Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

Ecclesiastes 12

The wise and penitent preacher is here closing his sermon; and he closes it, not only lie a good orator, but like a good preacher, with that which was likely to make the best impressions and which he wished might be powerful and lasting upon his hearers. Here is, I. An exhortation to young people to begin betimes to be religious and not to put it off to old age (Ecclesiastes 12:1), enforced with arguments taken from the calamities of old age (Ecclesiastes 12:1-12:5) and the great change that death will make upon us, Ecclesiastes 12:6, 12:7. II. A repetition of the great truth he had undertaken to prove in this discourse, the vanity of the world, Ecclesiastes 12:8. III. A confirmation and recommendation of what he had written in this and his other books, as worthy to be duly weighed and considered, Ecclesiastes 12:9. IV. The whole matter summed up and concluded, with a charge to all to be truly religious, in consideration of the judgment to come, Ecclesiastes 12:13, 12:14. MHBCC 672.1