After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. The first verse of this chapter raises the most difficult, perhaps, and most controverted, of all questions touching the Harmony of the Gospels and the Duration of our Lord's ministry. AFTER THIS THERE WAS A FEAST OF THE JEW... [ Continue Reading ]
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. NOW THERE IS AT JERUSALEM, BY THE SHEEP [MARKET]. The supplement here is an unhappy one, as no such market-place is known. But as the sheep gate is mentioned in Nehemiah 3:1;... [ Continue Reading ]
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. IN THESE LAY A GREAT MULTITUDE OF IMPOTENT FOLK (OR INFIRM PEOPLE) OF BLIND HALT WITHERED [ IN THESE LAY A GREAT MULTITUDE OF IMPOTENT FOLK (OR INFIRM PEOPLE), OF BLIND, HALT, WITHERED... [ Continue Reading ]
For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. FOR AN ANGEL WENT DOWN AT A CERTAIN SEASON INTO THE POOL, AND TROUBLED THE WATER: WHOSOEVER THEN FIRST A... [ Continue Reading ]
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. AND [OR RATHER, 'NOW' de (G1161 )] A CERTAIN MAN WAS THERE, WHICH HAD AN INFIRMITY THIRTY AND EIGHT YEARS - a length of time which to the man himself might seem to render a cure hopeless, and on the principle of a mere m... [ Continue Reading ]
When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? WHEN JESUS SAW HIM LIE, AND KNEW THAT HE HAD BEEN NOW A LONG TIME IN THAT CASE. As He doubtless visited the spot just to perform this cure, so He knew where to find His pat... [ Continue Reading ]
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. THE IMPOTENT MAN ANSWERED HIM, SIR, I HAVE NO MAN, WHEN THE WATER IS TROUBLED, TO PUT ME INTO THE POOL: BUT WHILE I AM COMING, ANOTHER ST... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, RISE, TAKE UP THY BED, AND WALK.... [ Continue Reading ]
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. AND IMMEDIATELY THE MAN WAS MADE WHOLE, AND TOOK UP HIS BED, AND WALKED. "He spake, and it was done." The slinging of his portable couch ever his shoulders was designed to show the perfe... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. THE JEWS - that is, those in authority (see the note at ). THEREFORE SAID UNTO HIM THAT WAS CURED, IT IS NOT LAWFUL FOR THEE TO CARRY THY BED - a glorious testimony to the cure,... [ Continue Reading ]
He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. HE ANSWERED THEM, HE THAT MADE ME WHOLE, THE SAME SAID UNTO ME, TAKE UP THY BED, AND WALK.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? THEN ASKED THEY HIM, WHAT MAN IS THAT WHICH SAID UNTO THEE, TAKE UP THY BED, AND WALK? They ingeniously parry the man's thrust, asking him, not who had "made him whole" - that would have condemned themselves a... [ Continue Reading ]
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. AND, [ de (G1161 ), OR RATHER, 'BUT'] HE THAT WAS HEALED WIST NOT WHO IT WAS. That some one with unparalleled generosity, tenderness, and power had done it, the man knew well enough;... [ Continue Reading ]
Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. AFTERWARD JESUS FINDETH HIM IN THE TEMPLE - saying, perhaps, "I will go into thy house with burnt offerings; I will pay my vows, which my lips have uttered,... [ Continue Reading ]
The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. THE MAN DEPARTED, AND TOLD THE JEWS THAT IT WAS JESUS WHICH HAD MADE HIM WHOLE - little thinking how unwelcome his grateful and eager testimony would be. "The darkness," as Olshausen says, "received not the light wh... [ Continue Reading ]
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay him because he had done these things on And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. AND THEREFORE DID THE JEWS PERSECUTE JESUS, AND SOUGHT TO SLAY HIM. [This... [ Continue Reading ]
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. BUT JESUS ANSWERED THEM, MY FATHER WORKETH HITHERTO, AND I WORK. The "I" here is emphatic [ kagoo (G2504)] - q.d., 'The creative and conservative activity of My Father has known no Sabbath-cessation from the beginning until now, an... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. THEREFORE [OR 'FOR THIS CAUSE' dia (G1223 ) touto (G5124 )], THE JEWS SOUGHT THE MORE TO KILL HIM, BECAUSE HE NOT ONLY HAD BROKEN THE S... [ Continue Reading ]
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. THEN ANSWERED JESUS AND SAID UNTO THEM, THE SON CAN DO NOTHING OF HIMSELF, [ af' (G575)... [ Continue Reading ]
For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. FOR THE FATHER LOVETH THE SON. The word here for "loveth" [ filei (G5368)] is that which peculiarly denotes personal affection, as distinguished from t... [ Continue Reading ]
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. FOR AS THE FATHER RAISETH UP THE DEAD, AND QUICKENETH THEM - one act in two stages, the resurrection of the body and the restoration of life to it. This surely is the Father's absolute prerogativ... [ Continue Reading ]
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: FOR THE FATHER JUDGETH NO MAN, [ oude (G3761) gar (G1063) ho (G3588) pateer (G3962) krinei (G2919) oudena (G3762)] - 'For neither doth the Father judge any man:' implying that the same thing was meant in the former verse... [ Continue Reading ]
That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. THAT ALL [MEN] SHOULD HONOUR THE SON, EVEN AS THEY HONOUR THE FATHER. As he who believes that Christ, in the foregoing verses, has given a true account... [ Continue Reading ]
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, HE THAT HEARETH MY WORD, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT SENT ME - that is, 'beli... [ Continue Reading ]
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, THE HOUR IS COMING, [ erchetai (G2064) hoora (G5610)] - or, 'There cometh an hour;' that is, in its whole fullness... [ Continue Reading ]
