 4:5) 3. I can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:10) 4. The fellowship of the Philippians (Philippians 4:14) 5. The greeting (Philippians 4:21) Philippians 4:1 And now the

PHP_4:10-18. THANKS FOR THE GIFTS. The Philippians had sent assistance to Paul several times. They had begun when he was at Thessalonica, sending there twice. Now Epaphroditus has been bringing a more recent contribution. Paul delights in this because it is a fruit of Christian grace in the good people who send it. He regards it as a fragrant sacrifice to God. As for himself, he has no anxiety about such matters because he has learnt how to have abundance and how to suffer want. He is independent in regard to both _extremes, being_ able to endure everything that happens through the one who strengthens him, meaning either God or Christ (Christ is not in the best MSS)....