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Genesis 28:17
Verse
Context
Sermons
J. Vernon McGee
Jerry Bridges
Chuck Smith
Major Ian ThomasSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
How dreadful is this place! - The appearance of the ladder, the angels, and the Divine glory at the top of the ladder, must have left deep, solemn, and even awful impressions on the mind of Jacob; and hence the exclamation in the text, How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God - The Chaldee gives this place a curious turn: "This is not a common place, but a place in which God delights; and opposite to this place is the gate of heaven." Onkelos seems to suppose that the gate or entrance into heaven was actually above this spot, and that when the angels of God descended to earth, they came through that opening into this place, and returned by the same way. And it really appears that Jacob himself had a similar notion.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And he was afraid,.... Not with a servile but filial fear; not with a fear of the wrath and displeasure of God, but with a fear of his grace and goodness; not with a fear of distrust of it, of which he had just had such a comfortable assurance; but with an awe of the greatness and glory of God, being conscious of his own unworthiness to receive such favours from him: and said, how dreadful is this place! not terrible and horrible, being not like Mount Sinai, but like Sion; not as the suburbs of hell, but as the gate of heaven majestic and venerable, because of the glory of God that appeared in it, whose name is holy and reverend and because of the holy angels here present: and so the church, of which this was an emblem, is a solemn assembly, awful and venerable; a city of solemnities, because of the worship of God in it, and his presence there; who is to be feared in the assembly of his saints, and to be had in reverence of all that are about him; and where persons should behave in a serious and solemn manner. The Targum of Jonathan is,"how tremendous and praiseworthy is this place! this is not a common place:" this is none other but the house of God; wherefore he afterwards called it Bethel, which signifies the house of God; and so the church of God is often called, Psa 23:6; which is of God's building, where he dwells, and his family is, of which he is the master and governor; which he beautifies and adorns, fills, repairs, and defends: and this is the gate of heaven: Mr. Mede renders it "the court of heaven", because of the angels; since in gates justice was administered by kings, attended with their retinue; but royal courts were not kept there, only courts of judicature: this place seems to be so called, because the heavens were opened and the glory of God was seen, attended by his angels, who were passing and repassing, as people through the streets of a city; and was an emblem of the church of Christ, who is figured by the ladder set on earth, whose top reached to heaven, the door, the gate, the way of ascent to it; here he is preached in the word as the way of salvation, the way to heaven and eternal happiness; here he is held forth in the ordinances; here he grants his presence to his people, and indulges them with communion with him, which makes it like and next to heaven unto them: and, generally speaking, though not always, God brings his people to heaven this way, through a Gospel church state, and by means of the word and ordinances; and here angels also attend, Co1 11:10.
Genesis 28:17
Jacob’s Ladder
16When Jacob woke up, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware of it.”17And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Attributes of God (Series 2): The Divine Transcendence
By A.W. Tozer4.7K47:52Attributes of GodGEN 28:17MAT 11:28In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of seeking God and hearing His voice. He encourages the audience to not compromise with worldly pursuits but to draw near to God through the cross of Jesus Christ. The preacher also highlights the need to have a personal encounter with God and to allow His voice to convict and transform their lives. The sermon concludes with an invitation to experience the attributes of God and to continue exploring the topic of His eternity in the next sermon.
(Reformation Within Protestantism): The Goal of the Church
By A.W. Tozer4.2K45:07ReformationGEN 28:17MAT 6:33EPH 5:271TH 1:82TI 2:15In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of worship, witness, and work in the lives of believers. He expresses his concern that many people claim to be followers of Christ but do not live out their faith in their actions. The speaker highlights the need for believers to engage in good works and benevolence, following the example of Jesus who went about doing good and healing the oppressed. He challenges the audience to be a model church, presenting a new model for others to follow, and to align their lives with the teachings of the New Testament and the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Genesis) Genesis 28:10-11
By J. Vernon McGee2.8K06:22GenesisGEN 28:11GEN 28:17GEN 28:19MAT 6:33In this sermon, the speaker discusses the story of Jacob and how he was feeling homesick after leaving his mother for the first time. Jacob finds himself in a bleak and desolate place, similar to a desert, where he decides to rest for the night. Despite the difficult surroundings, this place called Bethel becomes a significant spiritual turning point in Jacob's life. The speaker also shares a personal anecdote of feeling homesick as a child and relates it to Jacob's experience.
