Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 17:7-14

"And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said unto Abraham, And as for thee, thou shalt keep my covenant, thou, and thy seed after thee throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee: every male among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of a covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner that is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant." — Genesis 17:7-14 (ASV)

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.