SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:15
como est escrito: El que recogi mucho, no tuvo ms; y el que poco, no tuvo menos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 8:15
Verse 15. He that had gathered much, had nothing over] On the passage to which the apostle alludes, Exod. xvi. 18, I have stated that, probably, every man gathered as much manna as he could, and when he brought it home and measured it by the omer, (for this was the measure for each man's eating,) if he had a surplus it went to the supply of some other family that had not been able to collect enough; the family being large, and the time in which the manna might be gathered, before the heat of the day, not being sufficient to collect a supply for so numerous a household; several of whom might be so confined as not to be able to collect for themselves. Thus there was an equality among the Israelites in reference to this thing; and in this light these words of St. Paul lead us to view the passage. To apply this to the present case: the Corinthians, in the course of God's providence, had gathered more than was absolutely necessary for their own support; by giving the surplus to the persecuted and impoverished Christian Jews these would be an equality; both would then possess the necessaries of life, though still the one might have more property than the other.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. As it is written , etc..] In ( Exodus 16:18) he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack ; respect is had to the history of the manna, a sort of food God prepared for the Israelites in the wilderness; and which were gathered by them every morning, by some more, by others less; and yet when it came to be measured, every man had his omer and no more, one had nothing over, and the other not at all deficient; each man had his proper and equal quantity; and which, by the Jews f69 , is looked upon as a miracle that was wrought: many useful instructions may be learned from this history, as that as there was a general provision made by God for the Israelites, good and bad, and the mixed multitude that came from Egypt with them; so there is an universal providence of God which reaches to all creatures, even to the vegetable, to the birds of the air, and beasts of the field, to all the individuals of human nature, and to the bad among them as well as the good; though to the latter it is more special, who of all men have the least reason to be distrustful and uneasy: and as that provision was daily, so is that providential supply which all creatures have from God; he is to be trusted to, and depended on daily; application is to be made to him every day for daily bread; nor should there be any anxious concern for the morrow. Moreover, as the Israelites, though the manna was prepared for them, were to rise in the morning and gather it before the sun waxed hot; so notwithstanding the providence of God, and the daily care he takes of men, yet diligence, industry, and the use of means are highly commendable. And as some gathered more and others less, yet upon measuring it with the omer, there was an entire equality, one had not more nor less than another; so upon the winding up of things in Providence, such as have gathered much riches in the morning of life, in the evening of death will have nothing over, nor anything to show more than others; and they that have gathered little will appear to have had no lack; both will have had food and raiment, and no more, only with this difference, some will have enjoyed a richer diet and clothing, and others a meaner, and both suitable to their circumstances in life; which may instruct us to depend upon divine Providence, daily to be content with such things as we have, and to make a proper use of what is gathered, whether more or less, and not only for ourselves, but for the good of others. This discovers the egregious folly of such, who are anxiously concerned for the gathering and amassing much worldly riches together; which when they have done, they lay it up for themselves, and do not make use of it for common good, neither for the good of civil society, nor the interest of religion. Let it be observed, that those Israelites who from a selfish covetous disposition, and distrust of divine Providence, left of their manna till the morning, it bred worms and stank: which was by the just judgment of God inflicted as a punishment; for otherwise it was capable of being kept longer. So when covetous mortals lay up for themselves for time to come, and do not communicate to the necessities of others, such a practice breeds and produces worms, moth, and rottenness in their estates, which gradually decrease, or are suddenly taken from them, or they from them: such an evil disposition is the root and cause of many immoralities in life; it greatly prejudices professors of religion in things spiritual; and it tends to their everlasting ruin, to breed that worm of an evil conscience that will never die, and to render their persons stinking and abominable, both in the sight of God and men.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 10-15 - Good purposes are like buds and blossoms, pleasant to behold, and giv hopes of good fruit; but they are lost, and signify nothing withou good deeds. Good beginnings are well; but we lose the benefit, unles there is perseverance. When men purpose that which is good, an endeavour, according to their ability, to perform also, God will no reject them for what it is not in their power to do. But this scriptur will not justify those who think good meanings are enough, or that goo purposes, and the mere profession of a willing mind, are enough to save. Providence gives to some more of the good things of this world and to some less, that those who have abundance might supply others wh are in want. It is the will of God, that by our mutual supplying on another, there should be some sort of equality; not such a levelling a would destroy property, for in such a case there could be no exercis of charity. All should think themselves concerned to relieve those in want. This is shown from the gathering and giving out the manna in the wilderness, Ex 16:18. Those who have most of this world, have no mor than food and raiment; and those who have but little of this world seldom are quite without them.
Greek Textus Receptus
καθως 2531 ADV γεγραπται 1125 5769 V-RPI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM το 3588 T-ASN πολυ 4183 A-ASN ουκ 3756 PRT-N επλεονασεν 4121 5656 V-AAI-3S και 2532 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM το 3588 T-ASN ολιγον 3641 A-ASN ουκ 3756 PRT-N ηλαττονησεν 1641 5656 V-AAI-3S
