2 Corinthians 9:7

7 Each man as he casted in his heart [Each man as he cast in his heart], not of heaviness, or of need; for God loveth a glad giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 9:7

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart
Which is not to be understood of the quantity, or any set sum he has fixed upon in his mind to give; but of the quality or nature of giving; or of the manner in which he is to give:

so let him give;
of his own will and free choice, from his very heart; not as directed and forced by others, but according to his own counsel and determination:

not grudgingly;
or not of grief; with pain and uneasiness of mind, grieving at parting with what is given, reflecting on the persons that move him to it, or on the objects moved for. The Jews ^F7 reckon this the lowest degree of all in giving alms; "when a man gives to anyone" (bueb) , "with grief", to which the apostle seems to refer: who adds,

or of necessity;
of force, by coaction, being obliged to it by the influence, example, or commands of superiors; or through the powerful motives, or prevailing entreaties of others; for without these, men, according to their abilities, should give of themselves freely and liberally:

for God loveth a cheerful giver;
or one that gives (twpy Mynp rbob) , "with a cheerful countenance", as the Jews ^F8 say; or as elsewhere {i}, "with a cheerful heart": their rule is this,

``he that doth the commandment, i.e. alms, let him do it (xmv blb) , "with a cheerful heart".''

Who looks pleasantly on the person or persons that move him to it, or on the object to whom he gives; who parts with his money willingly, and takes delight in doing good to others; such givers God loves: not that their cheerful beneficence is the cause of his special peculiar love to them in his own heart, which arises from nothing in man, or done by him; but the meaning is, that God does well to such persons; shows his love to them; he lets them know how kindly he takes such acts of theirs, by prospering and succeeding them in their worldly affairs. In the Septuagint in ( Proverbs 22:8 ) are these words, "God blesses a cheerful man, and a giver", which the apostle refers to.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 Maimon. Mattanot Anayim, c. 10. sect. 14.
F8 Maimon. Mattanot Anayim, c. 10. sect. 13.
F9 Vajikra Rabba, fol. 174. 1. Parash. 34.

2 Corinthians 9:7 In-Context

5 Therefore I guessed necessary to pray brethren, that they come before to you, and make ready this promised blessing to be ready, so as blessing, and not as avarice.

6 For I say this thing [This thing forsooth I say], he that soweth scarcely, shall also reap scarcely; and he that soweth in blessings, shall reap also of blessings.

7 Each man as he casted in his heart [Each man as he cast in his heart], not of heaviness, or of need; for God loveth a glad giver.

8 And God is mighty to make all grace abound in you, that ye in all things evermore have all sufficience, and abound into all good work [that ye, in all things evermore having all sufficience, abound into all good work];

9 as it is written, He dealed abroad, he gave to poor men, his rightwiseness dwelleth without end [his rightwiseness dwelleth into without end].