And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
18. in thy seed ] See note on Gen 12:3. The words might be also rendered “by thy seed.”
be blessed ] Better, as R.V. marg., bless themselves. See notes on Gen 12:3, Gen 18:18, Gen 26:4.
because thou hast obeyed ] Lit. “because thou hast heard,” or “listened to.” God’s word may be a sound which is not heard; or it may be a sound which is heard, but not listened to; or it may be a sound which is heard, listened to, and obeyed.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Gen 22:18
In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed
Blessing in Abrahams seed
1.
There was to be a seed, a natural seed, including a spiritual seed, and this again including an individual seed.
2. The seed of Abraham is to have a relation to all the families of the earth. As Abraham was not a head of all mankind, like Adam or Noah, it was necessary to emphasize the universality of the blessing.
3. The benefit conveyed by the seed is here characterized by the word blessed. Blessing is like mercy in this: that it sums up in one word the whole salvation of which the Bible is the gospel. It involves redemption and regeneration, both of which are necessary to salvation. (Prof. J. G. Murphy)
A great promise
1. This promise
(1) narrows down previous Messianic anticipations, inasmuch as it points to the family instead of the race, as the source whence the Great Benefactor should arise;
(2) vastly widens them, inasmuch as it indicates that the beneficent work of that Benefactor will be universal.
2. We conclude that this is an anticipation of Christ, because
(1) it has proved to be an accurate description of Him;
(2) it is only true of Him;
(3) New Testament distinctly applies the Scripture to Him. This warranted, we look for the advent of Christ as for–
I. THE ADVENT OF A BENEFACTOR FROM AMONG THE JEWS. This suggests-
1. The proper interest we should take in the Jewish people.
2. The solemn warning that contact with what is most sacred does not ensure blessing.
II. THE ADVENT OF A BENEFACTOR FOR THE WORLD. We may adoringly notice–
1. The way in which Christ has already been a universal blessing.
2. The future that there yet must be for Christianity. (Homilist.)
All nations blessed in Abrahams seed
I. SOME OF THE REASONS FOR GIVING THIS DESCRIPTION OF THE MESSIAH: The seed of Abraham.
1. Christ is called the seed of Abraham because He was to assume human nature; to be truly man; a man like ourselves.
2. Christ was called the seed of Abraham, that additional evidence of His claims as Messiah might be given when He came into the world.
3. There is a third reason why He is called, why, in fact, He was made, the seed of Abraham. There is, after all, a peculiar relation between Christ and the Jews, as His brethren after the flesh.
II. Let us now consider THE IMPORT OF THE DECLARATION, In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
1. In the first place, there is its Divinely revealed truth.
2. The religion of Christ is calculated to produce human happiness, because it exhibits the Divinely-prescribed method by which the guilty may obtain pardon; in other words, that great doctrine of human hope and joy, that of justification by faith in the atonement and intercession of the Saviour.
3. In further examining this Divine system, to discover its adaptation to human happiness, we find the great, the singular, promise of the Holy Spirit.
4. Another adaptation to human happiness in Christianity is found in its explicit enforcement of those relative duties on which the welfare of society so much depends.
5. The last of these adaptations is, the kind and merciful spirit of the Gospel. (R. Watson.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 18. And in thy seed, c.] We have the authority of St. Paul, Ga 3:8 Ga 3:16; Ga 3:18, to restrain this to our blessed Lord, who was THE SEED through whom alone all God’s blessings of providence, mercy, grace, and glory, should be conveyed to the nations of the earth.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And in thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed,…. That is, in his one and principal seed, the Messiah, that should spring from him, Ga 3:16, in whom all the elect of God, of all nations under the heavens, are blessed with all spiritual blessings, with peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life, with grace here and glory hereafter; [See comments on Ge 12:3]; or, “shall bless themselves” o in him; or, “account themselves blessed”; apply to him for blessings, claim their interest in them, and glory in them, and make their boast of them:
because thou hast obeyed my voice; in taking his son and offering him up unto him, as much as he was permitted to do; and thus honouring God by his obedience to him, he of his grace and goodness honours him with the promise of being the father of multitudes, both in a literal and spiritual sense, and with being the ancestor of the Messiah, in whom all the blessings of grace and goodness meet.
