Chapter 13:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Luke Acts
John 13
Concise Complete
Christ washes the disciples' feet. (1-17) The treachery of
Judas foretold. (18-30) Christ commands the disciples to love one another.
(31-38)
Verses 1-17 Our
Lord Jesus has a people in the world that are his own; he has purchased them,
and paid dear for them, and he has set them apart for himself; they devote
themselves to him as a peculiar people. Those whom Christ loves, he loves to the
end. Nothing can separate a true believer from the love of Christ. We know not
when our hour will come, therefore what we have to do in constant preparation
for it, ought never to be undone. What way of access the devil has to men's
hearts we cannot tell. But some sins are so exceedingly sinful, and there is so
little temptation to them from the world and the flesh, that it is plain they
are directly from Satan. Jesus washed his disciples' feet, that he might teach
us to think nothing below us, wherein we may promote God's glory, and the good
of our brethren. We must address ourselves to duty, and must lay aside every
thing that would hinder us in what we have to do. Christ washed his disciples'
feet, that he might signify to them the value of spiritual washing, and the
cleansing of the soul from the pollutions of sin. Our Lord Jesus does many
things of which even his own disciples do not for the present know the meaning,
but they shall know afterward. We see in the end what was the kindness from
events which seemed most cross. And it is not humility, but unbelief, to put
away the offers of the gospel, as if too rich to be made to us, or too good news
to be true. All those, and those only, who are spiritually washed by Christ,
have a part in Christ. All whom Christ owns and saves, he justifies and
sanctifies. Peter more than submits; he begs to be washed by Christ. How earnest
he is for the purifying grace of the Lord Jesus, and the full effect of it, even
upon his hands and head! Those who truly desire to be sanctified, desire to be
sanctified throughout, to have the whole man, with all its parts and powers,
made pure. The true believer is thus washed when he receives Christ for his
salvation. See then what ought to be the daily care of those who through grace
are in a justified state, and that is, to wash their feet; to cleanse themselves
from daily guilt, and to watch against everything defiling. This should make us
the more cautious. From yesterday's pardon, we should be strengthened against
this day's temptation. And when hypocrites are discovered, it should be no
surprise or cause of stumbling to us. Observe the lesson Christ here taught.
Duties are mutual; we must both accept help from our brethren, and afford help
to our brethren. When we see our Master serving, we cannot but see how ill it
becomes us to domineer. And the same love which led Christ to ransom and
reconcile his disciples when enemies, still influences him.
Verses 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 to confine our attention to Judas. The prophecy
of his treachery may apply to all who partake of God's mercies, and meet them
with ingratitude. See the infidel, who only looks at the Scriptures with a
desire to do away their authority and destroy their influence; the hypocrite,
who professes to believe the Scriptures, but will not govern himself by them;
and the apostate, who turns aside from Christ for a thing of naught. Thus
mankind, supported by God's providence, after eating bread with Him, lift up the
heel against Him! Judas went out as one weary of Jesus and his apostles. Those
whose deeds are evil, love darkness rather than light.
Verses 31-35
Christ had been glorified in many miracles he wrought, yet he speaks of his
being glorified now in his sufferings, as if that were more than all his other
glories in his humbled state. Satisfaction was thereby made for the wrong done
to God by the sin of man. We cannot now follow our Lord to his heavenly
happiness, but if we truly believe in him, we shall follow him hereafter;
meanwhile we must wait his time, and do his work. Before Christ left the
disciples, he would give them a new commandment. They were to love each other
for Christ's sake, and according to his example, seeking what might benefit
others, and promoting the cause of the gospel, as one body, animated by one
soul. But this commandment still appears new to many professors. Men in general
notice any of Christ's words rather than these. By this it appears, that if the
followers of Christ do not show love one to another, they give cause to suspect
their sincerity.
Verses 36-38 What
Christ had said concerning brotherly love, Peter overlooked, but spoke of that
about which Christ kept them ignorant. It is common to be more eager to know
about secret things, which belong to God only, than about things revealed, which
belong to us and our children; to be more desirous to have our curiosity
gratified, than our consciences directed; to know what is done in heaven, than
what we may do to get thither. How soon discourse as to what is plain and
edifying is dropped, while a doubtful dispute runs on into endless strife of
words! We are apt to take it amiss to be told we cannot do this and the other,
whereas, without Christ we can do nothing. Christ knows us better than we know
ourselves, and has many ways of discovering those to themselves, whom he loves,
and he will hide pride from them. May we endeavour to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace, to love one another with a pure heart fervently,
and to walk humbly with our God.
Chapter 13:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Luke Acts
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
