A wicked messenger falleth into mischief
That does not do his errand right, nor deliver his message
faithfully; such an one falls from the degree of honour in which
he was into disgrace; he loses his master's favour that sent him;
he is degraded from his post and office: he falls "by evil", or
"into evil" F18; by the evil of sin, into the evil
of punishment. So wicked ministers and false teachers, such who
transform themselves into the apostles of Christ and into angels
of light, who corrupt the word of God, and handle it deceitfully;
these shall receive their just condemnation; since they do a deal
of mischief to the souls of men, and therefore shall fall into
mischief themselves, even into everlasting perdition; but a
faithful ambassador [is] health;
or, "an ambassador of truths" {s}; one that performs his embassy
well and truly, he is salutary, useful, and profitable to
himself, and to them that send him: the word for ambassador is
translated an "hinge", ( Proverbs
26:14 ) ; and he is so called, because upon his negotiations
abroad the hinge of political affairs turn at home. An ambassador
of Christ, who does his work faithfully, keeps back nothing that
is profitable, but declares the whole counsel of God; the sound
doctrines he delivers are health to the souls of men; as well as
he is approved of God and Christ; and so it turns to his own
health and advantage, who will hear one day said unto him, "Well
done, good and faithful servant", ( Matthew
25:23 ) .