o “benedicent se”, Munster; to the same purpose Vatablus, Tigurine version, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Gen 22:18. In thy seed, &c. To the observations heretofore made on this promise, let it be further remarked, that there is an increase of sense in these words; for God doth not only and simply say, they shall be blessed, but shall bless themselves, or count themselves blessed in him: To shew that this person, this promised Seed, the Messiah, should not stand in need of any blessing himself, as the rest of Abraham’s seed did; but be the Author of all blessings unto others, who should derive them from him alone.
REFLECTIONS.Those who honour God, God will honour. Abraham pleased God, and he shall not want his reward. Observe,
1. The covenant is confirmed by an oath, to multiply his seed, that by two immutable things he might have strong consolation.
2. The better blessing is promised; even that Messiah, in whom not one nation only, but all nations should be blessed; whose seed should exceed the stars; before whose victorious arms his enemies should bow; and sin, Satan, death, and hell, receive their final and fatal overthrow. Abraham’s natural descendants were honourable, great, and numerous: but this incarnate Son of Abraham’s race hath acquired for his people, blessing, glory, power, dominion, such as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
DISCOURSE: 37
ABRAHAMS PROMISED SEED
Gen 22:18. In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
THERE is nothing in man which can merit the divine favour: the promises of God to us are altogether free, resulting wholly from his sovereign grace: yet does God frequently manifest his love towards us in consequence of something done by us. Abraham, it should seem, was an idolater, when God first made himself known to him in his native land: and then did the Almighty promise, that in him should all the families of the earth be blessed. But, in the passage before us, Abraham is recorded to have performed the most extraordinary act of obedience that ever was known from the foundation of the world: and God takes occasion from that to renew his promise, and, for his more abundant consolation, to confirm it with an oath. To ascertain the full import of this glorious prophecy, it will be proper to inquire,
I.
Who is the seed here spoken of
It is not to all the natural descendants, or to that part of them that composed the Jewish nation, or even to the spiritual seed of Abraham, that these words refer: they speak of one particular individual, the Lord Jesus Christ.
1.
To him all the types direct our attention
[The temple with all its utensils, the priests with, all their habits and services, the sacrifices and oblations of every kind, all shadowed forth his work and offices. The principal events in the Jewish history, together with the great persons engaged in them, their lawgiver, their commanders, judges, kings, and prophets, prefigured him in different points of view, and, as so many lines, meet in him as their common centre. On this account we have reason to think that the prophecy before us relates to him.]
2.
In him all the prophecies receive their accomplishment
[However some of the prophecies might be partially fulfilled in Solomon or others, it is certain that all of them together were never accomplished in any one but Jesus. They were intended to designate him, that, when he should arrive, there might be no doubt of his being the very person fore-ordained of God to be the Saviour of the world. The minute description of the promised Messiah, together with the marvellous combination of circumstances that marked Jesus as the person foretold, lead us further to believe that the text had particular respect to him.]
3.
To him exclusively the text is applied by God himself
[St. Paul tells us that the blessing of Abraham was to come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ [Note: Gal 3:14.] ; and that the words of the text related, not to others, but to Christ alone [Note: Gal 3:16.].]
This point being ascertained, let us inquire,
II.
In what respect all nations are blessed in him
The full accomplishment of the text will not take place till that glorious period when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. Yet, in a limited sense, all nations have experienced the truth of this prophecy already.
1.
They are reconciled to God through him
[Christ died not for one nation only; he was a propitiation for the sins of the whole world. Many of all nations have already believed in his name, and rejoiced in his salvation: and in every place they who believe in him shall find acceptance with their God [Note: Col 1:20-22.].]
2.
