Ecclesiastes 2:10
Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.
Anything my eyes desired
The phrase "anything my eyes desired" reflects the Hebrew word "kol," meaning "all" or "everything," and "ayin," meaning "eyes." In the context of ancient Israel, the eyes were often seen as the gateway to desire and temptation. This phrase suggests a pursuit of visual and material satisfaction, echoing the human tendency to seek fulfillment through worldly possessions and experiences. Theologically, it highlights the futility of trying to satisfy the soul's deeper needs with external pleasures, a theme prevalent throughout Ecclesiastes.

I did not deny myself
The Hebrew root "mana" translates to "withhold" or "deny." This phrase indicates a deliberate choice to indulge in every whim and desire. Historically, King Solomon, traditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, was known for his wealth and wisdom, yet he acknowledges the emptiness of unchecked indulgence. This serves as a cautionary tale against the dangers of self-indulgence and the importance of self-control, a virtue extolled throughout Scripture.

I refused my heart no pleasure
The word "heart" in Hebrew, "lev," often represents the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. The phrase underscores a pursuit of emotional and sensual gratification. In biblical times, the heart was seen as the seat of decision-making and moral reflection. This pursuit of pleasure without restraint is a reminder of the transient nature of earthly joys and the ultimate need for spiritual fulfillment.

For my heart took delight in all my work
The Hebrew word "samach" means "to rejoice" or "to take delight." This phrase suggests a temporary satisfaction derived from accomplishments and labor. In the ancient Near Eastern context, work was both a necessity and a source of identity. However, the Preacher of Ecclesiastes points out that even the joy found in work is fleeting, urging readers to seek lasting joy in God rather than in human endeavors.

and this was the reward for all my labor
The term "reward" translates from the Hebrew "cheleq," meaning "portion" or "share." This phrase reflects the idea that the only tangible return from labor is the temporary satisfaction it provides. In the broader biblical narrative, true reward and fulfillment are found in a relationship with God, not in earthly achievements. This verse challenges believers to evaluate what they consider their "reward" and to prioritize eternal over temporal gains.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
Traditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the king of Israel known for his wisdom, wealth, and extensive building projects. His experiences and reflections form the basis of Ecclesiastes.

2. Jerusalem
The city where Solomon reigned and conducted many of his building projects and pursuits. It serves as the backdrop for his reflections on life and labor.

3. The Pursuit of Pleasure
This event or theme in Solomon's life involves his exploration of various pleasures and accomplishments to find meaning and satisfaction.
Teaching Points
The Illusion of Satisfaction
Solomon's experience teaches that indulging in every desire does not lead to lasting fulfillment. True satisfaction is not found in material wealth or pleasures.

The Temporary Nature of Earthly Pleasures
Earthly pleasures are fleeting and cannot provide eternal joy. Believers are encouraged to seek joy in God, who offers eternal satisfaction.

The Reward of Labor
While Solomon found some delight in his work, he recognized it as a temporary reward. Christians are called to work diligently but to find their ultimate reward in serving God.

The Search for Meaning
Solomon's quest for meaning through pleasure and work highlights the human desire for purpose. True purpose is found in a relationship with God.

Guarding the Heart
Solomon's indulgence serves as a caution to guard our hearts against the deceitfulness of riches and pleasures, focusing instead on spiritual growth and godliness.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Solomon's pursuit of pleasure in Ecclesiastes 2:10 reflect the human tendency to seek fulfillment in material things?

2. In what ways can the temporary nature of earthly pleasures be a reminder to focus on eternal values? Consider connections to Matthew 16:26.

3. How can we find joy and satisfaction in our work while keeping our ultimate purpose in serving God? Reflect on Colossians 3:23-24.

4. What practical steps can we take to guard our hearts against the allure of worldly pleasures, as seen in Solomon's experiences?

5. How does Solomon's realization in Ecclesiastes 2:10 challenge us to evaluate our own pursuits and desires in light of God's eternal purpose?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Kings 10:23-25
This passage describes Solomon's wealth and wisdom, providing context for his ability to indulge in every desire.

Proverbs 14:13
This verse highlights the fleeting nature of pleasure, echoing Solomon's reflections on the temporary satisfaction of earthly delights.

