Matthew Henry: His Life and Influence

by Allan M. Harman

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) is highly–valued by contemporary preachers and Bible users. Here we get a closer look at the life of Matthew Henry by an author who has had a life–long interest in Matthew Henry and his writings. Matthew Henry was the son of a Puritan pastor who had been silenced by the government of the time. Nevertheless Philip Henry, a godly man reared his family on Christian principles and Matthew followed the Lord from an early age. Although it was difficult to find suitable ministerial training, Matthew Henry eventually studied for the ministry. With government opposition relaxing, he became a Presbyterian pastor in Chester in 1687 and later in London from 1712. It is astonishing to note the amount of preaching and writing that he accomplished despite suffering from ill–health and knowing intense sorrow in his family life.

Genres: Biography, Christian, Church History

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2012

Reviews

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matthew Henry is truly a godly man. His ability to write so prolifically while leading a family and pastoring a church, and preaching so widely is unbelievable. This biography does a good job at telling about Matthew Henry's life. However, I found the material very repetitive. It seems as though the author ran out of material after chapter 10 and then wrote four more chapters to make this book of greater length. The final four chapters were not cohesive with the rest of the book, more like independent essays that were added on. The author refers to the fact that Matthew Henry's diary was lost, he does so several times (three I think), and offers that fact as an apology for the lack of detail into his life. This loss, and the author's inability to provide the depth from other sources, makes this biography impersonal. I am left knowing about Matthew Henry, but not knowing Matthew Henry.

[Suzy Crocket · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book quite educational. It was interesting to read a lot of the church history around the post-Puritan period of England. I also enjoyed the many diary entries, letters, etc. in the book. I love the way they talked and wrote back then. So eloquent, and such a rich vocabulary.

I was very impressed by the piety of Matthew Henry and particularly of his father and mother. The way they instructed their children in the home about the Lord, the Bible and Christian living was amazing, and a challenge to me as a parent.

I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, because it was a little bit repetitive in places.

[Bob Hayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

For nearly three hundred years, the most widely used and respected whole Bible commentary has been Matthew Henry's Exposition of the Old and New Testaments. Matthew Henry teaches the Bible in simple, memorable phrases, aiming to both inform the reader and promote deeper devotion to Christ. His Christ-centered approach, clarity of thought and pastoral emphasis on applying the text have kept his work in demand these many years. Yet compared to the authors of other comparable Christian classics, we remember very little of Matthew Henry the man. So it was with a mixture of curiosity and interest that I picked up Matthew Henry: His Life and Influence by Allan Harman (Christian Focus, 2012).

I wasn't sure what to expect, as I thought this book was just a brief overview of Henry's life and a discussion of his legacy. I was pleased instead to find a thoroughly researched, well-written biography of Matthew Henry. Harman details the life of Philip Henry, Matthew's father, and the difficulties facing nonconformist Puritan ministers in late seventeenth century England. He goes on to detail Matthew Henry's life and ministry before focusing on his writings and lasting influence. Along the way he provides excerpts of Henry's sermons, diary and letters, to fill out the portrait of his life.

Matthew Henry's life and ministry

Matthew Henry was born in 1662 to a Puritan minister's family. His father, an Oxford-trained minister, lost his church due to the Act of Uniformity, ultimately never returning to a pulpit ministry. Instead he trained his children, and conducted services for his own house and servants and took many a preacher boy under his wing. Nearly all of Matthew Henry's schooling, which included training in Greek, Latin and Hebrew, came at his father's hand. Matthew Henry took the pastorate of a Presbyterian church in Chester, where he ministered for 26 years, before moving near London. Henry was sickly most of his life, and endured many personal trials. He lost his first wife and several children to illness. His oldest son rejected Christianity, even taking his mother's maiden name as his own. Henry died in 1714, just 2 years after moving to London for greater ministry opportunities. Yet in the midst of a busy ministry, which saw Henry give numerous sermons or lessons each week, he found time to write what would become the most loved commentary on Scripture in the English language.

Matthew Henry's writings and legacy

Henry's Exposition was published in a series of volumes, beginning in 1706 up through his death in 1714. It took him just under 8 years to write his notes on the Old Testament, and he had just finished the Gospels and Acts (in 2 years) before his death. He left detailed notes on Romans and Revelation, and since he had also preached through both testaments several times in the course of his ministry, some of his friends completed the sixth volume of the commentary after his death. Besides his commentary, Henry wrote a widely-used children's catechism, a book of family hymns (some set to his own translations from the Hebrew), a biography of his father Philip Henry, and an influential book on prayer (A Method of Prayer). Besides these he published some pamphlets, other devotional books and some of his sermons. His last published book betrays the emphasis of his life and ministry: it's title was The Pleasantness of a Religious Life Opened and Improved; and Recommended to the Consideration of All, Particularly of Young People. Harman's comments on this book are worth repeating:

