6. _And hath made us kings and priests unto God._ In 1 Pe. ii. 9 the same idea is expressed by saying of Christians that they are “_a royal priesthood_.” See Notes on that verse. The quotation in both places is from Ex. xix. 6: “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests.” This idea is expressed here by saying that Christ had made us in fact kings _and_ priests; that is, Christians are exalted to the dignity and are invested with the office, implied in these words. The word _kings_, as applied to them, refers to the exalted rank and dignity which they will have; to the fact that they, in common with their Saviour, will reign triumphant over all enemies; and that, having gained a victory over sin and death and hell, they may be represented as reigning together. The word _priests_ refers to the fact that they are engaged in the holy service of God, or that they offer to him acceptable worship. See Notes on 1 Pe. ii. 5. ¶ _And his Father._ Even his Father; that is, the Saviour has redeemed them, and elevated them to this exalted rank, in order that they may thus be engaged in the service of his Father. ¶ _To him |be| glory._ To the Redeemer; for so the construction (ver. 5) demands. The word {45} “glory” here means praise, or honour, implying a wish that all honour should be shown him. ¶ _And dominion._ This word means literally _strength_――κράτος; but it here means the strength, power, or authority which is exercised over others, and the expression is equivalent to a wish that he may _reign_. 7 Behold, he [68]cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and [69]they _also_ which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth [70]shall wail because of him. [71]Even so, Amen. 7. _Behold he cometh with clouds._ That is, the Lord Jesus, when he returns, will come accompanied with clouds. This is in accordance with the uniform representation respecting the return of the Saviour. See Notes on Mat. xxiv. 30. Comp. Mat. xxvi. 64; Mar. xiii. 26; xiv. 62; Ac. i. 9, 11. Clouds are appropriate symbols of majesty, and God is often represented as appearing in that manner. See Ex. xix. 18; Ps. xviii. 11, seq.; Is. xix. 1. So, among the heathen, it was common to represent their divinities as appearing clothed with a cloud: “tandem venias, precamur, Nube candentes humeros amictus Augur Apollo.”