Ver. 6. Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness , etc.] As the Pharisee did, in ( Luke 18:11,12); and as the Pharisees in common did; who did all their works to be seen of men, and made clean the outside of the cup and platter; and were very careful to appear outwardly righteous to men, ( Matthew 23:5,25,28). And indeed this is the general cast of men; everyone is proclaiming his goodness to others, and would be thought to be good men; and cannot be easy with doing a good action, unless it is known, and particularly acts of beneficence and almsdeeds; and are like the Pharisees, who, on such occasions, sounded a trumpet before them, ( Matthew 6:2). And the word may be rendered, “his mercy” f556 , or his kindness to the poor: the Targum renders it, “many of the children of men are called merciful men;” and so the Vulgate Latin version; and they like to be so called and accounted, whether they are so or not; but a faithful man who can find ? who answers to the character he gives of himself, or others upon his own representation give him; who is as good as his word, and, having promised assistance and relief, gives it; and who, having boasted that he has done a kindness to such an one and such an one, does the same likewise to another when applied to; or who sticks to his friend, and does not forsake him in his adversity, but supports and supplies him whom he knew in prosperity; it is hard and rare to find such a man; (see Psalm 12:1). Or, though every man is talking of his good works, and boasting of his goodness, it is difficult to find an Israelite indeed, in whom the true grace of God is.