Modern readers have to understand that this book encompasses the Puritans' vision of the Christian life. They were not morbid and unfeeling. Rather, serving God was with them a thing of the highest joy. Matthew Henry expressed the Christian's pleasure in God as one 'which has no pain attending to it, no bitterness in the latter end of it; a pleasure which God himself invites you to, and which will make you happy, truly and eternally happy, and shall not this work for you?' (Kindle location 3263-66)

Matthew Henry's commentary has been praised by many down through the years. Charles Spurgeon recommended that his students read it through at least once, preferrably during their first year of ministry. John Ryland, a Baptist pastor of the eighteenth century, said of Matthew Henry's commentary "a person cannot begin to read without wishing he was shut out from all the world, and able to read it through, without stopping" (Kindle location 3507-10). Harman takes pains to demonstrate the influence of Matthew Henry on Jonathan Edwards, John and Charles Wesley, and George Whitfield. There certainly is evidence that these men drew from Henry's expository "well" as they carried out their own ministry. The widespread availability of Henry's commentary, in abridged or unabridged format, and online or coupled with Bible software programs such as e-sword is the definitive statement of Henry's lasting legacy. It is arguably the most accessible commentary to the average Bible reader today, and it is indeed average Bible readers for whom Henry wrote his Exposition.

Evaluation of the book

Allan Harman has done the Church a service in refocusing attention onto Matthew Henry, whose commentary has been such a perpetual blessing for so many. The book reads easily, although at times some of the details that a researcher revels in, may get in the way of the account. Harman has written essays on various aspects of Matthew Henry's life or writings, and at times it seems that he has strung together different pieces into one book. This leads to some noticeable repetition in a few spots.

Harman brings out quite a few interesting tidbits that are not widely known. Henry worked on the the last half of the book of Ezra for his commentary in the middle of the night when his wife was in labor!! He also brings out the fact that Charles Wesley's hymn "A Charge to Keep I Have" is based on Henry's comment on Leviticus 8:35. He also notes that from our perspective, Henry should have spent more of his free time with his family and looked after his health more. Harman also includes pictures of Henry's old church, his study, and other places of interest.

Another fault of the book might be how Harman spends so much time detailing Matthew Henry's childhood home and family life from when he was a child, but so relatively little time on Henry's own home and his time with his children. Perhaps this is due to having less resources to work with, as Matthew Henry's diary has not survived and we are dependent on quotes from earlier works for this information. On the whole, the book is solidly done and accomplishes what it sets out to. Henry's life is detailed, we are transported back to seventeenth century England and the world of the Puritans, and we even imagine ourselves in the pews of his church in Chester.

This biography will encourage many, myself included, to pick up Matthew Henry's commentary again and spend some time reading through it. And it will also lead to a greater appreciation of the lasting impact of a simple ministry in a country church-and of a life well lived. Henry himself pointed out shortly before his death "that a holy, heavenly life, spent in the service of God and communion with him, is the most pleasant and comfortable life that anyone can live in this world" (Kindle location 3706-8) Matthew Heny lived such a life, and this is why studying Henry's life is so worthwhile. May God give us more men like Matthew Henry!

Disclaimer: This book was provided by Christian Focus Publications for review. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant little biography on Matthew Henry, famous for his six-volume commentary. If you can read this inspiring work about the life of Henry without being humbled, encouraged, and even pushed in your spiritual piety, then read it again.

[Seth Mcdevitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect biography. Short, full of useful and interesting information. Easy and entertaining to read. Easily worth the time and money.

[Michael Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

We often read and benefit greatly from his commentaries, but now we can get to know the man even better with this little biography. Very highly recommended.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I looked forward to reading Allan Harman’s new book Matthew Henry – His Life and Influence because I have used Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the whole Bible since my teenage years in preparation for Sunday School lessons and speaking engagements as well as for personal Bible study. Harman begins by setting the background, giving a brief overview of the Puritans and the society of that time. He also writes very much about Matthew Henry’s father Philip. As an aside, I was intrigued to find that the saying: ’He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose’ actually originated with Philip Henry: ‘He is no fool who parts with that which he cannot keep, when he is sure to be recompensed with that which he cannot lose’.

The following chapters go through Matthew Henry’s childhood, education, pastoral experiences and his writings. The final four chapters are, more-or-less, a summary of the whole book but looking specifically at Matthew Henry as a preacher, as a commentator, and as a writer, and the lasting impact he has had.

When I read about Matthew Henry’s home life and childhood, I was not surprised that he wrote such an excellent Bible commentary in his later years. He was well taught in spiritual things and his father gave him a good grounding in practical Bible knowledge. Even as a child, Matthew took notes on sermons he heard. On Saturday afternoons he and his siblings were encouraged to spend an hour in preparation for Sunday, and Matthew as the oldest child led these times. It was said of his home:

Surely God is in this Place; this is no other than the House of God and the Gate of Heaven.

A lovely thing to be said of any Christian home!

