Matthew Henry Commentary Haggai 2
Matthew Henry Commentary
Haggai 2
Matthew Henry Commentary
Haggai 2
"In the seventh [month], in the one and twentieth [day] of the month, came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet, saying, Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying, Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith Jehovah; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith Jehovah, and work: for I am with you, saith Jehovah of hosts, [according to] the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, and my Spirit abode among you: fear ye not. For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations; and the precious things of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith Jehovah of hosts. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, saith Jehovah of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith Jehovah of hosts." — Haggai 2:1-9 (ASV)
Those who are wholehearted in the Lord's service will receive encouragement to proceed. But they could not build such a temple then, as Solomon built. Though our gracious God is pleased if we do as well as we can in His service, yet our proud hearts will scarcely allow us to be pleased, unless we do as well as others, whose abilities are far beyond ours. Nevertheless, encouragement is given to the Jews to go on in the work.
They have God with them, His Spirit and His special presence. Though He chastens their transgressions, His faithfulness does not fail. The Spirit still remained among them. And they will have the Messiah among them shortly; He that should come. Convulsions and changes would take place in the Jewish church and state, but first would come great revolutions and commotions among the nations. He will come, as the Desire of all nations; desirable to all nations, for in Him all the earth will be blessed with the best of blessings, long expected and desired by all believers.
The house they were building would be filled with glory, very far beyond Solomon's temple. This house will be filled with glory of another nature. If we have silver and gold, we must serve and honor God with it, for the property is His. If we have not silver and gold, we must honor Him with what we have, and He will accept us.
Let them be comforted that the glory of this latter house will be greater than that of the former, consisting in what would be beyond all the glories of the first house: the personal presence of the Messiah, the Son of God, the Lord of glory, in human nature. Nothing but the presence of the Son of God, in human form and nature, could fulfill this. Jesus is the Christ; He is He that should come, and we are to look for no other.
This prophecy alone is enough to silence the Jews and condemn their obstinate rejection of Him, concerning whom all their prophets spoke. If God is with us, peace is with us. The Jews under the latter temple had much trouble, yet this promise is fulfilled in that spiritual peace which Jesus Christ has by His blood purchased for all believers. All changes will make way for Christ to be desired and valued by all nations.
And the Jews will have their eyes opened to behold how precious He is, whom they have until now rejected.
"In the four and twentieth [day] of the ninth [month], in the second year of Darius, came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any food, shall it become holy? And the priests answered and said, No. Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by reason of a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. Then answered Haggai and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith Jehovah; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. And now, I pray you, consider from this day and backward, before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of Jehovah. Through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty [measures], there were but ten; when one came to the winevat to draw out fifty [vessels], there were but twenty. I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the work of your hands; yet ye [turned] not to me, saith Jehovah. Consider, I pray you, from this day and backward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth [month], since the day that the foundation of Jehovah`s temple was laid, consider it. Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, the vine, and the fig-tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive-tree have not brought forth; from this day will I bless [you]." — Haggai 2:10-19 (ASV)
Many corrupted this good work by undertaking it with unholy hearts and hands, and were likely to gain no advantage from it. The sum of these two rules of the law is that sin is more easily learned from others than holiness. The impurity of their hearts and lives will make the work of their hands, and all their offerings, unclean before God.
The case is the same with us. When engaged in any good work, we should watch over ourselves, lest we make it unclean by our corruptions.
When we begin to be conscientious about our duty to God, we may expect His blessing; and whoever is wise will understand the loving-kindness of the Lord. God will curse the blessings of the wicked and make the prosperity of the careless bitter; but He will sweeten the cup of affliction for those who diligently serve Him.
"And the word of Jehovah came the second time unto Haggai in the four and twentieth [day] of the month, saying, Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth; and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother. In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith Jehovah, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith Jehovah of hosts." — Haggai 2:20-23 (ASV)
The Lord will preserve Zerubbabel and the people of Judah among their enemies. This also foretells the establishment and continuance of the kingdom of Christ. By union with him, his people are sealed with the Holy Ghost, sealed with his image, and thus distinguished from all others. This also foretells the changes, even to that time when the kingdom of Christ will overthrow and occupy the place of all the empires that opposed his cause.
The promise has special reference to Christ, who descended from Zerubbabel in a direct line, and is the sole Builder of the gospel temple. Our Lord Jesus is the Signet on God's right hand, for all power is given to him, and derived from him.
By him, and in him, all the promises of God are yea and amen. Whatever changes take place on earth, all will promote the comfort, honour, and happiness of his servants.
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