Chapter 17:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis 17
Concise Complete
God renews the covenant with Abram. (1-6) Circumcision
instituted. (7-14) Sarai's name changed, Isaac promised. (15-22) Abraham and his
family are circumcised. (23-27)
Verses 1-6 The
covenant was to be accomplished in due time. The promised Seed was Christ, and
Christians in him. And all who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abram,
being partakers of the same covenant blessings. In token of this covenant his
name was changed from Abram, "a high father," to Abraham, "the father of a
multitude." All that the Christian world enjoys, it is indebted for to Abraham
and his Seed.
Verses 7-14 The
covenant of grace is from everlasting in the counsels of it, and to everlasting
in the consequences of it. The token of the covenant was circumcision. It is
here said to be the covenant which Abraham and his seed must keep. Those who
will have the Lord to be to them a God, must resolve to be to him a people. Not
only Abraham and Isaac, and his posterity by Isaac, were to be circumcised, but
also Ishmael and the bond-servants. It sealed not only the covenant of the land
of Canaan to Isaac's posterity, but of heaven, through Christ, to the whole
church of God. The outward sign is for the visible church; the inward seal of
the Spirit is peculiar to those whom God knows to be believers, and he alone can
know them. The religious observance of this institution was required, under a
very severe penalty. It is dangerous to make light of Divine institutions, and
to live in the neglect of them. The covenant in question was one that involved
great blessings for the world in all future ages. Even the blessedness of
Abraham himself, and all the rewards conferred upon him, were for Christ's sake.
Abraham was justified, as we have seen, not by his own righteousness, but by
faith in the promised Messiah.
Verses 15-22
Here is the promise made to Abraham of a son by Sarai, in whom the promise made
to him should be fulfilled. The assurance of this promise was the change of
Sarai's name into Sarah. Sarai signifies my princess, as if her honour were
confined to one family only; Sarah signifies a princess. The more favours God
confers upon us, the more low we should be in our own eyes. Abraham showed great
joy; he laughed, it was a laughter of delight, not of distrust. Now it was that
Abraham rejoiced to see Christ's day; now he saw it and was glad,
john 8:56. Abraham,
dreading lest Ishmael should be abandoned and forsaken of God, put up a petition
on his behalf. God gives us leave in prayer to be particular in making known our
requests. Whatever is our care and fear, should be spread before God in prayer.
It is the duty of parents to pray for their children, and the great thing we
should desire is, that they may be kept in covenant with Him, and may have grace
to walk before him in uprightness. Common blessings are secured to Ishmael.
Outward good things are often given to those children of godly parents who are
born after the flesh, for their parents' sake. Covenant blessings are reserved
for Isaac, and appropriated to him.
Verses 23-27
Abraham and all his family were circumcised; so receiving the token of the
covenant, and distinguishing themselves from other families that had no part nor
lot in the matter. It was an implicit obedience; he did as God said unto him,
and did not ask why or wherefore. He did it because God bade him. It was a
speedy obedience; in the self-same day. Sincere obedience makes no delay. Not
only the doctrines of revelation, but the seals of God's covenant, remind us
that we are guilty, polluted sinners. They show us our need of the blood of
atonement; they point to the promised Saviour, and teach us to exercise faith in
him. They show us that without regeneration, and sanctification by his Spirit,
and the mortification of our corrupt and carnal inclinations, we cannot be in
covenant with God. But let us remember that the true circumcision is that of the
heart, by the Spirit,
romans 2:28,29. Both under the old and new dispensation, many have had the outward profession, and
the outward seal, who were never sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise.
Chapter 17:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
