Chapter 17:
| 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 17
Concise Complete
Christ's prayer for himself. (1-5) His prayer for his
disciples. (6-10) His prayer. (11-26)
Verses 1-5 Our Lord
prayed as a man, and as the Mediator of his people; yet he spoke with majesty
and authority, as one with and equal to the Father. Eternal life could not be
given to believers, unless Christ, their Surety, both glorified the Father, and
was glorified of him. This is the sinner's way to eternal life, and when this
knowledge shall be made perfect, holiness and happiness will be fully enjoyed.
The holiness and happiness of the redeemed, are especially that glory of Christ,
and of his Father, which was the joy set before him, for which he endured the
cross and despised the shame; this glory was the end of the sorrow of his soul,
and in obtaining it he was fully satisfied. Thus we are taught that our
glorifying God is needed as an evidence of our interest in Christ, through whom
eternal life is God's free gift.
6-10. Christ prays for those that are his. Thou gavest them me, as sheep to
the shepherd, to be kept; as a patient to the physician, to be cured; as
children to a tutor, to be taught: thus he will deliver up his charge. It is a
great satisfaction to us, in our reliance upon Christ, that he, all he is and
has, and all he said and did, all he is doing and will do, are of God. Christ
offered this prayer for his people alone as believers; not for the world at
large. Yet no one who desires to come to the Father, and is conscious that he is
unworthy to come in his own name, need be discouraged by the Saviour's
declaration, for he is both able and willing to save to the uttermost, all that
come unto God by him. Earnest convictions and desires, are hopeful tokens of a
work already wrought in a man; they begin to evidence that he has been chosen
unto salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
They are thine; wilt thou not provide for thine own? Wilt thou not secure them?
Observe the foundation on which this plea is grounded, All mine are thine, and
thine are mine. This speaks the Father and Son to be one. All mine are thine.
The Son owns none for his, that are not devoted to the service of the Father.
Verses 11-16
Christ does not pray that they might be rich and great in the world, but that
they might be kept from sin, strengthened for their duty, and brought safe to
heaven. The prosperity of the soul is the best prosperity. He pleaded with his
holy Father, that he would keep them by his power and for his glory, that they
might be united in affection and labours, even according to the union of the
Father and the Son. He did not pray that his disciples should be removed out of
the world, that they might escape the rage of men, for they had a great work to
do for the glory of God, and the benefit of mankind. But he prayed that the
Father would keep them from the evil, from being corrupted by the world, the
remains of sin in their hearts, and from the power and craft of Satan. So that
they might pass through the world as through an enemy's country, as he had done.
They are not left here to pursue the same objects as the men around them, but to
glorify God, and to serve their generation. The Spirit of God in true Christians
is opposed to the spirit of the world.
Verses 17-19
Christ next prayed for the disciples, that they might not only be kept from
evil, but made good. It is the prayer of Jesus for all that are his, that they
may be made holy. Even disciples must pray for sanctifying grace. The means of
giving this grace is, "through thy truth, thy word is truth." Sanctify them, set
them apart for thyself and thy service. Own them in the office; let thy hand go
with them. Jesus entirely devoted himself to his undertaking, and all the parts
of it, especially the offering up himself without spot unto God, by the eternal
Spirit. The real holiness of all true Christians is the fruit of Christ's death,
by which the gift of the Holy Ghost was purchased; he gave himself for his
church, to sanctify it. If our views have not this effect on us, they are not
Divine truth, or we do not receive them by a living and a working faith, but as
mere notions.
Verses 20-23 Our
Lord especially prayed, that all believers might be as one body under one head,
animated by one soul, by their union with Christ and the Father in him, through
the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. The more they dispute about lesser things, the
more they throw doubts upon Christianity. Let us endeavour to keep the unity of
the Spirit in the bond of peace, praying that all believers may be more and more
united in one mind and one judgment. Thus shall we convince the world of the
truth and excellence of our religion, and find more sweet communion with God and
his saints.
Verses 24-26
Christ, as one with the Father, claimed on behalf of all that had been given to
him, and should in due time believe on him, that they should be brought to
heaven; and that there the whole company of the redeemed might behold his glory
as their beloved Friend and Brother, and therein find happiness. He had declared
and would further declare the name or character of God, by his doctrine and his
Spirit, that, being one with him, the love of the Father to him might abide with
them also. Thus, being joined to Him by one Spirit, they might be filled with
all the fulness of God, and enjoy a blessedness of which we can form no right
idea in our present state.
Chapter 17:
| 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
