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1. That we labour our hearts betimes to a sensibleness of these thorns. A thorn swallowed into the flesh, if it be not looked to, rankles. Sin without repentance will fester in the soul, and is so much more perilous as it is less felt.

2. After sense of the smart, will follow a desire of remedy. The throbbing conscience would be at ease, and freed from the thorn that vexeth it. Take we heed that we despise not this medicine. The law was so far from drawing out these thorns, that it would drive them in further, and cause them to rankle in the heart, without any hope of ease. There is a threefold gradation in the penalty: rejection, malediction, combustion — "is rejected," "is nigh unto cursing," "and the end there of is to be burned." And it seems to have a relation to a threefold distinction of time.

1. For the present, "it is rejected."

2. For instance, or appropinquation, "it is nigh unto cursing."

3. For future certainty, "the end of it is to be burned." As men commonly deal with thorns: first, they cut them up with bills and mattocks; then they lay them by to wither; and, lastly, burn them in the furnace.

1. Rejection. This which we here translate "is rejected," is in the original, ἀδόκιμος, which may signify reprobus, or, reprobatus — so Beza hath it — is reproved, or disallowed of God. This ground shall have no ground in heaven, no part in God's inheritance. It is reprobate silver, not current with the Lord.

2. The second degree of the punishment is cursing; and this may seem to exceed the former. The whole vial of wrath is not poured on at once; but first there is a despising or rejection, to let the wicked see how hateful their vices are in God's sight. If this serve not, they are not suddenly cursed; but there is a merciful space between cursing and burning. So slowly cloth God proceed to judgment. He is speedy to deliver, to save, to give His blessing; but He hath leaden feet when He comes to strike.

3. The last and sorest degree of the punishment is burning. I will not discourse whether the fire of that everlastingly hot furnace be material or spiritual. Surely it is strangely terrible; and we are blessed if we neither understand it nor undergo it.

(1). This privation of blessedness may seem to be implied in the first degree here mentioned — rejection. The reprobate are cast away of God. Much like that form of the last sentence (Matthew 25:41).

(2). This is not all. The privation of blessed joys is not enough: there must follow the position of cursed torments. They rejected God, and He rejects them; they adhered to wickedness, and it shall adhere to their hones for ever, and bring them to burning. Their torments, which are here expressed by fire, have two fearful conditions — universality and eternity. (I). They are universal, vexing every part of the body and power of the soul.

(2). They are eternal. Let the commination of hell instruct us to prevent it, as the message of Nineveh's overthrow effected their safety.

1. Let us flee by a true faith into the arms of our Redeemer, that God reject us not.

2. Let us pour forth floods of repentant tears, that we be not nigh unto cursing.

3. And let us bring forth no more briers and thorns, that our end may not be to be burned. Faith, repentance, obedience; this same golden rule of three will teach us to work up our own salvation. This done, we shall not be rejected, but known to be elected; we shall be so far from cursing, that we shall presently receive the blessing; and our end shall be, not fire, but glory and peace (Psalm 37:37).

(T. Adams.)

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KJV: For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

WEB: For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it, and brings forth a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God;