Matthew used his whole education, including a year studying law, in his pastoral work (in applying Bible truths to his congregation) and in his writing. He studied his Bible diligently and was methodical in note taking/keeping his whole life.

His first congregation was in Chester, and after many invitations and much heartsearching and praying, he eventually moved to Hackney in London because he felt he could serve God better by preaching and writing there.

There was a definite connection between his commentary and his pastoral ministry. The one was borne out of the other. His commentary was remarkable for its day, and it is a mark of the man of God he was that it is still in use some 300 years later. Matthew’s writings have influenced many Christians through the generations including Jonathan Edwards, John and Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, and Charles Haddon Spurgeon. There are very few other Puritan Christians who are household names as Matthew Henry is.

I enjoyed finding out more of Matthew Henry’s life, learning about the man behind the book, but I did find his biographer’s writing style somewhat dry.

I am grateful to Christian Focus for providing me with a complementary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a review.

[Coralie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As indicated by the title, the book is divided into two parts. The first is a very complete chronological account of Henry's life and times, including one of the best summaries of the Puritan era in England I have ever read, and a chapter devoted to the life of Patrick Henry - Matthew's father and greatest influence. Biographies have two potential pitfalls: a dry delineation of dates and facts, or a work so filled with speculation on the subjects emotions and thoughts as to be almost fictional. Harman manages to write a compelling factual biography without wandering into the realm of conjecture. Where the original sources are silent, Harman acknowledges the absence without apologizing or hypothesizing. He does, however, draw such a clear picture of Matthew Henry's life, that I found myself tearing up a little as the final biographical chapter that contained Henry's death drew to its inevitable conclusion.

The second portion of the book is a systematic analysis of Henry's primary areas of influence. This includes Matthew Henry the Preacher, Matthew Henry the Commentator, his other writings, and his impact on Christendom. It is here that Harman allows his voice to stand out and his admiration for the subject of his work is clear. I really enjoyed the second half of the book with one exception. There are pages at the beginning of each influence chapter that seem to be copied verbatim from the biographical chapters. Having just read those chapters, with the material so fresh in my mind, I would have preferred a brief summary. This being my only complaint, I am happy to heartily recommend ​Matthew Henry: His Life and ​Influence​ by Allan Harman to anyone who has used Matthew Henry's commentaries and would like to make the acquaintance of the pastor's heart behind the words.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Henry is still well known for his large commentary on the Bible that has been around for over 300 years. Although his commentary is regularly consulted by preachers looking for inspiration and insight and beheld by bewildered Bible students for its bountiful insights, the life of the author is largely unknown by most of its readers. I myself was in that position, using my Henry Commentary for occasional insights and to flatten small objects under it enormous weight, but sadly unaware of fascinating life of the man who produced most of it.

This biography starts with a brief history of the Dissenting Churches and the social and political struggles they faced. We are then shown the life of Philip Henry, Matthew Henry's father, in light of the Act of Uniformity and the Great Ejection. Allan Harman does a great job of describing the home life, struggles, and spiritual walk of Philip Henry's family.

The following chapters cover Matthew Henry's life as a student, his call to ministry, and the many years of service in the Chester and Hackney congregations. We are shown his personal tragedies, such as the death of his first wife after a few months of marriage, and his fruitful career as pastor and writer.

The book then provides helpful chapters summarizing his career as an author and his influence on the church over the last 300+ years.

I found this book very encouraging and I'm more eager to consult Matthew Henry's commentary now that I know something of the author. From now on, "Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary, Second Edition" will need to bear most of my flattening duties. Matthew Henry's Commentary will be closer to my desk and my heart.

[Kathy Penrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have used Matthew Henry's commentary for many years. I use it for times of Bible study but I have also used it as a devotional in my quiet times. This biography is fairly short but that doesn't mean it is a superficial or incomplete account of his life. The writing flows nicely and held my attention throughout. The first half of the book is written as a typical biography and the second half is divided into sections covering his preaching, commentary, other writings, and the impact of his writings on others such as the Wesleys and Whitefield. I found this way of constructing the book quite enjoyable to read.

[Julian Seibel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Habe die Biografie bereits zweimal gelesen und immer wieder ermutigend und inspirierend, in das Leben des Henry Matthew hineinzuschauen. Unglaubliches Wirken im Dienst und beeindruckend, welchen Einfluss sein Vater auf ihn hatte. Es ermutigt mich, für Gott alles zu geben. Das ist das schönste und angenehmste Leben, das man auf dieser Welt führen kann.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. I learned a lot. Review coming on my blog, myborrowedwords.wordpress.com

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book to remind me of how soft and fragile we moderns have become. The uncertainty of life in Matthew Henry's time did not hinder the minister. It made it bold and untiring.

[Elliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good bits. Some boring bits. A great man.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful look in to the life of an important commentator whose work has had a great impact on the church.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, well written work about the man whose commentary used to be well read, used, and quoted. A remarkable man and pastor for his times.