John 17:9,10

I pray for them, &c.— The persons here prayed for, are not regenerate men in general, in opposition to the unregenerate, who are often called the world, but those good men in particular who were given to Jesus by the Father to be his apostles, and who, by that office, were distinguished from the rest of his disciples. This appears from John 17:12 where he says, he had kept all the persons he was praying for, in the faith and practice of his true religion, except the son of perdition; and from John 17:18 where he says, he had commissioned them to go forth into the world, for the same purpose that the Father had sent him into the world; and from John 17:20 where he expressly distinguishes the persons whom he was praying for from all other believers whatever. The reason assigned for making the apostles the immediate subject of his special prayers at this time, is remarkable;—for they are thine; "I employ the last moments of my life in praying particularly for my apostles, because they are more especially thy servants, destined for that work which is the great object of my attention;—the instruction and salvation of the world. Indeed, all my servants are thy servants, (John 17:10.) that is, whoever assists me in my work, serves thee in thy great designs of love and mercy to men. For the same reason thy servants are my servants; every one who really serves thee, must join issue with me, and assist me in my work; and by the zeal, faithfulness, and success of my servants in converting the world, I am greatly honoured." The words in the 10th verse are very high and strong expressions, too grand for any creature to use, as implying that not only servants and ministers, but all things whatsoever— τα παντα,— are the common property of the Father and the Son; and this is the original ground of that peculiar property, which both the Father and the Son have in the persons who were given to Christ the Mediator; according to what is said in the close of the verse, of him, I am glorified in them,—namely, by their yielding to the drawings of the Father, and, in an honest and good heart, hearing the word, and keeping it, and cordially believing in the true Messiah, the God-man. See John 6:37 and the parallel passages.