For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Ver. 2. But not before God] Who when he begins to search our sacks, as the steward did Benjamin's, can find out those our thieveries that we thought not of; bring to mind and light those sins that we had forgotten, or not observed. When he comes to turn the bottom of the bag upwards it will be bitter with us. Abimelech's excuse was accepted, and yet his sin was chastised, Genesis 20:6. Vae hominum vitae quantumvis laudabili, si remora misericordia iudicetur. The best lamb should abide the slaughter, except the rams were sacrificed, that Isaac might be saved.