I will declare thy name unto my brethren
Not those who were more nearly related to him according to the
flesh; for though there were some who believed in him, and to
whom he declared the name of God, as James and Joses, and Judas
and Simon, ( Matthew
13:55 ) ; yet there were others that did not believe on him,
( John 7:3 John 7:5 ) ; nor those
more remotely related to him, as all the Jews, who were his
brethren and kinsmen also according to the flesh; to these indeed
he came and preached, but they received him not; but rather his
apostles, whom he called his brethren, even after his
resurrection, and to whom he appeared and declared the name of
God, ( Matthew
28:10 ) ( John 20:17 ) ; and the
five hundred brethren by whom he was seen at once may be also
included; and even all true believers in him, who through his
incarnation, being their "goel" and near kinsman, stands in such
a relation to them, and through their adoption into his Father's
family, his Father being their Father, and his God their God;
which is manifested in regeneration, and evidenced by their doing
the will of God, which is believing in Christ, ( Matthew
12:49 Matthew
12:50 ) . By the "name" of God is meant, not anyone of the
names by which he is known, as God Almighty, Jehovah if any of
these could be thought to be designed, the New Testament name and
title of God as the Father of Christ would bid fair for it; but
rather the perfections of God, which appear in Christ, and were
glorified in the work of redemption; or God himself; or else his
Gospel, ( Acts 9:15
) ; and which Christ declared and manifested to his disciples,
both before and after his resurrection, ( John 17:6 John 17:8 ) ( Acts 1:3 ) ; which latter
seems here to be referred unto;
in the midst of the congregation will I praise
thee;
meaning not the congregation of the Jews, their synagogue, or
temple, where he often attended on public worship, and preached
and praised the Lord; but rather the company of his disciples,
among whom he sung an hymn the night he was betrayed, and with
whom he conversed by times for forty days after his resurrection:
unless the general assembly and church of the firstborn in heaven
is intended, in the midst of which he praised the Lord, when he
ascended on high, led captivity captive, and received gifts for
men; though it seems best to understand this of the church of
God, particularly among the Gentiles, under the Gospel
dispensation, where Christ in his members sings the praise of
electing, redeeming, and calling grace; see ( Psalms 18:49
) ; compared with ( Romans 15:9 ) . This is
a proof of singing of psalms and hymns in Gospel churches, and of
its being a duty to be publicly performed by the members of them,
who may expect the presence of Christ in the midst of his church,
seeing he here promises to be there: these words are applied to
Christ in ( Hebrews 2:12
) .