Matthew 16:26
Jesus' teaching on the value of the soul over worldly gain connects to Solomon's realization of the emptiness of earthly pursuits.
The Trial of PleasureW. Clarkson Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
The Vanity of Wealth, Pleasure, and GreatnessD. Thomas Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
A Strange ExperimentC. L. Thompson, D. D.Ecclesiastes 2:1-26
The Pleasures of Sin and the Pleasures of Christ's Service ContrastedJ. M. Sherwood, D. D.Ecclesiastes 2:1-26
The Threefold View of Human LifeW. L. Watkinson.Ecclesiastes 2:1-26
Another Experiment: Refined VoluptuousnessJ. Willcock Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
People
Argob, Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Delight, Desired, Didn't, Heart, Joy, Kept, Labor, Labour, Myself, Nothing, Pleased, Pleasure, Portion, Refuse, Refused, Rejoiced, Reward, Toil, Whatever, Whatsoever, Withheld, Withhold
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ecclesiastes 2:10

     5014   heart, human
     5149   eyes
     5830   delight

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

     5940   searching

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

     5901   loneliness
     5918   pleasure

Ecclesiastes 2:10-23

     5864   futility

Library
Of Spiritual Aridity
Of Spiritual Aridity Though God hath no other desire than to impart Himself to the loving soul that seeks Him, yet He frequently conceals Himself that the soul may be roused from sloth, and impelled to seek Him with fidelity and love. But with what abundant goodness doth He recompense the faithfulness of His beloved? And how sweetly are these apparent withdrawings of Himself succeeded by the consoling caresses of love? At these seasons we are apt to believe, either that it proves our fidelity, and
Madame Guyon—A Short and Easy Method of Prayer

A Prayer for Cleansing of the Heart and for Heavenly Wisdom
4. Strengthen me, O God, by the grace of Thy Holy Spirit. Give me virtue to be strengthened with might in the inner man, and to free my heart from all fruitless care and trouble, and that I be not drawn away by various desires after any things whatsoever, whether of little value or great, but that I may look upon all as passing away, and myself as passing away with them; because there is no profit under the sun, and all is vanity and vexation of spirit.(1) Oh how wise is he that considereth thus!
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Chronology of the Life of Ephraim.
Thus the fixed points for determining the chronology of Ephraim's life are: 1. The death of his patron, St. Jacob, Bishop of Nisibis, in 338, after the first siege of that city. 2. The third siege, in which he was among the defenders of the city, in 350. 3. The surrender of Nisibis by Jovian, and its abandonment by its Christian inhabitants, 363; followed by Ephraim's removal to Edessa. 4. The consecration of Basil to the see of Cæsarea, late in 370, followed by Ephraim's visit to him there.
Ephraim the Syrian—Hymns and Homilies of Ephraim the Syrian

Introduction to the "Theological" Orations.
"It has been said with truth," says the writer of the Article on Gregory of Nazianzus in the Dictionary of Christian Biography, "that these discourses would lose their chief charm in a translation....Critics have rivalled each other in the praises they have heaped upon them, but no praise is so high as that of the many Theologians who have found in them their own best thoughts. A Critic who cannot be accused of partiality towards Gregory has given in a few words perhaps the truest estimate of them:
St. Cyril of Jerusalem—Lectures of S. Cyril of Jerusalem

But Now I Will Proceed with what I have Begun...
14. But now I will proceed with what I have begun, if I can, and I will so treat with you, as not in the mean while to lay open the Catholic Faith, but, in order that they may search out its great mysteries, to show to those who have a care for their souls, hope of divine fruit, and of the discerning of truth. No one doubts of him who seeks true religion, either that he already believes that there is an immortal soul for that religion to profit, or that he also wishes to find that very thing in this
St. Augustine—On the Profit of Believing.

