Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 14:9

"For to this end Christ died and lived [again], that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living." — Romans 14:9 (ASV)

For to this end. For this purpose or design. The apostle does not say that this was the only design of his death, but that it was a main purpose, or an object which he had distinctly in view. This declaration is introduced in order to confirm what he had said in the previous verse, that in all circumstances we are the Lord's. This he shows by the fact that Jesus died in order that we might be his.

And rose. This expression is rejected by most modern critics. It is lacking in many manuscripts, and has probably been introduced in the text from the margin.

And revived. There is also a variation in the Greek in this place, but not so great as to change the sense materially. It refers to his resurrection, and means that he was restored to life in order that he might exercise dominion over the dead and the living.

That he might be Lord. Greek, That he might rule over. The Greek word used here implies the idea of his being proprietor or owner, as well as ruler. It means that he might exercise entire dominion over all, as the sovereign Lawgiver and Lord.

Both of the dead. That is, of those who are deceased, or who have gone to another state of existence. This passage proves that those who die are not annihilated; that they do not cease to be conscious; and that they still are under the dominion of the Mediator. Though their bodies moulder in the grave, yet the spirit lives, and is under his control. And though the body dies and returns to its native dust, yet the Lord Jesus is still its Sovereign, and shall raise it up again.

"God our Redeemer lives;
And often from the skies
Looks down and watches all our dust,
Till he shall bid it rise."

It gives an additional sacredness to the grave when we reflect that the tomb is under the watchful care of the Redeemer. Safe in his hands, the body may sink to its native dust with the assurance that in his own time he will again call it forth, with renovated and immortal powers, to be forever subject to his will.

With this view, we can leave our friends with confidence in his hands when they die, and yield our own bodies cheerfully to the dust when he shall call our spirits away. But it is not only over the body that his dominion is established. This passage proves that the departed souls of the saints are still subject to him.

Compare to Matthew 22:32; Mark 12:27. He not only has dominion over those spirits, but he is their Protector and Lord. They are safe under his universal dominion. And it does much to alleviate the pains of separation from pious, beloved friends, to reflect that they depart still to love and serve the same Saviour in perfect purity, and untroubled by infirmity and sin. Why should we wish to recall them from his perfect love in the heavens to the poor and imperfect service which they would render if in the land of the living?

And living. To the redeemed, while they remain in this life. He died to purchase them to himself, that they might become his obedient subjects; and they are bound to yield obedience by all the sacredness and value of the price which he paid, even his own precious blood. Compare to 1 Corinthians 6:20, For you are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's;Romans 7:23; Revelation 14:4 (Greek, bought); 1 Peter 2:9 (Greek, purchased). If it be asked how this dominion over the dead and the living is connected with the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, we may reply:

1. That it is secured over Christians from the fact that they are purchased or ransomed by his precious blood; and that they are bound by this sacred consideration to live to him. This obligation every Christian feels (1 Peter 1:18), and its force is continually resting on him. It was by the love of Christ that he was ever brought to love God at all; and his deepest and tenderest obligations to live to him arise from this source (2 Corinthians 5:14–15).
2. Jesus, by his death and resurrection, established a dominion over the grave. He destroyed him that had the power of death (Hebrews 2:14) and triumphed over him (Colossians 2:15). Satan is a humbled foe; and his scepter over the grave is wrested from his hands. When Jesus rose, in spite of all the power of Satan and of men, he burst the bands of death, and made an invasion on the dominions of the dead, and showed that he had power to control all.
3. This dominion of the Lord Jesus is felt by the spirits on high. They are subject to him because he redeemed them (Revelation 5:9).
4. It is often revealed in the Scriptures that dominion was to be given to the Lord Jesus as the reward of his sufferings and death. See Barnes on John 17:2; also John 17:4-5, John 5:26–29.

Philippians 2:5–11; Ephesians 1:20–21; Hebrews 2:9–10; Hebrews 12:2.

The extent of his dominion as Mediator is affirmed, in this place, only to be over the dead and the living; that is, over the human race. Other passages of the Scripture, however, seem to imply that it extends over all worlds.