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John Calvin's Bible Commentary

John 13:23

23.Whom Jesus loved. The peculiar love with which Christ loved John plainly testifies that, if we love some more than others, this is not always inconsistent with brotherly love; but all lies in this, that our love shall be directed towards God, and that every man, in proportion as he excels in the gifts of God, shall share in it the more largely. From this end Christ never turned aside in the smallest degree; but with us the case is widely different, for such is the vanity of our mind, that there are few who, in loving men, approach more nearly to God. And yet the love of men towards each other will never be properly regulated, unless it be directed to God.

Lay at table in Jesus’ bosom. What is here related by John might be regarded in the present day as indecorous; but such was, at that time, the manner of being placed at table; for they did not sit, as we do, at table, but, after having put off their shoes, lay half-stretched out, reclining on small cushions.

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See also John 13:23 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 23. _NOW THERE WAS LEANING ON JESUS' BOSOM_] The Jews of those days, at their suppers, reclined, supported by their left arm, on couches placed round the table, as the Greeks and Romans did. On...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    LEANING ON JESUS’ BOSOM - This does not mean that he was at that time actually lying on his bosom, but that he occupied a situation next to him at the table, so that his head naturally fell back on hi...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 13 _ 1. The Washing of the Disciples' Feet. (John 13:1 .)_ 2. Instructions given; to Wash One Another's Feet. (John 13:12 .) 3. The Betrayal Foretold. (John 13:18 .) 4. His Own Departure an...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE UNMASKING OF THE TRAITOR. The truth must now be told plainly. Jesus is troubled (John 12:27), and makes the solemn declaration, One of you shall betray. With the disciples-' looks of amazement con...

  • B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary

    THERE WAS LEANING ON JESUS' BOSOM ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES. The party were reclining at the table in the Greek and Roman fashion.. wide couch was placed along the table and each guest reclined on his lef...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    When Jesus had said these things, he was troubled in spirit. Solemnly he declared: "This is the truth I tell you, one of you will betray me." The disciples began to look at each other, because they we...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE ROYALTY OF SERVICE (John 13:1-17)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    LEANING. reclining. Greek. _anakeimai,_ generally translated "sat at meat"; Compare John 13:28. Reclining on the divan, his head towards the Lord's bosom, John was in the favoured position, on the Lor...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _there was leaning on Jesus" bosom_ Better, _there was_ RECLINING ON JESUS" LAP. It is important to mark the distinction between this and the words rendered -lying on Jesus" breast" in John 13:25. The...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἮΝ� … ἘΝ Τ. ΚΌΛΠΩΙ. It is important to distinguish between this RECLINING ON JESUS’ LAP and ἀναπέσων ἐπὶ τὸ στῆθος in John 13:25. The Jews had adopted the Persian, Greek, and Roman custom of reclining...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    THE SELF-EXCOMMUNICATION OF THE TRAITOR...