Whether the Church Observes a Suitable Rite in Baptizing?
Objection 1: It seems that the Church observes an unsuitable rite in baptizing. For as Chrysostom (Chromatius, in Matth. 3:15) says: "The waters of Baptism would never avail to purge the sins of them that believe, had they not been hallowed by the touch of our Lord's body." Now this took place at Christ's Baptism, which is commemorated in the Feast of the Epiphany. Therefore solemn Baptism should be celebrated at the Feast of the Epiphany rather than on the eves of Easter and Whitsunday. Objection
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

A Discourse of the House and Forest of Lebanon
OF THE HOUSE OF THE FOREST OF LEBANON. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. That part of Palestine in which the celebrated mountains of Lebanon are situated, is the border country adjoining Syria, having Sidon for its seaport, and Land, nearly adjoining the city of Damascus, on the north. This metropolitan city of Syria, and capital of the kingdom of Damascus, was strongly fortified; and during the border conflicts it served as a cover to the Assyrian army. Bunyan, with great reason, supposes that, to keep
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Eternity of Heaven's Happiness.
Having endeavored, in the foregoing pages, to form to ourselves some idea of the glorious happiness reserved for us in heaven, there still remains to say something of its crowning glory--the eternity of its duration. This is not only its crowning glory, but it is, moreover, an essential constituent of that unspeakable joy which now inebriates the souls of the blessed. A moment's reflection will make this evident. Let us suppose, for the sake of illustration, that on the last day, God should thus
F. J. Boudreaux—The Happiness of Heaven

The Outbreak of the Arian Controversy. The Attitude of Eusebius.
About the year 318, while Alexander was bishop of Alexandria, the Arian controversy broke out in that city, and the whole Eastern Church was soon involved in the strife. We cannot enter here into a discussion of Arius' views; but in order to understand the rapidity with which the Arian party grew, and the strong hold which it possessed from the very start in Syria and Asia Minor, we must remember that Arius was not himself the author of that system which we know as Arianism, but that he learned the
Eusebius Pamphilius—Church History

Paul's Missionary Labors.
The public life of Paul, from the third year after his conversion to his martyrdom, a.d. 40-64, embraces a quarter of a century, three great missionary campaigns with minor expeditions, five visits to Jerusalem, and at least four years of captivity in Caesarea and Rome. Some extend it to a.d. 67 or 68. It may be divided into five or six periods, as follows: 1. a.d. 40-44. The period of preparatory labors in Syria and his native Cilicia, partly alone, partly in connection with Barnabas, his senior
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I

James the Brother of the Lord.
He pistis choris ergon nekra estin.--James 2:26 Sources. I. Genuine sources: Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; 1 Cor. 15:7; Gal. 1:19; 2:9, 12. Comp. James "the brother of the Lord," Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3; Gal. 1:19. The Epistle of James. II. Post-apostolic: Josephus: Ant. XX. 9, 1.--Hegesippus in Euseb. Hist. Ecc. II. ch. 23.--Jerome: Catal. vir. ill. c. 2, under "Jacobus." Epiphanius, Haer. XXIX. 4; XXX. 16; LXXVIII. 13 sq. III. Apocryphal: Protevangelium Jacobi, ed. in Greek by Tischendorf, in "Evangelia
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I

"And These Things Write we unto You, that Your Joy May be Full. "
1 John i. 4.--"And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." All motions tend to rest and quietness. We see it daily in the motions below, and we believe it also of the circular revolutions of the heavens above, that there is a day coming in which they shall cease, as having performed all they were appointed for. And as it is in things natural, so it is in things rational in a more eminent way. Their desires, affections, and actions, which are the motions and stretches of the soul
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Life, as Amplified by Mediaeval Biographers.
1. His Early Years.--Ephraim, according to this biography, was a Syrian of Mesopotamia, by birth, and by parentage on both sides. His mother was of Amid (now Diarbekr) a central city of that region; his father belonged to the older and more famous City of Nisibis, not far from Amid but near the Persian frontier, where he was priest of an idol named Abnil (or Abizal) in the days of Constantine the Great (306-337). This idol was afterwards destroyed by Jovian (who became Emperor in 363 after the
Ephraim the Syrian—Hymns and Homilies of Ephraim the Syrian

