Chapter 5:
| 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 5
Concise Complete
The cure at the pool of Bethesda. (1-9) The Jews'
displeasure. (10-16) Christ reproves the Jews. (17-23) Christ's discourse.
(24-47)
Verses 1-9 We are all
by nature impotent folk in spiritual things, blind, halt, and withered; but full
provision is made for our cure, if we attend to it. An angel went down, and
troubled the water; and what disease soever it was, this water cured it, but
only he that first stepped in had benefit. This teaches us to be careful, that
we let not a season slip which may never return. The man had lost the use of his
limbs thirty-eight years. Shall we, who perhaps for many years have scarcely
known what it has been to be a day sick, complain of one wearisome night, when
many others, better than we, have scarcely known what it has been to be a day
well? Christ singled this one out from the rest. Those long in affliction, may
comfort themselves that God keeps account how long. Observe, this man speaks of
the unkindness of those about him, without any peevish reflections. As we should
be thankful, so we should be patient. Our Lord Jesus cures him, though he
neither asked nor thought of it. Arise, and walk. God's command, Turn and live;
Make ye a new heart; no more supposes power in us without the grace of God, his
distinguishing grace, than this command supposed such power in the impotent man:
it was by the power of Christ, and he must have all the glory. What a joyful
surprise to the poor cripple, to find himself of a sudden so easy, so strong, so
able to help himself! The proof of spiritual cure, is our rising and walking.
Has Christ healed our spiritual diseases, let us go wherever he sends us, and
take up whatever he lays upon us; and walk before him.
Verses 10-16 Those
eased of the punishment of sin, are in danger of returning to sin, when the
terror and restraint are over, unless Divine grace dries up the fountain. The
misery believers are made whole from, warns us to sin no more, having felt the
smart of sin. This is the voice of every providence, Go, and sin no more. Christ
saw it necessary to give this caution; for it is common for people, when sick,
to promise much; when newly recovered, to perform only something; but after
awhile to forget all. Christ spoke of the wrath to come, which is beyond compare
worse than the many hours, nay, weeks and years of pain, some wicked men have to
suffer in consequence of their unlawful indulgences. And if such afflictions are
severe, how dreadful will be the everlasting punishment of the wicked!
Verses 17-23 The
Divine power of the miracle proved Jesus to be the Son of God, and he declared
that he worked with, and like unto his Father, as he saw good. These ancient
enemies of Christ understood him, and became more violent, charging him not only
with sabbath-breaking, but blasphemy, in calling God his own Father, and making
himself equal with God. But all things now, and at the final judgment, are
committed to the Son, purposely that all men might honour the Son, as they
honour the Father; and every one who does not thus honour the Son, whatever he
may think or pretend, does not honour the Father who sent him.
Verses 24-29 Our
Lord declared his authority and character, as the Messiah. The time was come
when the dead should hear his voice, as the Son of God, and live. Our Lord first
refers to his raising those who were dead in sin, to newness of life, by the
power of the Spirit, and then to his raising the dead in their graves. The
office of Judge of all men, can only be exercised by one who has all knowledge,
and almighty power. May we believe His testimony; thus our faith and hope will
be in God, and we shall not come into condemnation. And may His voice reach the
hearts of those dead in sin; that they may do works meet for repentance, and
prepare for the solemn day.
Verses 30-38 Our
Lord returns to his declaration of the entire agreement between the Father and
the Son, and declared himself the Son of God. He had higher testimony than that
of John; his works bore witness to all he had said. But the Divine word had no
abiding-place in their hearts, as they refused to believe in Him whom the Father
had sent, according to his ancient promises. The voice of God, accompanied by
the power of the Holy Ghost, thus made effectual to the conversion of sinners,
still proclaims that this is the beloved Son, in whom the Father is well
pleased. But when the hearts of men are full of pride, ambition, and the love of
the world, there is no room for the word of God to abide in them.
Verses 39-44 The
Jews considered that eternal life was revealed to them in their Scriptures, and
that they had it, because they had the word of God in their hands. Jesus urged
them to search those Scriptures with more diligence and attention. "Ye do search
the Scriptures," and ye do well to do so. They did indeed search the Scriptures,
but it was with a view to their own glory. It is possible for men to be very
studious in the letter of the Scriptures, yet to be strangers to its power. Or,
"Search the Scriptures," and so it was spoken to them in the nature of an
appeal. Ye profess to receive and believe the Scripture, let that be the judge.
It is spoken to us as advising or commanding all Christians to search the
Scriptures. Not only read them, and hear them, but search them; which denotes
diligence in examining and studying them. We must search the Scriptures for
heaven as our great end; For in them ye think ye have eternal life. We must
search the Scriptures for Christ, as the new and living Way, that leads to this
end. To this testimony Christ adds reproofs of their unbelief and wickedness;
their neglect of him and his doctrine. Also he reproves their want of the love
of God. But there is life with Jesus Christ for poor souls. Many who make a
great profession of religion, yet show they want the love of God, by their
neglect of Christ and contempt of his commandments. It is the love of God in us,
the love that is a living, active principle in the heart, which God will accept.
They slighted and undervalued Christ, because they admired and overvalued
themselves. How can those believe, who make the praise and applause of men their
idol! When Christ and his followers are men wondered at, how can those believe,
the utmost of whose ambition is to make a fair show in the flesh!
Verses 45-47 Many
trust in some form of doctrines or some parties, who no more enter into the real
meaning of those doctrines, or the views of the persons whose names they bear,
than the Jews did into those of Moses. Let us search and pray over the
Scriptures, as intent on finding eternal life; let us observe how Christ is the
great subject of them, and daily apply to him for the life he bestows.
Chapter 5:
| 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
