Proverbs 3:27

“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, etc.] Honour, reverence, and tribute, to civil magistrates, (<451307>Romans 13:7,8); just payment of debts to creditors, and alms to the poor, which, by what follows, seems to be chiefly intended; and the Septuagint render it, “do not abstain to do well to the needy;” and Aben Ezra interprets it of the poor; to them alms are due because of their wants, and by the appointment; of God; hence called “righteousness”, in some copies of (<400601>Matthew 6:1); so money kept from the poor “mammon of unrighteousness”, (<421609>Luke 16:9). They are, as the word in the Hebrew text signifies, “the owners thereof”f80: rich men are not so much proprietors of…”

“Promptly fulfil all obligations both of justice and charity (compare Jam 2:15-16).”

“A marked change in style. The continuous exhortation is replaced by a series of maxims. From them to whom it is due - literally, as in the margin. The precept expresses the great Scriptural thought that the so-called possession of wealth is but a stewardship; that the true owners of what we call our own are those to whom, with it, we may do good. Not to relieve them is a breach of trust. Proverbs 3:28 Procrastination is especially fatal to the giving impulse. The Septuagint adds the caution: “for thou knowest not what the morrow will bring forth.” Proverbs 3:29 Securely - i. e., “With full trust,” without care or suspicion. Compare Judges 18:7, Judges 18:27. Proverbs 3:31 A protest against…”

“With - hold not - Do not deny it, but readily and chearfuly impart it. Good - Any thing which is good, either counsel, comfort, reproof, or the good things of the present life. Due - That is, to all men, by that great and sovereign law of love. Proverbs 3:28”

“3:27-28 A wise person is a kind and helpful neighbor. Proverbs strongly emphasizes helping the financially needy (11:24; 28:27; 29:7, 14).”

“Withhold: Rom 13:7; Gal 6:10; Tit 2:14; Jam 2:15, Jam 2:16, Jam 5:4 them to whom it is due: Heb. the owners thereof in the: Gen 31:29; Mic 2:1 Proverbs 3:28”

“The first illustration of neighbourly love which is recommended, is readiness to serve: 27 Refuse no manner of good to him to whom it is due When it is in thy power to do it. 28 Say not to thy neighbour, "Go, and come again, To-morrow I will give it," whilst yet thou hast it. Regarding the intensive plur. בּעליו with a sing. meaning, see under Pro 1:19. The form of expression without the suffix is not בּעלי but בּעל טוב; and this denotes here, not him who does good (בעל as Arab. dhw or ṣaḥab), but him to whom the good deed is done (cf. Pro 17:8), i.e., as here, him who is worthy of it (בעל as Arab. âhl), him who is the man for it (Jewish interp.: מי שׁהוא ראוי לו). We must refuse nothing…”