Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
WILLIAM JAY (1769-1853): The question is, whether this power here means authority or ability, or both. Assuredly, both. These are not always co-equal. A man’s ability may surpass his authority, and his authority may surpass his ability; but in our risen Redeemer they are equally combined, and His ability and authority are boundless.
JOHN WESLEY (1703-1791): “All power is given to me.”—Even as Man. As God, He had all power from eternity.
WILLIAM JAY: There are four classes of men whom we should not wish to possess much power, for they would either misuse, or abuse it. We should not wish an ignorant man to possess power: he would, for want of wisdom and knowledge, err in a thousand things. But in Him who has “all power” are “hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” Colossians 2:3. He sees the end from the beginning, and actions in their very causes. He can distinguish between appearances and realities…He “needs not that any should testify of man, for he knows what is in man,” John 2:25; therefore He is not deceived, and never feels any perplexity in His government with regard to any of His measures or means. While other rulers are often at their wits’ end, and compelled to call counsellors to advise them, “He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will,” Ephesians 1:11; and He does “all things well.” Mark 7:37.
C. H. MACKINTOSH (1820-1896): There is nothing the heart can crave which we have not in Jesus…Does it seek the protection of real power? It has but to look to Him who made the world. Does it feel the need of unerring wisdom to guide? Let it look to Him who is wisdom personified, “who of God is made unto us wisdom,” 1 Corinthians 1:30.
WILLIAM JAY: Nor should we like an unfaithful man to have power. He would misuse or abuse it. When God confers power He always commits a trust. He looks beyond the receiver. The receiver is not to become a proprietor, but a steward; a receiver not for himself only, but for others. We may exemplify this with regard to property. He gives a man wealth, for what purpose? To be useful, to do good, to communicate. But an unfaithful man hoards it, or improperly expends it; and so the goodness of the Benefactor is counteracted by the villainy of the trustee.
But with regard to this Saviour-Prince, He is true to all His trusts; He is faithful to all that is deposited in His hands. Paul tells us that “it hath pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell,” Colossians 1:19, for the use of His church, and He will be faithful to the consignment of it. We are told that “He received gifts for men, even for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them;” Psalm 68:18; and He will apply them accordingly, and He is delighted in the distribution of these benefits.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): He is infinitely gracious and delights to do good.
WILLIAM JAY: We should also not wish an impatient man to have power. We know that he would ruin a thousand good plans and interests by his impetuosity, his passion, his haste. For as Solomon wisely remarks, “He that is hasty in spirit exalteth folly,” Proverbs 14:29.
STEPHEN CHARNOCK (1628-1680): The timing of affairs is a part of the wisdom of man, and an eminent part of the wisdom of God.
WILLIAM JAY: Now, with regard to our Saviour, He does not display slackness, as some people imagine, but He is “long suffering to us-ward,” 2 Peter 3:9. He exercises patience; He is slow to anger; and therefore it is we are not consumed, because “His compassions fail not,” Lamentations 3:22. Let us view Him where Paul has placed Him. Paul tells us He is at the “right hand of God, expecting till his enemies be made his footstool,” Hebrews 10:12,13. He is in a state of expectancy, and He is waiting for something. He knows that He must reign “from the river even to the ends of the earth,” Zechariah 9:10; but He sees not at present all things put under Him. He looks down and sees much of His own empire at present over run with ignorance, error, idolatry, and superstition, and the works of the devil; but He knows that He shall realize it all by-and-by, and “in patience, He possesses his soul,” Luke 21:19.
JOHN NEWTON (1725-1807): The great Shepherd and Head of the Church has an appointed time and manner for the accomplishment of all His purposes; nothing can be effectually done, but when and where He pleases; but when His hour is come, then hard things become easy, and crooked things straight; His Word, His Spirit, and Providence then all concur to make the path of duty plain to those who serve Him; though, perhaps, until this knowledge is necessary, He permits them to remain ignorant of what He has designed them for. By this discipline they are taught to depend entirely upon Him, and are afterwards more fully assured that He has sent and succeeded them.
WILLIAM JAY: We make haste in many cases; we are ready to complain, even murmur, if our prayers are not immediately answered. Why, many of the prayers which Jesus offered in the days of His flesh are not answered to this very hour! But they all will be answered—every one of them—in due time and manner; and He knows this, and reposes in the determination of infinite wisdom, “whose thoughts are not our thoughts, and whose ways are not our ways,” Isaiah 55:8.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): Promised mercies are to be expected when the full time for them is come, and not before.
WILLIAM JAY: Lastly, We do not wish an unmerciful, an unkind man to have power. Solomon tells us that “as a roaring lion and ranging bear, so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.” Proverbs 28:15. What does he know of their miseries? He never tasted their bitter bread. What cares he for any of their sufferings, provided he can roll in luxury, splendour, and ease? How often will he draw them from their peaceful homes, and expose them to hardships—yea, sometimes lead thousands of them to the slaughter—to gratify his own ambition! But there is “another King, one Jesus.” This Prince does not sacrifice His subjects, but He sacrificed Himself for their sakes. “My flesh,” says He, “I give for the life of the world,” John 6:51. Ah, here we find that power, absolute power, is placed just where it should be placed: we find infinite power lodged in the bosom of infinite benevolence.
C. H. MACKINTOSH: Did we but enter, with a more artless faith, into the truth of the Man Christ Jesus, Whose sympathy is perfect, Whose love is fathomless, Whose power is omnipotent, Whose wisdom is infinite, Whose resources are exhaustless, Whose ear is open to our every breathing, Whose hand is open to our every need, Whose heart is full of unspeakable love and tenderness towards us—how much more happy we should be, and how much more independent of creature streams, through whatsoever channel they may flow!