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    Ver 21. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say to you, that one of you shall betray me. 22. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubt...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _JESUS PREDICTED HIS BETRAYAL -- JOHN 13:21-30:_ Jesus was deeply troubled in heart as He told the disciples that one of them would betray Him. In fact Judas had already betrayed Jesus and he was look...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΆΝΑΚΕΊΜΕΝΟΣ _praes. med._/pass, _(dep.) part. от_ ΆΝΆΚΕΙΜΑΙ (G345) лежать за столом, возлежать. Было принято облокачиваться на подушки, сидя на полу во время еды. Используется для указания на покой и...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    NOW THERE WAS LEANING ON JESUS' BOSOM— One of them, whom Jesus peculiarly loved, sat next to him, leaning backward with his head upon his Lord's breast, according to the usual posture at the passover....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE SELFISH SERVANT OF SIN _Text 13:21-30_ 21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in the spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN John 13:21-38 Below is an Analysis of the passage which is to be before us:— We have entitled this chapter Christ’s Warnings: it scarcely covers everything in the pa...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. NOW THERE WAS LEANING ON JESUS' BOSOM, [ anakeimenos (G345)] - that is, next Him at the table, and so "on" or 'in His b...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    The most menial service the Lord could perform for them was the washing of their feet. No wonder Peter protested! He has not fully learned the lesson that the Lord is abasing Himself even to death, be...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    13:23 in (l-10) 'in,' here, is _ en_ , 'on,' ver. 25, is _ epi_ ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE LAST SUPPER 1-17. The Supper and the Feet-washing. This supper is identified by almost all modern authorities with the Last Supper, which took place on Thursday night at Jerusalem (Matthew 26:20;...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    Jesus indicates the Traitor. 18. I do not call you all happy (blessed), for I know that among you is a traitor. But My choice even of the traitor is in accordance with the prophecy of Scripture. THE S...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    LEANING ON (RV 'reclining in') JESUS' BOSOM] The guests lay on their left sides, on separate but adjacent couches, each supporting his head upon his left hand, with his left elbow resting upon a cushi...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    JOHN TELLS THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS GOSPEL OF JOHN _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 13 JESUS WASHES HIS *DISCIPLES’ FEET 13:1-11 V1 It was the day before the *Passover. Jesus knew that it was time for hi...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    NOW THERE WAS LEANING ON JESUS’ BOSOM. — Leonardo’s picture is in one respect misleading, and, like most paintings of the Lord’s Supper, has not represented the method in which the guests reclined rat...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    VII. _ JUDAS._ "I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth My bread lifted up his heel against Me. From henceforth I tell you before it...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἦν … Ἰησοῦς, the disciple whom Jesus loved lay next Him, ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ. Two arrangements of guests at a table were in vogue. They either lay at right angles to the table and parallel to one another, eac...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _Judas is eliminated from the company_....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    KINDNESS TO THE TRAITOR John 13:21-30 In the circle of the Twelve, Judas represented the carnal idea of the Messiah, which was directly opposed to the spirit just manifested in the washing of their...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    For a time our Lord now devoted Himself to His own, and in this connection we have the account of His washing the disciples' feet. The whole action was Eastern, and was the action of a slave: By what...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Now there was (f) leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. (f) John's leaning was such that sitting down on his mat his head was toward the head of Jesus: for it is certain tha...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    One of his disciples. St. John himself was lying at table in (or towards) the bosom of Jesus. [1] These words seem to express the manner that the Jews were place at table. They had couches about a tab...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    DESIGNATION AND WITHDRAWAL OF JUDAS Matthew 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-21; Luke 22:21-23; John 13:21-35. “Jesus, sayi

