20 But Gehazi , the servant of Elisha the man of God , thought , "Behold , my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean , by not receiving from his hands what he brought . As the Lord lives , I will run after him and take something from him." 21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman . When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him and said , "Is all well ?" 22 He said , " All is well . My master has sent me, saying , 'Behold , just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim . Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes .' " 23 Naaman said , " Be pleased to take two talents ." And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes and gave them to two of his servants ; and they carried them before him. 24 When he came to the hill , he took them from their hand and deposited them in the house , and he sent the men away , and they departed . 25 But he went in and stood before his master . And Elisha said to him, "Where have you been, Gehazi ?" And he said , " Your servant went nowhere e ." 26 Then he said to him, "Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money and to receive clothes and olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants e ? 27 "Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever ." So he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 5:20-27
Commentary on 2 Kings 5:20-27
(Read 2 Kings 5:20-27)
Naaman, a Syrian, a courtier, a soldier, had many servants, and we read how wise and good they were. Elisha, a holy prophet, a man of God, has but one servant, and he proves a base liar. The love of money, that root of all evil, was at the bottom of Gehazi's sin. He thought to impose upon the prophet, but soon found that the Spirit of prophecy could not be deceived, and that it was in vain to lie to the Holy Ghost. It is folly to presume upon sin, in hopes of secrecy. When thou goest aside into any by-path, does not thy own conscience go with thee? Does not the eye of God go with thee? He that covers his sin, shall not prosper; particularly, a lying tongue is but for a moment. All the foolish hopes and contrivances of carnal worldlings are open before God. It is not a time to increase our wealth, when we can only do it in such ways as are dishonourable to God and religion, or injurious to others. Gehazi was punished. If he will have Naaman's money, he shall have his disease with it. What was Gehazi profited, though he gained two talents, when thereby he lost his health, his honour, his peace, his service, and, if repentance prevented not, his soul for ever? Let us beware of hypocrisy and covetousness, and dread the curse of spiritual leprosy remaining on our souls.