Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 17

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. As a sign 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 owes to Abraham and his Seed.

The covenant of grace is from everlasting in its eternal plan, and to everlasting in its consequences. The token of the covenant was circumcision. It is described here as the covenant which Abraham and his descendants must keep. Those who desire the Lord to be their God must resolve to be His people.

Not only Abraham and Isaac, and his descendants 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 descendants, but also the covenant 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 specific 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 treat divine institutions lightly and to live in their neglect. 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 bestowed 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.

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 that Ishmael might be abandoned and forsaken by God, put up a petition on his behalf. God gives us permission 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.

Abraham and all his family were circumcised, thereby receiving the token of the covenant and distinguishing themselves from other families that had no part or share in the matter. It was an implicit obedience. He did as God told him and did not ask why. He did it because God commanded him.

It was a speedy obedience, carried out on the very 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.