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    _Now one of the disciples, he whom Jesus loved, was reclining on his bosom;_ 24 _Simon Peter beckoned to him to ask who this one might be._ ” Among the ancients, persons reclined rather than sat at ta...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    THIRD PART: THE DEVELOPMENT OF FAITH IN THE DISCIPLES. 13:1- 17:26. THE third part of the Gospel describes the last moments which Jesus passed with His disciples; while making us acquainted with the s...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    II. THE DISMISSAL OF JUDAS: JOHN 13:21-30. Here also is a work of Jesus' love towards His own. As long as Judas was present, His heart was under restraint, and could not give vent to all the feelings...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled. He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. (19) Now I tell you before it come, that, w...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The point at which we have arrived gives me an opportunity of saying a little on the beginning of this chapter, and the end of the last; for it is well known that many men, and, I am sorry to add, not...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE BELOVED DISCIPLE_ ‘There was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.’ John 13:23 The title by which John calls himself is the disciple ‘whom Jesus loved.’ We too have e...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Now, then, the Lord has taken His place as going to the Father. The time was come for it. He takes His place above, according to the counsels of God, and is no longer in connection with a world that h...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    NOW THERE WAS LEANING ON JESUS' BOSOM,.... Not pressing upon that part of Christ's body, which would have been irreverent in John, and troublesome to Christ; but leaning at table upon his bed or couch...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Ver. 23. _Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom_] So must we do at the sacrament, by the actuation of our faith, ascendin...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _There was leaning on Jesus's bosom_ That is, sitting next to him at table. This phrase only expresses the then customary posture at meals, where the guests all leaned sideways on couches, and each wa...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    LEANING ON JESUS' BOSOM; the guests reclined on couches, each resting on his left elbow, with a pillow supporting his head, his face towards the table, and his feet towards the hinder part of the couc...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE TRAITOR AT THE TABLE. v. 21. WHEN JESUS HAD THUS SAID, HE WAS TROUBLED IN SPIRIT, AND TESTIFIED, AND SAID, VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT ONE OF YOU SHALL BETRAY ME....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    NOW THERE WAS LEANING ON JESUS' BOSOM ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES, WHOM JESUS LOVED....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    WASHING HIS DISCIPLES' FEET (vs.1-17) We are brought now to consider the last hours of the Lord Jesus before the cross. No longer does He minister to the world, but to His own disciples, from chapte...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    18-30 Our Lord had often spoken of his own sufferings and death, without such trouble of spirit as he now discovered when he spake of Judas. The sins of Christians are the grief of Christ. We are not...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    This LEANING ON JESUS BOSOM, and the _laying on Jesus breast, _ mentioned 1 THESSALONIANS 13:25, cannot be understood without the understanding of the usual posture the Jews used at their meals, and p...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    The Passing of Mary Latin II And Peter answered him: Thou wast the only virgin among us chosen by the Lord, and thou didst find so great favour that thou didst recline upon His breast.[10]...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    John 13:23 Now G1161 was G2258 (G5713) leaning G345 (G5740) on G1722 Jesus G2424 bosom G2859 one...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘There was at the table, reclining next to Jesus to His right (literally ‘in Jesus' bosom', the favoured place next to Him), one of his disciples whom Jesus loved.' The ‘disciple whom Jesus loved' was...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THERE IS ONE AMONG THEM WHO WILL BETRAY HIM (JOHN 13:18). Jesus now brings out the astonishing fact that one of His own disciples would ‘betray' Him. To us the meaning of this is clear for we know pre...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    John 13:23. THERE WAS RECLINING AT MEAT IN JESUS' BOSOM ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES. It had been originally enjoined that the Passover should be eaten standing (Exodus 12:11), but after the return from the c...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    The leading idea of this section is the expulsion of Judas from the company of the disciples. We have already seen that before the chapter begins the world is shut out, and Jesus is to be alone with ‘...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    WAS AT THE TABLE RECLINING IN JESUS' BOSOM (ην ανακειμενος εν τω κολπω του Ιησου). No word for "table" in the text. Periphrastic imperfect of ανακειμα, to lie back, to recline. Κολπος usual word fo...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    John 13:23 Communion with Christ What name is more blessed than this title by which St. John conceals himself? Who was ever more favoured than he? It was a sweet memory to him, in his old and solitar...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Last Passover. Jesus washes disciples' feet. Betrayal foretold, also Peter's denial. CHARACTERS: Jesus, God, Judas, disciples, Peter, Satan. CONCLUSION: What was consistent with the dignity...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    John 13:1. _Before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come._ What now transpired was on the Tuesday, while at supper in the house of Simon. Judas was now rebuked before all p...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    HE WAS DEEPLY TROUBLED. Because one of his friends was a traitor. See Psalms 41:9, which is considered a prophecy of this. On this prediction, see notes on Matthew 26:20-25. ONE OF THE DISCIPLES. This...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _I speak not of you all_ A LAST APPEAL I. A SOLEMN ANNOUNCEMENT. 1. The reason of it. (1) To indicate Christ’s knowledge of the human heart, and to show that He had not been mistaken in Judas (Joh...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 13:23 This is the first reference to the disciple WHOM JESUS LOVED (see Introduction: Author, Date, and Recipients). On RECLINING, see note on...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOHN 13:1 The Farewell Teaching and the Passion Narrative. The second half of John’s Gospel consists of Jesus’ farewell teaching (chs. John 13:1) and the events surrounding his death and resurrection...

  • The Gospels Compared

    Jesus and the disciples have the Last Supper Matthew 26:20-30; Mark 14:17-26; Luke 22:14-23; John 13:21-30;...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    1-38 CHAPTER 13 VER. 1. _Before the Feast of the Passover._ About the thirteenth day of the first month; the Passover, say the Greeks, having to be celebrated by the Law of the Jews on the fourteenth...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _EXPLANATORY AND CRITICAL NOTES_ John 13:18. I SPEAK NOT OF YOU ALL.—Christ knew the heart of Judas; and He still gave him space for repentance (see John 6:71). I KNOW WHOM, ETC.—See John 15:16. But t...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION IV. THE FINAL MANIFESTATIONS IN WORD AND ACTION OF THE LOGOS INCARNATE, EXPRESSING ITSELF ABSOLUTELY AND TO THE UTTERMOST AS

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Let's turn to the thirteenth chapter of the gospel according to John. We have come into a new section of the gospel of John, which carries us through chapter 17. And Chapter s 13 through 17 cover a pe...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Samuel 12:3; John 1:18; John 11:3; John 11:36; John 11:5;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Was leaning on Jesus ' bosom [η ν α ν α κ ε ι μ ε ν ο ς ε ν τ ω κ ο λ π ω τ ο υ ι η σ ο υ]. The Rev. renders, "there was at the table reclining," etc. At the table is added because the verb is the gen...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    There was lying in the bosom of Jesus — That is, sitting next to him at table. This phrase only expresses the then customary posture at meals, where the guests all leaned sidewise on couches. And each...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, 1. The character given of St. John the beloved disciple: he leaned on Christ's bosom; that is, he had most intimate converse with Christ, one whom Christ treated with greater freedom and...

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