"For to be Carnally Minded is Death; but to be Spiritually Minded is Life and Peace. "
Rom. viii. 6.--"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." It is true, this time is short, and so short that scarce can similitudes or comparisons be had to shadow it out unto us. It is a dream, a moment, a vapour, a flood, a flower, and whatsoever can be more fading or perishing; and therefore it is not in itself very considerable, yet in another respect it is of all things the most precious, and worthy of the deepest attention and most serious consideration;
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Lii. Concerning Hypocrisy, Worldly Anxiety, Watchfulness, and his Approaching Passion.
(Galilee.) ^C Luke XII. 1-59. ^c 1 In the meantime [that is, while these things were occurring in the Pharisee's house], when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another [in their eagerness to get near enough to Jesus to see and hear] , he began to say unto his disciples first of all [that is, as the first or most appropriate lesson], Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [This admonition is the key to the understanding
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Messiah's Easy Yoke
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. T hough the influence of education and example, may dispose us to acknowledge the Gospel to be a revelation from God; it can only be rightly understood, or duly prized, by those persons who feel themselves in the circumstances of distress, which it is designed to relieve. No Israelite would think of fleeing to a city of refuge (Joshua 20:2.
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

There is a Blessedness in Reversion
Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5:3 Having done with the occasion, I come now to the sermon itself. Blessed are the poor in spirit'. Christ does not begin his Sermon on the Mount as the Law was delivered on the mount, with commands and threatenings, the trumpet sounding, the fire flaming, the earth quaking, and the hearts of the Israelites too for fear; but our Saviour (whose lips dropped as the honeycomb') begins with promises and blessings. So sweet and ravishing was the doctrine of this
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Hindrances to Mourning
What shall we do to get our heart into this mourning frame? Do two things. Take heed of those things which will stop these channels of mourning; put yourselves upon the use of all means that will help forward holy mourning. Take heed of those things which will stop the current of tears. There are nine hindrances of mourning. 1 The love of sin. The love of sin is like a stone in the pipe which hinders the current of water. The love of sin makes sin taste sweet and this sweetness in sin bewitches the
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Exhortations to those who are Called
IF, after searching you find that you are effectually called, I have three exhortations to you. 1. Admire and adore God's free grace in calling you -- that God should pass over so many, that He should pass by the wise and noble, and that the lot of free grace should fall upon you! That He should take you out of a state of vassalage, from grinding the devil's mill, and should set you above the princes of the earth, and call you to inherit the throne of glory! Fall upon your knees, break forth into
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners Or, a Brief Relation of the Exceeding Mercy of God in Christ, to his Poor Servant, John Bunyan
In this my relation of the merciful working of God upon my soul, it will not be amiss, if in the first place, I do in a few words give you a hint of my pedigree, and manner of bringing up; that thereby the goodness and bounty of God towards me, may be the more advanced and magnified before the sons of men. 2. For my descent then, it was, as is well known by many, of a low and inconsiderable generation; my father's house being of that rank that is meanest, and most despised of all the families in
John Bunyan—Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

Christ's Prophetic Office
'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet,' &c. Deut 18:85. Having spoken of the person of Christ, we are next to speak of the offices of Christ. These are Prophetic, Priestly, and Regal. 'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet.' Enunciatur hic locus de Christo. It is spoken of Christ.' There are several names given to Christ as a Prophet. He is called the Counsellor' in Isa 9:9. In uno Christo Angelus foederis completur [The Messenger of the Covenant appears in Christ alone].
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Comforts Belonging to Mourners
Having already presented to your view the dark side of the text, I shall now show you the light side, They shall be comforted'. Where observe: 1 Mourning goes before comfort as the lancing of a wound precedes the cure. The Antinomian talks of comfort, but cries down mourning for sin. He is like a foolish patient who, having a pill prescribed him, licks the sugar but throws away the pill. The libertine is all for joy and comfort. He licks the sugar but throws away the bitter pill of repentance. If
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Ecclesiastes
It is not surprising that the book of Ecclesiastes had a struggle to maintain its place in the canon, and it was probably only its reputed Solomonic authorship and the last two verses of the book that permanently secured its position at the synod of Jamnia in 90 A.D. The Jewish scholars of the first century A.D. were struck by the manner in which it contradicted itself: e.g., "I praised the dead more than the living," iv. 2, "A living dog is better than a dead lion," ix. 4; but they were still more
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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