HenryWSC 22

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 22

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Did Christ the Son of God become man? Yes: forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same,
Heb. 2:14
. Was it requisite he should become man? Yes: for in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren,
Heb. 2:17
. Has the Son of man the fulness of the Godhead? Yes: for in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,
Col. 2:9
. Has the Son of God the tenderness of a man? Yes: for he was touched with the feeling of our infirmities,
Heb. 4:15
.
Did Christ take unto himself a true body? Yes: A body hast thou prepared me,
Heb. 10:5
. Was it a body like unto ours? Yes: for he was in the likeness of sinful flesh,
Rom. 8:3
. Did he take to himself a human soul? Yes: for he said, My soul is exceeding sorrowful,
Matt. 26:38
.
Was he conceived by ordinary generation? No: for he said, Ye are beneath, I am from above,
John 8:23
. Was he conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost? Yes: the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee,
Luke 1:35
. Was he born of the Virgin Mary? Yes: the Scripture was fulfilled, Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son,
Matt. 1:23
. Was his conception and birth supernatural? Yes: that which was conceived in the Virgin Mary was of the Holy Ghost,
Matt. 1:20
. Yet was he really and truly man? Yes: for he is not ashamed to call us brethren,
Heb. 2:11
.
Was Christ the seed of the woman? Yes: for he was made of a woman,
Gal. 4:4
. Was the Scripture therein fulfilled? Yes: for the seed of the woman must break the serpent’s head,
Gen. 3:15
. Was he the Son of Abraham? Yes: for he took on him the seed of Abraham,
Heb. 2:16
. Was the Scripture therein fulfilled? Yes: for it was said to Abraham, In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed,
Gen. 12:2
. Was he the Son of David? Yes: Hosanna to the Son of David,
Matt. 21:9
. Was the Scripture therein fulfilled? Yes: He hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spake by the mouth of all his holy prophets,
Luke 1:69–70
.
Was Christ born in Bethlehem? Yes: To you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour,
Luke 2:11
. Was he born among the Jews? Yes: of them as concerning the flesh, Christ came,
Rom. 9:5
. And was it the honour of that nation? Yes: he was the glory of his people Israel,
Luke 2:32
. Did he come when the Messiah was expected? Yes: they then looked for redemption in Jerusalem,
Luke 2:38
. Did he come when the sceptre was departed from Judah? Yes: for then there went out a decree that all the world should be taxed,
Luke 2:1
. Did the angels attend him at his birth? Yes: there was a multitude of the heavenly host praising God,
Luke 2:13
.
Was the Redeemer born in sin as we are? No: he was without sin,
Heb. 4:15
. Was he perfectly pure and holy? Yes: That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God,
Luke 1:35
. Was he pure aud holy in his whole life? Yes: he did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth,
1 Pet. 2:22
. Was it requisite he should be so? Yes: such a High Priest became us, that was holy, harmless, and undefiled,
Heb. 7:26
. Could he have satisfied for our sin, if he had had any sin of his own? No: for he must through the eternal Spirit offer himself without spot,
Heb. 9:14
.
Was he subject to the sinless infirmities of our natures? Yes: he was in all points tempted like as we are,
Heb. 4:15
. Was he hungry? Yes: when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterwards an hungered,
Matt. 4:2
. Was he weary? Yes: Being weary with his journey, he sat on the well,
John 4:6
. Did he sleep? Yes: when the ship was covered with waves he was asleep,
Matt. 8:24
. Did he pass through the ages of human life? Yes: for Jesus increased in wisdom and stature,
Luke 2:52
.
Was the Redeemer willing to be incarnate for us? Yes: for when he cometh into the world, he saith, Lo, I come to do thy will, 0 God,
Heb. 10:5
,
Heb. 10:7
. Is it well for us that he was so? Yes: for by this will we are sanctified,
Heb. 10:10
. Was Christ’s incarnation great condescension in him? Yes: for hereby he was made a little lower than the angels,
Heb. 2:9
. Was it a great honour to our nature? Yes: What is man that thou art thus mindful of him?
Heb. 2:6–8
. Is it good news to mankind? Yes: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,
1 Tim. 1:15
.
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