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I may call this text the magistrates' Scripture; considering the state of kings and governors, how much good they might do, and how little they perform, God becomes a remembrancer unto them. And first, shows what a high calling princes and rulers have, and then, lest they should be proud of it, and make their magistracy a chair of ease, he turns upon them again, as though he had another message unto them, and tells them, that though they be above others, yet they shall die like others; and though they judge here, yet they shall be judged hereafter. A good memorandum for all in authority, so to deal in this kingdom, that they lose not the kingdom to come.

1. "I have said, Ye are gods," etc.

(1) This name informs us what kind of rulers and magistrates we should choose; those which excel all other men, like gods among men. For a king should he a man after God's own heart, like David.

(2) This extolleth the calling of magistrates. There is a difference between kings and inferior magistrates; for the prince is like a great image of God, the magistrates are like little images of God, appointed to rule for God, to make laws for God, to reward for God, to punish for God, to speak for God, to fight for God, to reform for God, and therefore their battles are called "The Lord's battles;" and their judgments, "The Lord's judgments;" and their throne, "The Lord's throne;" and the kings themselves, "His kings," to show that they are all for God, like His hands. By some He teacheth mercy, by some justice, by some peace, by some counsel, as Christ distributed the loaves and the fishes by the hands of His disciples (Matthew 14:18). This God requires of all when He calls them gods, to rule as He would rule, judge as He would judge, correct as He would correct, reward as He would reward, because it is said, that they are instead of the Lord God; that is, to do as He would do, as a scholar writes by a copy.

(3) They are called gods, to teach them how they should govern, Howsoever other care for the glory of God, the performance of His will, the reformation of His Church, princes and rulers, which are gods themselves, are to do the business of God as their own business, God's law is their law, God's honour is their honour.

(4) They are called gods, to encourage them in their office, and to teach them that they need not dread the persons of men; but as God doth that which is just and good without the jealousy of men, so they, upon the bench, and in all causes of justice, should forget themselves to be men, which are led by the arms between favour and fear, and think themselves gods, which fear nothing.

2. It followeth, "but ye shall die as a man." Here he distinguisheth between mortal gods and the immortal God. Ye have seen their glory; now behold their end. As if he would prevent some conceit that they would take of tim words which he east out before, he cools them quickly before they swell, and defers not to another time; but where he calls them gods, there he calls them worms' meat, lest they should crow between the praise and the check, "I have said that ye are gods, but ye shall die like other men." But for this, many would live a merry life, and feast, and sport, and let the world slide; but the remembrance of death is like a damp, which puts out all the lights of pleasure, and makes him frown and whine which thinks upon it, as if a mote were in his eye.

(Henry Smith.)

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KJV: I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

WEB: I said, "You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High.