Philippians 2:9-11

Christ's state of exaltation:

v. 9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name,

v. 10. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth,

v. 11. and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father.

The enthusiasm of the apostle here carries him beyond his original scope, in a triumphant description of Christ's exaltation: On which account also God has highly exalted Him and given to Him the name, that above every name. Because Christ was of such a mind as described in the preceding verses, because He humbled Himself so freely and willingly, therefore it pleased God to exalt Him. This fact, indeed, does not exclude the other, that Christ exalted Himself. Both facts are stated in Scriptures. This statement, therefore, does not argue for a subjection of the Son below the Father, for a difference in rank within the Godhead. There is no subordination in the Trinity. And yet, God exalted the man Jesus Christ. Christ, according to His human nature, was subject to all consequences of sin, suffering, death, and the grave. But He is now exalted; the days of His humiliation are passed. His human body is now in full possession of the divine glory and majesty which was communicated to Him at the time of the incarnation. He has reassumed the unbounded use of His divine qualities and attributes, He makes use of all power in heaven and earth, He is King in the kingdoms of power and grace and glory. It is the glorified man Jesus Christ who reigns over everything, heavenly and earthly things, and things beneath the earth; His human nature has entered into full and unlimited communion with the divine essence. All this is included in the fact that the good will of God has given Him this name, has secured Him this exaltation, as the Lord Jehovah.

It follows, therefore: in order that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly and earthly and sub earthly things, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The name of Christ, formerly despised and spoken with hissing and contempt, is now the reason and occasion of a far different behavior. It is the most supreme. Angels, men, and devils must give to Jesus Christ, the exalted Son of God, free and unequivocal obedience. No name is more highly honored than His. All must bow before Him, all must give Him divine honor. The greatness, sacredness, divinity of the name is the reason, the motive, for the bowing of the knee. The angels of heaven pray to the name of Him that was exalted over everything. And all the inhabitants of the earth feel the greatness of His power and give Him divine honor. The believers do this willingly and gladly, the unbelievers only with a great struggle. But they also, like the devils, whether they want to or not, will some time have to acknowledge and admit that Jesus is the Lord. The very fact that they seem so insistent upon their confession of unbelief shows that they do not consider Christ an insignificant personality, but one of high estate, who must be opposed and fought against with all earnestness. In the end every tongue must and will confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord. It is not merely that they cower before Him in faithful adoration or in impotent rage, it is also that they are obliged to confess. The acknowledgment by means of an external gesture of adoration is followed by a confession of His sovereignty. By this confession all creatures incidentally give all glory to the Father, to God, the ultimate object of all adoration. He that honoreth the Son honoreth the Father. Note: This admonition also has a very close connection with the admonition of this section. Just as Christ, by His voluntary renouncing of the rights and privileges of His Godhead, through His humility, poverty, suffering, obedience, finally obtained heavenly glory and honor, attained to His present exaltation, thus the Christians, if they follow Christ, if they are found to be of the same mind as Christ, mill obtain the heavenly glory and become partakers of Christ's exaltation.