Christ is Our Honour
Philip Henry. 1 Peter 2:7-8 To you therefore which believe he is precious: but to them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed… The doctrine from these words is this, that Jesus Christ is an honour to all believers. 1. He is the author of honour to them. 2. He is, and ought to be, the object of honour from them. He honours them, and they do and should honour Him. I. HOW IS THE LORD JESUS THE AUTHOR OF HONOUR TO ALL TRUE RELIEVERS? We use to say concerning the king, that he is the fountain of honour, that is, all his subjects that are men of honour derive their honour from him. Others give them honour, but it is he that makes them honourable. Now King Jesus is He, and He alone, that is the fountain of honour to all true believers. 1. He hath Himself an honourable esteem of them. They are persons of honour, even the meanest of them, in His account (Isaiah 43:4). 2. His will is that every one else should be in this like Himself, in having an honourable esteem of them. As when the king bestows a degree of honour upon a person, makes him a knight, or a lord, or an earl, he expects others so to regard him; so it is here (Esther 6:3, 6, 7). How much soever they may be despised by others, they are the excellent of the earth in His eye because they are so in Christ's eye (Psalm 16:2). 3. He hath done that for them which in the account of men may and doth deserve that honour. What is it that tie hath done for them that may be the ground of men's honouring them? (1) One ground of honouring men is upon the account of their personal excellences and endowments; some are honourable for their learning and knowledge in arts and sciences; some for their, wisdom and prudence in the management of secular affairs; in the field, as soldiers; in the senate, as counsellors. Now if so, the people fearing God deserve honour indeed, for they have better knowledge than others. They from the least even to the greatest know God. And whence have they that knowledge but from Christ, who gives them an understanding? (1 John 5:20) They have wisdom also, another sort of wisdom — wisdom from above in soul affairs. (2) Upon the account of their great usefulness in their particular places and stations; in court or camp, for peace or war. By their prayers, fetching down mercies, keeping off judgments, as Moses. By their pattern, they are the lights of the world. (3) Upon the account of their honourable relations wherein they stand. He that is himself in honour reflects honour upon all that are related to him. Now what are the relations of true believers? They are all the children of God, and how but by faith in Jesus Christ? (Galatians 3:16; John 1:12) And is not that a high honour? To be a servant, even the meanest, to men of honour, carries honour in it (Psalm 116:16). Nay, they are His friends, admitted to His secrets, acquainted with His counsels (John 15:15). As Hushai was a friend to David (2 Samuel 15:37). Zabud to Solomon (1 Kings 4:5). (4) Some are honourable on account of their honourable hopes. Young heirs are honoured for their inheritance sake, though as yet under age. (5) Some are honourable on account of their honourable offices and employments (Revelation 1:5) — kings and priests, so He makes them. (6) Others are honourable on account of their honourable name (James 2:7). The word Christian is from Christ; all this honour have all His saints (Psalm 149:9). II. WHAT KIND OF HONOUR IS IT THAT TRUE BELIEVERS HAVE FROM JESUS CHRIST? It hath these properties. 1. It is real honour. Other honours are but a shadow, a dream, a fancy. This hath substance in it (Proverbs 8:21). 2. It is righteous honour. Other honours which the honourable men of the earth have are oftentimes unrighteous — unjustly given, and unjustly taken. 3. It is heavenly honour. Other honours are from below, this is from above; other honours are upon earthly accounts, this upon heavenly. The birth of a believer is heavenly, his endowments heavenly. 4. It is harmless honour. Other honours often hurt those that have them, puff them up with pride, as Haman, but so doth not this. 5. It is unsought honour. What endeavours are there to obtain other honours, what struggling, what bribing and waiting! 6. It is unfading honour. It is honour that lasts, it is everlasting. III. WHAT MAY WE LEARN FROM THIS SUBJECT? 1. We learn what to think of the great and glorious majesty of heaven and earth. His name, and His Son's name, is certainly upon this account to be adored by us and by all His creatures, angels and men. For what? For His infinite love and free grace in condescending in this manner to a remnant of Adam's seed, so as to put all this honour upon them. 2. We learn what to think of those who are not believers; all the ignorant, careless, unregenerate generation: certainly they have no part nor lot in this matter. They are none of those that God will honour. 3. We learn what is the true way to true honour. It is in our nature to desire it. But the misery is, we mistake our end, and consequently our way. We take those things to be wealth and pleasure and honour that are not so, and that not to be so which is so, and we pursue accordingly. 4. We learn what is our duty towards those to whom Christ is an honour. Certainly it is our duty to see them truly honourable, and to love and honour them accordingly (2 Kings 20:12, 13). 5. We learn what is their duty to whom Christ is an honour. To make it their business to honour Him all they can. Why is He to be honoured? He is worthy that it should be so. It is the Father's will it should be so (John 5:22, 23; Colossians 1:18, 19). It will be our own benefit and comfort, living and dying. We shall be no losers, but gainers by it. Wherein are we to honour Him? In general — let Him be precious to you. Have high and honourable thoughts of Him. Speak high and honourable things concerning Him, as Paul did. Do nothing to displease and dishonour Him, but everything contrary (Philippians 1:2). (Philip Henry.) Parallel Verses KJV: Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, WEB: For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone,"