20. But Gehazi. The Biblical writer has just given a beautiful picture of an important Syrian official leaving Israel as a new convert to Jehovah, with joy and peace in his heart, healed of leprosy and converted in spirit. But the scene changes abruptly with the words, “But Gehazi.” When God gives men happiness and peace, Satan attempts to introduce trouble. Into every symphony he seeks to introduce a discordant note. Here the servant of the prophet allows himself to become a tool in the enemy’s hand to all but spoil the picture so beautifully drawn.
Hath spared Naaman. These words reveal the thoughts and spirit of Gehazi. He thought of Naaman not as a new convert to God but as a soldier from an enemy land. The Syrians had spoiled Israel; why should an Israelite now spare one of them? Gehazi probably thought of his master Elisha as weak and simple-minded in refusing to take from Naaman the gift he was so willing to give.
As the Lord liveth. These words are here a profane oath, uttered by a man who is trying to persuade himself that he is doing something in the service of God when he knows full well that he is doing wrong. Blinded by avarice, Gehazi will take pay for services he did not perform, from a man from whom Elisha believed he should accept nothing.