And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Ver. 3. And they that be wise.] And in addition do what they can do to wisen others to salvation, as all wise ones will; for goodness is diffusive of itself, and would have others to share with it. Charity is no churl.
Shall shine as the brightness of the firmament.] A good amends for their present sufferings. Dan 11:33 Rom 8:18 Solomon allowed little or no considerable reward to his workmen, Son 8:12 but Christ doth. For they shall shine as the firmament; yea, as the stars; yea, as the sun in his strength; Mat 13:43 yea, as Christ himself shineth, they shall appear with him in glory. Col 3:4 Their souls shall shine through their bodies as the candle doth through the lantern; their bodies shall also be so lightsome and transparent, saith Aquinas, that all the veins, humours, nerves, and bowels shall be seen as in a glass; for so the light pierceth the firmament and stars. Let us therefore keep these bodies of ours clean and free of filth, that they may be fit vessels and receptacles of such a transcendent glory.
And they that turn many to righteousness.] Heb., That justify many; scil., Ministerially, as instmments in Christ's hand; for "we preach Christ," yea, we give what we preach; "we give the knowledge of salvation for the remission of sins"; Luk 1:17 we deliver men from hell; Job 33:24 we save the souls of them that hear us. 1Ti 4:16
As the stars for ever and ever.] What a glorious place is heaven then! Festinemus ad clarissimam patriam: corrigamus mores et moras, &c. What though Christ's ministers be here slighted and slurred? they shall one day shine as stars, yea, the meanest of them, velut inter stellas luna minores. What then the Doctores seraphici?