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The text has to do with owners of corn and dealers in it. In Solomon's day famines were frequent, and were serious because trade communications between different countries were so uncertain. Then persons would buy up all the corn they could, so as to unduly raise the market-price. In relation to this greed in trade, there is a wonderful reserve of Holy Scripture. Mr. Arnot says, "In this brief maxim no arbitrary rule is laid down to the possessor of corn, that he must sell at a certain period and at a certain price: and yet the hungry are not left without a protecting law. The protection of the weak is entrusted not to small police regulations, but to great self-acting providential arrangements. The double fact is recorded in terms of peculiar distinctness, that he who in times of scarcity keeps up his corn in order to enrich himself is loathed by the people, and he who sells it freely is loved. This is all. There is no further legislation on the subject." Laws which interfere between buyer and seller, master and workman, are blunders and nuisances. The market goes best when it is left alone, and so in our text there is no law enacted and no penalty threatened, except that which the nature of things makes inevitable. A man may do as he pleases about selling or not, but he cannot escape from the curse of the people if he chooses to lock up his grain. But if it bring a curse upon a man to withhold the bread that perisheth, what a weight of curse will light upon the man who withholds the bread of eternal life.

I. HOW CAN THIS BE DONE?

1. By locking up the Word of God in an unknown language, or by delivering and preaching it in such a style that the people shall not comprehend it. Illustrate by the practice of the Roman Church. But the terms of theology, the phrases of art, the definitions of philosophy, the jargon of science, are an unknown tongue to the young godly ploughmen, or praying shopkeepers. Simplicity is the authorised style of true gospel ministry.

2. By keeping back the most important and vital truths of revelation, and giving a prominence to other things, which are but secondary. Morality brings no food to hungry souls, although it is good enough in its place. Dissuasives from vice are not the bread of heaven, though well enough in their way. We need to have the great doctrines of grace brought forward, for the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit, and it is by preaching the truth as it is in Jesus that souls are won to Him.

3. By want of loving zeal in our labour. That which God blesses to the saving of sinners is truth attended by the earnestness of the speaker. Think of the preaching of Baxter. We are guilty of withholding corn unless we preach with a sympathising, loving, tender, affectionate, earnest, anxious soul.

4. By refusing to labour zealously for the spread of the kingdom of Christ and the conversion of sinners.

5. By refusing to help those who are working for Christ. I cannot understand how a man can love God when he only lives to heap up riches.

II. THE BLESSEDNESS WHICH THOSE POSSESS WHO BREAK THE BREAD OF LIFE. To describe it is altogether beyond my power. You must know, and taste, and feel it. There are many blessednesses in doing good to others.

1. An easy conscience.

2. Comfort in doing something for Jesus.

3. Watching the first buddings of conviction in a young soul.

4. The joy of success.

5. The final and gracious reward.

III. Now I have to OPEN THE GRANARY MYSELF. Hungry sinners, wanting a Saviour, we cannot withhold the bread from you! We tell you the way of salvation.

1. It is a satisfying salvation.

2. It is an all-sufficient salvation.

3. It is a complete salvation.

4. It is a present salvation.

5. It is an available salvation.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

WEB: People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.