Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Genesis
Book: Genesis
Chapter: 1

Overview:
God creates Heaven and Earth. (1,2) The Creation of Light.
(3-5) God separates the Earth from the waters, and makes it
fruitful. (6-13) God forms the Sun, Moon, and Stars. (14-19)
Animals created. (20-25) Man created in the image of God.
(26-28) Food appointed. (29,30) The work of Creation ended and
approved. (31)

1,2 The first verse of the Bible gives us a satisfying and
useful account of the origin of the Earth and the heavens. The
Faith of humble Christians understands this better than the
fancy of the most learned men. From what we see of Heaven and
Earth, we learn the power of the great Creator. And let our make
and place as men, remind us of our duty as Christians, always to
keep Heaven in our Eye, and the Earth under our feet. The Son of
God, one with the Father, was with him when he made the world;
nay, we are often told that the world was made By him, and
nothing was made without him. Oh, what high thoughts should
there be in our minds, of that great God whom we Worship, and of
that great Mediator in whose name we pray! And here, at the
beginning of the sacred volume, we read of that Divine Spirit,
whose work upon the Heart of Man is So often mentioned in other
parts of the Bible. Observe, that at first there was nothing
desirable to be seen, for the world was without form, and void;
it was confusion, and emptiness. In like manner the work of
Grace in the soul is a new Creation: and in a graceless soul,
one that is not born again, there is disorder, confusion, and
every evil work: it is empty of all good, for it is without God;
it is dark, it is Darkness itself: this is our condition By
nature, till Almighty Grace Works a change in us.

3-5 God said, Let there be Light; he willed it, and at once
there was Light. Oh, the power of the Word of God! And in the
new Creation, the first thing that is wrought in the soul is
Light: the blessed Spirit Works upon the will and affections By
enlightening the understanding. Those who By Sin were Darkness,
By Grace become Light in the Lord. Darkness would have been
always upon fallen Man, if the Son of God had not come and given
us understanding, 1Jo 5:20. The Light which God willed, he
approved of. God divided the Light from the Darkness; for what
Fellowship has Light with Darkness? In Heaven there is perfect
Light, and No Darkness at all; in Hell, utter Darkness, and No
gleam of Light. The Day and the night are the Lord's; let us use
both to his honour, By working for him every Day, and resting in
him every night, meditating in his Law both Day and night.

6-13 The Earth was emptiness, but By a Word spoken, it became
full of God's riches, and his they are still. Though the use of
them is allowed to Man, they are from God, and to his service
and honour they must be used. The Earth, at his command, brings
forth Grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the Glory of all
the benefit we receive from the produce of the Earth. If we
have, through Grace, an interest in Him who is the Fountain, we
may rejoice in him when the streams of temporal mercies are
dried up.

14-19 In the fourth Day's work, the Creation of the Sun, Moon,
and Stars is accounted for. All these are the Works of God. The
Stars are spoken of as they appear to our eyes, without telling
their number, nature, place, size, or motions; for the
Scriptures were written, not to gratify curiosity, or make us
astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints. The
lights of Heaven are made to serve him; they do it faithfully,
and shine in their season without fail. We are set as lights in
this world to serve God; but do we in like manner answer the End
of our Creation? We do not: our Light does not shine before God,
as his lights shine before us. We burn our Master's candles, but
do not mind our Master's work.

20-25 God commanded the Fish and fowl to be produced. This
command he himself executed. Insects, which are more numerous
than the birds and beasts, and as curious, seem to have been
part of this Day's work. The Creator's Wisdom and power are to
be admired as much in an Ant as in an Elephant. The power of
God's Providence preserves all things, and fruitfulness is the
effect of his blessing.

26-28 Man was made last of all the creatures: this was both an
honour and a favour to him. Yet Man was made the same Day that
the beasts were; his body was made of the same Earth with
theirs; and while he is in the body, he inhabits the same Earth
with them. God forbid that By indulging the body, and the
desires of it, we should make ourselves like the beasts that
perish! Man was to be a Creature different from all that had
been hitherto made. Flesh and Spirit, Heaven and Earth, must be
Put together in him. God said, "Let us make Man." Man, when he
was made, was to Glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Into
that great name we are baptized, for to that great name we owe
our being. It is the soul of Man that especially bears God's
image. Man was made upright, Ec 7:29. His understanding saw
Divine things clearly and truly; there were No errors or
mistakes in his knowledge; his will consented at once, and in
all things, to the will of God. His affections were all regular,
and he had No bad appetites or passions. His thoughts were
easily brought and fixed to the best subjects. Thus holy, thus
happy, were our first parents in having the image of God upon
them. But how is this image of God upon Man defaced! May the
Lord renew it upon our souls By his Grace!

29,30 Herbs and fruits must be Man's Food, including Corn, and
all the products of the Earth. Let God's people cast their care
upon him, and not be troubled about what they shall eat, and
what they shall Drink. He that feeds his birds will not starve
his babes.

31 When we come to think about our Works, we find, to our
shame, that much has been very bad; but when God saw his work,
all was very good. Good, for it was all just as the Creator
would have it to be. All his Works, in all places of his
dominion, Bless him; and therefore, Bless thou the Lord, O my
soul. Let us Bless God for the Gospel of Christ, and when we
consider his almighty power, let us sinners flee from the wrath
to come. If new-created unto the image of God in Holiness, we
shall at length enter the "new heavens and new Earth, wherein
dwelleth Righteousness."