The Matthew Henry Bible Commentaries
Stress The Victory Of Christ’s Earthly Kingdom.

Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentaries make it abundantly clear that the great expositor believed in the ultimate victory of Christ’s earthly Kingdom. Yea, even the governors of the world are called upon to yield to His ruling authority, according to Henry.

This was especially evident in his Bible commentaries exposition of the great affirmation of Divine historiography in the second Psalm The grand panorama of history is laid out before us as viewed from the throne of God. The nations may conspire against Christ (v. 1-3), but God has given them all to Him as inheritance (v. 8).

The final verses of Psalm Two call on the kings of the earth to “kiss the feet of the Son” or provoke His anger and “perish in the way.” This is obviously not referring to a future millennium kingdom after the second coming at which Christ will subdue all his enemies by force. These kings are exhorted to submit voluntarily during the present age of grace, according to Henry's Bible commentaries.

"Kiss the Feet of the Son" means, in that ancient culture, to give submission to the one greater than you. Most Kings of the day thought themselves to be gods (i.e. Pharaoh, etc.) since they had absolute power and authority. God is saying to them that they have NO actual power that God put them in their place that if they so choose to be in power then they need to acknowledge and worship the one that Gave them the Power or else be destroyed.

For example, King Nebuchadnezzar, refused to "kiss the feet of God" and was driven from his kingdom insane until he repented and was restored to power. So what is required for the Kings of the Earth? To Acknowledge, Worship, and Serve the one who is the King of all Kings and never think that they are better than God by substituting their law for His.

In reference to this Psalm, the Matthew Henry Bible commentaries note that :

We have here the practical application of this gospel doctrine concerning the kingdom of the Messiah, by way of exhortation to the kings and judges of the earth. They hear that it is in vain to oppose Christ’s government; let them therefore be so wise for themselves as to submit to it. He that has power to destroy them shows that he has no pleasure in their destruction, for he puts them into a way to make themselves happy, v. 10.

The Great Commission culminates in submission of the nations and their kings to the discipleship of Christ. It is in their great interest to do so. Failure to yield is deadly, but compliance will result in great blessing. The Bible commentaries of Matthew go on with these words:

Even kings themselves, whom others serve and fear, must serve and fear God; there is the same indefinite distance between them and God that there is between the meanest of their subjects and him. To welcome Jesus Christ and to submit to him, v. 12. This is the great duty of the Christian religion; it is that which is required of all, even kings and judges, and it is our wisdom and interest to do it.

Observe here, the command given to this purport: Kiss the Son. Christ is called the Son because so he was declared (v. 7), Thou art my Son. He is the Son of God by eternal generation, and, upon that account, he is to be adored by us. He is the Son of man (that is, the Mediator, Jn. 5:27), and, upon that account, to be received and submitted to.

Kings must approach Christ in a formal act of covenant submission after the example of God’s model nation, Israel, which was often called to renew the covenant. God deals with the nations by means of formal covenant in which they swear allegiance to His law and make it the foundation of their legal system.

Our duty to Christ is here expressed figuratively: Kiss the Son…with a kiss of affection and sincere love: “Kiss the Son; enter into a covenant of friendship with him, and let him be very dear and precious to you; love him above all, love him in sincerity, love him much, as she did to whom much was forgiven, and, in token of it, kissed his feet,” Lu. 7:38. (4.) With a kiss of allegiance and loyalty, as Samuel kissed Saul, 1 Sa. 10:1. Swear fealty and homage to him, submit to his government, take his yoke upon you, and give up yourselves to be governed by his laws, disposed of by his providence, and entirely devoted to his interest.

The sands of time conceal many nations that have perished already for failure to “kiss the Son.” The prophetic Word reveals many more who will learn from their example and ally themselves with His holy kingdom in the future. Matthew Henry makes this abundantly clear in his Bible Commentaries.

The reasons to enforce this command; and they are taken from our own interest, which God, in his gospel, shows a concern for. Consider, (1.) The certain ruin we run upon if we refuse and reject Christ: “Kiss the Son; for it is at your peril if you do not (2.) The happiness we are sure of if we yield ourselves to Christ… Those that trust in him, and so kiss him, are truly happy; but they will especially appear to be so when the wrath of Christ is kindled against others. Blessed will those be in the day of wrath, who, by trusting in Christ, have made him their refuge and patron; when the hearts of others fail them for fear they shall lift up their heads with joy; and then those who now despise Christ and his followers will be forced to say, to their own greater confusion, “Now we see that blessed are all those, and those only, that trust in him.”

This is but a taste of the victorious message we meet with in Matthew Henry’s Bible commentaries, even to the execution of His justice in the world. At the culmination of the Great Commission, “…Christianity should be twisted in with national constitutions, that the kingdoms of the world should become Christ’s kingdoms, and their kings the church’s nursing-fathers.

Custom Search