Matthew Henry on Genesis 1:14-19

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

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.

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commentaryThe Creation. (b. c. 4004.)THE CREATION. (B. C. 4004.) This is the history of the fourth day's work, the creating of the sun, moon, and stars, which are here accounted for, not as they are in themselves and in their own nature, to satisfy the cur…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 1:14-19The fourth day. Notice?? I. GOD PREPARES HEAVEN AND EARTH FOR MAN. Light needed for the vegetable world. But when the higher life is introduced, then there is an order which implies intelligence and active rational exis…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 1:14-19EXPOSITION Genesis 1:14, Genesis 1:15 Day four. With this day begins the second half of the creative week, whose works have a striking correspondence with the labors of the first. Having perfected the main structural ar…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 1:16And God made two great lights. Perhaps no part of the material universe more irresistibly demands a supreme Intelligence as its only proper origin and cause. "Elegantissima haecce solis, planetarum et cometarum compages…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 1:16The celestial luminaries. I. Display the DIVINE WISDOM. "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalms 19:1). M. Comte believed they declared no other glory than that of Hipparchus, Kepler, Newton, and their successors.…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 1:19And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. The Scripture references to this day's work are both numerous and instructive. The Hebrew writers supply no information as to the astronomical theories which were pre…Joseph S. Exell and contributors