They are united in one body in him
[He has broken down the middle wall of partition that divided the Jewish and Gentile world, and, having reconciled both unto God in one body by the cross, he has slain the enmity thereby [Note: Eph 2:14-16.]. All mankind are now brought into one family, and are taught to regard each other as brethren: and in proportion as the religion of Jesus gains the ascendant over our hearts, we are united in love to every member of his mystical body.]
3.
They are blessed with all spiritual blessings
[There is not any thing that can conduce to our present or future happiness which Jesus will not bestow on his believing people. Adoption into his family, peace in our consciences, holiness in our hearts, and an eternity of glory in the Fathers presence, are the certain portion of all his faithful followers. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile; all are admitted to the same privileges, and all shall participate the same enjoyments.]
Infer,
1.
The antiquity of the Gospel
[The sum and substance of the Gospel is, that Christ is the only source of all spiritual and eternal blessings. Wherever this truth is strongly urged, men are ready to cry out against it as a new doctrine. But we can trace it, not only to the Reformers of our church, but to the Apostles, yea to Abraham also: for St. Paul declares, that when God spake the words to Abraham, he preached the Gospel to him even that very Gospel whereby he and all the nations of the earth must be saved. [Note: Gal 3:8.] Let this truth then no longer be reviled as novel, but be received as the one ground of all our hopes.]
2.
The importance of faith
[Abrahams faith in this Gospel was imputed to him for righteousness [Note: Gal 3:6.] ; and by believing the same divine record we also must be justified [Note: Gal 3:7; Gal 3:9.]. No doctrine whatever is more explicitly declared in Scripture than this. Let us then acknowledge the necessity of faith, and look to the Lord Jesus Christ as that promised seed, through whom alone the blessings of Abraham can flow down upon us.]
3.
The connexion between faith and works
[Faith was that principle which produced in Abraham such exemplary obedience [Note: Heb 11:17.]: and the same root will bear similar fruits wheresoever it exists [Note: Act 15:9.]. Indeed the pardon of past sins would be utterly insufficient to make us happy, if it were not accompanied with the renovation of our natures. To this effect St. Peter expounded, as it were, the very words of the text, declaring to the Jews, that conversion from sin was one of the first blessings which the Lord Jesus was sent to bestow [Note: Act 3:25-26.]. Let us then not consider faith and works as opposed to each other, but as possessing distinct offices, the one to justify our souls, the other to honour God, and to manifest the sincerity of our faith.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Ver. 18. Because thou hast obeyed. ] This “because” is not so much causal, as rational. Significat non causam meritoriam, sed subalternam, et sine qua non .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
all the nations. Proof that the “Mystery” does not mean blessing of Gentiles as such: but the secret concerning Christ and the church (Eph 5:32).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
And in: Gen 12:3, Gen 18:18, Gen 26:4, Psa 72:17, Act 3:25, Rom 1:3, Gal 3:8, Gal 3:9, Gal 3:16, Gal 3:18, Gal 3:28, Gal 3:29, Eph 1:3
obeyed: Gen 22:3, Gen 22:10, Gen 26:5, 1Sa 2:30, Jer 7:23, Heb 11:1-40
Reciprocal: Gen 1:28 – General Gen 12:2 – General Gen 26:3 – oath Gen 27:29 – Let people Gen 28:3 – God Gen 28:4 – the blessing Gen 28:14 – and in thee Exo 7:6 – General Job 19:25 – he shall Psa 112:2 – General Isa 6:13 – so the holy Isa 61:9 – their seed Jer 4:2 – and the nations Jer 33:14 – General Hag 2:7 – and the Mat 1:1 – the son of Abraham Mat 8:11 – That Mar 4:31 – is less than Luk 1:42 – blessed is Luk 1:55 – General Luk 1:72 – perform Luk 7:19 – Art Luk 24:27 – beginning Luk 24:44 – in the law Joh 1:17 – grace Joh 1:45 – of whom Joh 5:46 – for Joh 8:56 – rejoiced Act 13:32 – how Act 15:17 – the residue Act 26:6 – the promise Rom 4:13 – For the 2Co 1:20 – all Gal 3:14 – through Heb 2:16 – the seed Heb 7:6 – had Heb 11:8 – obeyed