This verse is one of several in the Old Testament that speak to us of the Son of God. The first part addresses our need to reverence Him to whom all authority has been given. In sending forth His disciples on the great commission, the Lord reminded them that all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth. His own could appreciate this, but for the masses, the Lord Jesus was at best seen as a prophet during His ministry.

Simon the Pharisee invited the Lord Jesus to dine with him, yet his thoughts were so focused on the honor he would get as a host that he failed to give proper honor to his guest by greeting Him with a customary kiss (Lk. 7:45). There was a sinner there who demonstrated greater insight into who the Lord Jesus was as she covered His feet with kisses: only God could forgive her sins. Sadly, the religious elite failed to recognize His authority and instead called Him a blasphemer (Lk. 5:21).

On the last night that the Savior was in Gethsemane with eleven of His disciples, a mob came to seize Him. They were led by Judas Iscariot who, under the darkness of night, identified the Lord by kissing Him (Mt. 26:49). Such is the treachery of the unregenerate sinner who pretentiously associates Himself with Christ outwardly, but with the same kiss sells the Son of God to enrich himself.

In great contrast, the last part of our verse says that those who have put their trust in Him are blessed—that’s us! How wonderful to be inseparably linked to the One to whom all authority has been given; and to us He says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:18–20).