The Fear of God - Part 2
By Jerry Bridges2.2K50:04Fear Of GodGEN 28:17PSA 111:10PSA 130:3MAT 6:33LUK 5:4EPH 6:5In this sermon, the preacher begins by telling a parable about a young man in basic training who is in awe of his commanding general. The preacher then explains that he is laying the foundation for the next three nights, where he will discuss the fear of God in daily life. He references a story from the Bible in Luke chapter 5, where Jesus borrows Peter's fishing boat and teaches the people on shore. After finishing his teaching, Jesus tells Peter to go out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch. The preacher emphasizes that just as the young man in the parable was in awe of his general, we should also be in awe of God's presence in our lives.
(Through the Bible) Exodus 1-5
By Chuck Smith1.8K1:23:21ExpositionalGEN 50:26EXO 2:15EXO 4:1EXO 4:10In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that God is not just a passive observer of our struggles and suffering. He takes action to deliver His people from their hardships. The preacher also highlights the importance of not getting too attached to material possessions, as they can easily be taken away. Instead, our focus should be on the things of the Spirit and God's eternal kingdom. The sermon references the story of Moses and the Israelites in Egypt, where they faced oppression and hardship, but ultimately God delivered them.
Jesus, the Ladder to Heaven
By Major Ian Thomas1.2K40:36HeavenGEN 12:3GEN 28:10GEN 28:15GEN 28:17JHN 1:46JHN 1:49In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Jacob's encounter with God at a seemingly desolate place. Jacob, feeling homesick and lonely, finds himself in a situation where he believes he is in a god-forsaken spot. However, it is in this very place that he has a personal meeting with God. The preacher emphasizes that God often reveals Himself in unlikely situations and that even when we feel abandoned, God is present. The sermon also highlights the promise made to Jacob that from his seed, the Messiah would come and bless all the families of the earth. The preacher encourages listeners to have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and recognize that even in the most unlikely places, God is present.
- Adam Clarke
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
How dreadful is this place! - The appearance of the ladder, the angels, and the Divine glory at the top of the ladder, must have left deep, solemn, and even awful impressions on the mind of Jacob; and hence the exclamation in the text, How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God - The Chaldee gives this place a curious turn: "This is not a common place, but a place in which God delights; and opposite to this place is the gate of heaven." Onkelos seems to suppose that the gate or entrance into heaven was actually above this spot, and that when the angels of God descended to earth, they came through that opening into this place, and returned by the same way. And it really appears that Jacob himself had a similar notion.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And he was afraid,.... Not with a servile but filial fear; not with a fear of the wrath and displeasure of God, but with a fear of his grace and goodness; not with a fear of distrust of it, of which he had just had such a comfortable assurance; but with an awe of the greatness and glory of God, being conscious of his own unworthiness to receive such favours from him: and said, how dreadful is this place! not terrible and horrible, being not like Mount Sinai, but like Sion; not as the suburbs of hell, but as the gate of heaven majestic and venerable, because of the glory of God that appeared in it, whose name is holy and reverend and because of the holy angels here present: and so the church, of which this was an emblem, is a solemn assembly, awful and venerable; a city of solemnities, because of the worship of God in it, and his presence there; who is to be feared in the assembly of his saints, and to be had in reverence of all that are about him; and where persons should behave in a serious and solemn manner. The Targum of Jonathan is,"how tremendous and praiseworthy is this place! this is not a common place:" this is none other but the house of God; wherefore he afterwards called it Bethel, which signifies the house of God; and so the church of God is often called, Psa 23:6; which is of God's building, where he dwells, and his family is, of which he is the master and governor; which he beautifies and adorns, fills, repairs, and defends: and this is the gate of heaven: Mr. Mede renders it "the court of heaven", because of the angels; since in gates justice was administered by kings, attended with their retinue; but royal courts were not kept there, only courts of judicature: this place seems to be so called, because the heavens were opened and the glory of God was seen, attended by his angels, who were passing and repassing, as people through the streets of a city; and was an emblem of the church of Christ, who is figured by the ladder set on earth, whose top reached to heaven, the door, the gate, the way of ascent to it; here he is preached in the word as the way of salvation, the way to heaven and eternal happiness; here he is held forth in the ordinances; here he grants his presence to his people, and indulges them with communion with him, which makes it like and next to heaven unto them: and, generally speaking, though not always, God brings his people to heaven this way, through a Gospel church state, and by means of the word and ordinances; and here angels also attend, Co1 11:10.