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; FOR AS THE FATHER HATH LIFE IN HIMSELF, SO HATH HE GIVEN, [ edooken (G1325 ), OR 'GAVE HE'] TO THE SON TO HAVE LIFE IN HIMSELF. Does this refer to the essential life of the Son before all time? (in the se... [ Continue Reading ]
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. AND HATH GIVEN HIM (OR, AS BEFORE, 'GAVE HIM') AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT ALSO - as well as to quicken whom He will (). BECAUSE HE IS THE SON OF MAN. This seems to confirm the last remark, that what Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, MARVEL NOT AT THIS - this committal of all judgment to the Son of Man. FOR THE HOUR IS COMING - or, 'there cometh an hour.' But here our Lord adds not, "and now is," as in ; because the ho... [ Continue Reading ]
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. AND SHALL COME FORTH; THEY THAT HAVE DONE GOOD, UNTO THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE - that is, the resurrection unto life everlasting (Matthew 25:46). AND T... [ Continue Reading ]
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. I CAN OF [OR 'FROM' af' (G575 )] MINE OWN SELF DO NOTHING - apart from, or in rivalry of, the Father, and in any separate interest of M... [ Continue Reading ]
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. IF I BEAR WITNESS OF MYSELF, [ peri (G4012)] - 'concerning Myself;' that is, in the sense already explained-standing alone, and setting up a separate interest of my own. MY WITNESS IS NOT TRUE.... [ Continue Reading ]
There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. THERE IS ANOTHER THAT BEARETH WITNESS OF ME - meaning, The Father, as is plain from the connection. How brightly the distinction of the Persons shines out here! AND I KNOW THAT THE WITNE... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. YE SENT UNTO JOHN - referring to the deputation which these same rulers sent to the Baptist (, etc.), of which, though not present, Jesus was fully cognizant, as of the answer which the Baptist returned. AND HE BARE WITNESS UNTO THE TRUTH.... [ Continue Reading ]
But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. BUT I RECEIVE NOT TESTIMONY FROM MAN - that is, I depend not on human testimony. That He should have permitted Himself to receive testimony from the Baptist, seemed to the Lord Jesus to need some explanation, l... [ Continue Reading ]
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. HE WAS A BURNING AND A SHINING LIGHT, [ ho (G3588) luchnos (G3088) ho (G3588) kaiomenos (G2545) kai (G2532) fainoon (G5316)] - literally, 'the burning and shining lamp,' or 'torch:'-q. d., 'the great l... [ Continue Reading ]
But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. BUT I HAVE GREATER WITNESS, [ egoo (G1473) de (G1161) echoo (G2192) teen (G3588) marturian (G3141) meizoo (G3187)] - r... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. AND THE FATHER HIMSELF HATH BORNE WITNESS OF ME - not referring, probably, to the voice at His baptism, but, as seems from what follows, to the testimony of the... [ Continue Reading ]
And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. AND YE HAVE NOT HIS WORD ABIDING IN YOU - passing now from the Witness-bearer to the testimony borne by the Father in "the lively oracles:" both were alike strangers to their breasts, as was evidenced by their re... [ Continue Reading ]
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES, [ ereunate (G2045)] - or 'Ye search.' Since either sense may be adopted consistently with the word itself, we must be guided by what seems to be the strain of our Lord's... [ Continue Reading ]
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. AND YE WILL NOT COME, [ ou (G3756 ) thelete (G2309 ) elthein (G2064 ), RATHER 'YE ARE NOT WILLING TO COME'] TO ME, THAT YE MIGHT HAVE LIFE: - q.d., 'With disregarding the Scriptures I charge you not: Ye do indeed busy yourselves about them (He... [ Continue Reading ]
I receive not honour from men. I RECEIVE NOT HONOUR, [ doxan (G1391)] - 'applause,' 'glory,' FROM MEN - contrasting His own end with theirs, which was to obtain human applause.... [ Continue Reading ]
But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. BUT I KNOW YOU, THAT YE HAVE NOT THE LOVE OF GOD IN YOU - which would have inspired you with a single desire to know His mind and will, and yield yourselves to it, in spite of prejudice, and regardless of consequences.... [ Continue Reading ]
I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. I AM COME IN MY FATHER'S NAME, AND YE RECEIVE ME NOT: IF ANOTHER SHALL COME IN HIS OWN NAME, HIM YE WILL RECEIVE. How strikingly has this been verified in the history of the Jews. Fr... [ Continue Reading ]
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? HOW CAN YE BELIEVE, WHICH RECEIVE HONOUR ONE OF ANOTHER, AND SEEK NOT THE HONOUR THAT COMETH FROM GOD ONLY. The "can" not here, and the "will" not of , are but different aspects of one and... [ Continue Reading ]
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. DO NOT THINK THAT I WILL ACCUSE YOU TO THE FATHER: - q. d., 'My errand here is not to collect evidence to condemn you at God's bar.' THERE IS ONE THAT ACCUSETH YOU, EVEN MOSES, IN W... [ Continue Reading ]
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. FOR HAD YE BELIEVED MOSES, YE WOULD HAVE BELIEVED ME, [ episteuete (G4100)] - rather, 'If ye believed Moses, ye would believe Me.' FOR HE WROTE OF ME - an important testimony, as Alford remarks, to the subject of the whole... [ Continue Reading ]
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? BUT IF YE BELIEVE NOT HIS WRITINGS (see the note at ). HOW SHALL YE BELIEVE MY WORDS? - a remarkable contrast, not absolutely putting Old Testament Scripture below His own words, but pointing to the office of those venerable do... [ Continue Reading ]