27. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put under (him, it is) manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
The proof that death is finally to be destroyed is derived from the 8th Psalm, where the subjection of all things to the Messiah is predicted. There are two passages of the Old Testament frequently quoted in the New Testament as fore- telling the absolutely universal dominion of the Messiah, Ps. 110 and Ps. 8. The former is quoted, or its language appro- priated, in V. 25. Matt. 22, 44. Acts 2, 34. Eph. 1, 22. Heb. 1, 13. 10, 12. 13. 1 Pet. 3, 22. In this there is no diflSculty, as that Psalm clearly refers to the Messiah and to none else. The 8th Psalm is quoted and applied to Christ in this passage, and in Eph. 1, 22. Heb. 2, 8, and 1 Pet. 3, 22. As this Psalm has no apparent reference to the Messiah, but is a thanksgiv- ing to God for his goodness to man, the use made of it in the New Testament is to be understood as an inspired exposition of its hidden meaning. That is, when the Psalmist said, " Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands, thou hast put all things under his feet," we learn from the New Testament that the Spirit of God intended by these words far more than that man was invested with dominion over the beasts of the field. There is no limit to the all things here intended. Heb. 2, 8. Man is clothed with dominion over the whole universe, over all principalities and powers, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come. This is fulfilled in the man Christ Jesus, into whose hands all power in heaven and earth has been committed. This may be called the hidden meaning of the Psalm, because it never would have been discovered with- out a further revelation such as we find m the exposition given by the inspired apostles. When he saith^ orav elirrj. This may mean either, when the Scripture saith, or lohen God saith. The latter is better on account of what follows. The verb is not to be translated as in the present tense, but, as the better commentators agree, in the past future, see v. 24. Heb. 1, 6. * When God shall have said.* That is, when God shall have declared his purpose to subject all things to Christ accom- plished, it will then be manifest that aU things are subject to him, God only excepted.