This miraculous mode of conception and birth was farther necessary, in order to fulfil the prophecies : for in the very first promise that announced God's gracious intentions to the world, it was said, that " the Seed of the woman (not of the man, but of the woman) should bruise the serpent's headg." It had afterwards been more plainly declared, that " a virgin should conceive, and bear a Son, whose name should be called Emmanuel," God with ush.
Hence the expression in the text marks at once, that Christ was fitted for his mediatorial office ; and that he is the very person fore-ordained from the foundation of the world to sustain and execute it.]
2. " Made under the law"—
[Not being represented by Adam, and not inheriting his defilement, Christ was not under the curse of the law : but, being born of a Jewish parent, he was under the authority of the law, as well the ceremonial as the moral. The law was to him, as it was to Adam in Paradise, a covenant of life and death. The covenant made with Adam was for himself and all his natural posterity : that which was made with Christ, was for himself and all his spiritual seed. Now, Adam, by violating the covenant, had entailed a curse on all his descen- dants. To remedy this evil, two things were to be done : the curse due to us was to be endured ; and a new claim to heaven was to be established for us. For these two purposes Christ was fitted, when he was sent into the world : He was sent " made of a woman only," that, not being himself ob- noxious to the curse of the law, he might bear the curse for us ; and that, fulfilling all the demands of the law, he might " bring in an everlasting righteousness," which should be imputed to us, and placed to our account1.
If we attend to the various circumstances of his life and death, we shall find that he actually fulfilled the law in every particular. He fulfilled the ceremonial law both actively and passively : actively, by submitting to circumcision, by attending the stated feasts, and by complying with the Mosaic ritual in all its parts: he fulfilled it also passively, by accomplishing every thing which was there prefigured, and by exhibiting in himself the substance of every thing which the Mosaic ritual had shadowed forth k. He fulfilled also the moral law, obeying it in its utmost extent, insomuch that not a spot or blemish could be found in him. In short, as " it became him to fulfil all righteousness," so he did fulfil it ; and, being " made under
s Gen. iii. 15. h Isai. vii. 14. Matt. i. 23.
; Dan. ix. 24. Rom. iii. 21, 22. k Col. ii. 17.