OLBGrk;
I have spread out my hands; applied to the Jews, Romans 10:21, I have stretched out my hands; that is, I have used all probable means to reduce them, I have stretched out the hands of a passionate orator to persuade them, of a tender mother to protect and defend them, of a liberal benefactor to lead them with my benefits; this I have done continually in the whole course of my providence with them, yet they are a rebellious people. Paul expounded it by, apeiyounta kai antigegonta, a people not persuaded, not believing, but contradicting the will of God. Which walketh in a way that was not good; that term, is not good, often signifies what is very bad: see 1 Samuel 2:21 Proverbs 24:23, Proverbs 28:21 Psalms 36:4. Though all sins be not equal, yet what is not good is bad. After their own thoughts: what is here called after their own thoughts, is elsewhere called a walking after the imaginations of their hearts; an ordinary phrase, by which sins (especially sins in the matter of the worship of God) are expressed. Eight times, in the prophet Jeremiah sinning is thus expressed, Jeremiah 3:17, Jeremiah 7:24 9:14 11:8 13:10 16:12 18:12 23:17; so also Deuteronomy 29:19. Errors in matter of worship are ordinarily thus expressed, certainly to let us know that all worship must be according to God's revealed will, and of such errors this text seemeth, by what followeth, to speak; though indeed the reason of all sin is men's fondness of their own imaginations in opposition to God's revealed will, whence it is that self-denial is made the law of a discipleship to Christ.