2 Corinthians 4:18 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

While we look That is, this weight of glory will be wrought out for us while we look, or provided we look, namely, by faith and expectation; not at the things which are seen Men, money, honour, pleasure, the things of earth; for to look at these will only render us more earthly and carnal, more unfit for the heavenly state; but at the things which are not seen God, Christ, grace, glory; the things of heaven: to look at which with faith, desire, and expectation, will naturally tend to render us more heavenly, holy, and divine, in our intentions and affections. The word σκοπεω here used, and rendered to look, properly signifies to look or aim at a mark which we intend to hit, or an object which we wish to lay hold on, and consequently endeavour to obtain; our English word scope, or mark aimed at, is derived from the same Greek theme. For the things which are seen, &c. As if he had said, We have great reason to desire, expect, and aim at the latter, rather than the former; for the former, being visible, are also temporal, or temporary and transient; but the others, which are invisible, are eternal, and therefore suited to the duration of that immortal soul which God hath given us, and in the felicity of which our true happiness must consist. This quality of future happiness, that it is eternal, not only implies that its joys and glories will have no end, not even after a duration hath passed beyond all computation of numbers, or conception in thought, but also that these joys will suffer no interruption or abatement whatever, in the course of a duration absolutely everlasting.