John 5:2

2. — by the sheep market] Or, according to some, “by the sheep gate,” Nehem. iii. 1. Bp. Pearce. “Market” is not in the original.

— having five porches.] It seems that by the pool there was a building called Bethesda, or ’the house of mercy,’ having five porches, or separate divisions for the sick. Dr. Hammond, Bp. Mann.

called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

John 5:4

4. For an angel went down &c.] We need not suppose that an angel visibly descended from heaven; but the miraculous virtue of the water was ascribed to the power of some angel employed by God for that purpose. Bp. Mann.

According to the Jewish way of speaking, every thing that had a Divine effect was said to be done by means of ministering spirits or angels, 2 Kings xix. 35; Matt. xxviii. 2. Bp. Pearce.

We are not informed how long before our Saviour’s time this miraculous virtue had belonged to the pool, nor how long afterwards it continued; whether it ceased at the time of our Saviour, or continued some time after, or even to the destruction of Jerusalem. As we have no information whatever on this subject, it is useless to inquire into it. Dr. Lightfoot.

— whosoever then first — stepped in] This circumstance plainly shews that the healing quality of the water was not natural, but one with which it was miraculously endowed. Bp. Pearce.

4. And the passover,—was nigh.] This circumstance seems mentioned to explain that the multitude was the more numerous, because the people were going from all parts up to the passover. Dean Stanhope.

The account of the multiplication of the loaves given by St. John is more circumstantial than that given by

John 5:6

6. — Rise, take up thy bed,] Rise up, thy disease is removed, and thy strength perfectly restored. And, that the completeness of the cure might be the more evident and undeniable to all that beheld it, He bade

S Anno DOMINI 21. The Jews cavil at Christ. He sheweth who he is, Amos DOMINI 51.

John 5:11

11. — He that made me whole, &c.] He that healed me in an instant and by only speaking a word, must needs be an extraordinary Prophet; and His commandment is sufficient to excuse me in what I do. Dr. S. Clarke.

John 5:14

14. — findeth him in the temple.] Probably returning thanks for the cure that had been wrought. Dr. Whitby.

— sin no more, lest &c.] Let the cure which has been wrought upon thee oblige thee to a reformation of life, lest thou experience more fearful judgments than this disease. Dr. Hammond.

John 5:15

15. — told the Jews] Not for the purpose of accusing Jesus to them, but probably from gratitude, wishing to acknowledge the Author of his cure, and also to excuse himself as having done what was deemed a breach of the sabbath. Dr. Whitby.

John 5:17

17. — My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.] He from the beginning of the creation till this present time continues to give and preserve life, and to do good on the sabbath day; and I after His example work that which is good and salutary to mankind on that day. Dr. Whitby.

My Father, the Creator and Governour of the world, ever has done whatsoever He hath pleased, and whensoever He hath pleased; and I, the eternal Son and wisdom of the Father, always work together with Him. Bp. Beveridge.

John 5:19

19. — verily, I say unto you, &c.] The things, which I do and teach, are both agreeable to the nature and

will of God, My Father, and also performed by His immediate commission and authority: I do nothing in opposition to His eternal and divine laws; but every thing in imitation of Him, and by His direction and appointment, who is the allwise Preserver, and the most merciful Benefactor of mankind, and hath sent Me into the world for the gracious designs of His mercy and goodness towards men. Dr. S. Clarke.

John 5:21

21. For as the Father raiseth up &c.] For, even in raising the dead, which is far greater than healing the sick, My Father hath communicated His power to Me; and, as My Father raiseth from the grave, so will I raise whomsoever I please. Dr. Hammond.

John 5:22

22. For the Father judgeth no man, &c.] Will judge no man immediately from Himself, but hath appointed the Son to be the sole judge of men, who will finally distribute their everlasting punishments and rewards. Dr. S. Clarke.

So equitably does God deal with us, that we shall be acquitted or condemned by One who was made in all things like unto us, sin only excepted, which would have made Him incapable of being our Judge, because it would have made Him a criminal like ourselves. And therefore the Apostle offers us this as a firm ground of assurance to us, that God will judge the world in righteousness, because this judgment will be administered by a man like ourselves, Acts xvii. 31. Abp. Tillotson.

John 5:23

23. That all men should honour the Son.] That is, should acknowledge Him to be the Son of God, and, as such, adore Him, as they adore the Father, Ps. ii. 11, 12; Phil. ii. 10. Beausobre.

by the testimony of his Father, of John, and of his works. Anno DOMINE 31.

lieveth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 5:24

24. — is passed from death unto life.] Shall escape eternal death, and attain eternal life. Dr. Hammond. Shall as certainly obtain everlasting life, as if he were already possessed of it. Dr. Clagett.

John 5:25

25. The hour is coming, and now is, &c.] The time is just at hand, it is now already begun, when, by the preaching of the doctrine of the Son of God, many who, dead in trespasses and sins, were falling into everlasting destruction, shall be called to the inheritance of eternal life: and of this ye shall see a visible and sensible representation in My actually raising the dead to life. Dr. S. Clarke.

John 5:26

26. — to have life in himself;] To have the power of raising whom He will, ver. 21. Dr. Whitby.

John 5:27

27. — because he is the Son of man.] Because, being the Son of God, He condescended to become the Son of man, for the redemption and salvation of men. Dr. S. Clarke.

John 5:28

28, 29. — for the hour is coming, in which &c.] I will tell you a more wonderful thing than this. Hereafter, all mankind, even all that ever did or shall live, shall hear My voice at once, and be raised out of their graves, and stand before My judgment-seat; and they who have sincerely repented of their sins, and believed and obeyed My Gospel, shall be rewarded by Me with eternal life; and they who, continuing impenitent, have obstinately rejected the Gospel, or wilfully disobeyed it, shall be punished with everlasting destruction. Dr. S. Clarke.

John 5:30

30. — as I hear, I judge:] That is, according to the will of My Father, I pronounce judgment. Dr. Whitby.

Do not think that in this I set up for Myself, and, derogating from the glory of the Father, study Mine own. For, proceeding by this rule, I shall judge exactly according to His judgment, it being His will and therefore Mine that it should be so. Dr. Clagett.

— and my judgment is just; &c.] My sentence at mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 5:31

31. If I bear witness of myself, &c.] If I produced no other evidence than My bare word, I could not expect to be received; but I can appeal to the Holy Spirit of God, in the miracles I have performed, that I am come from God, chap. viii. 18. Bp. Maws.

John 5:33

33. — he bare witness unto the truth.] He in the most express terms bore a faithful and honourable testimony to the truth, assuring you that he saw the Spirit in a visible form descend upon Me. Dr. Doddridge.

John 5:34

34. But I receive not &c.] I do not receive the chief testimony, on which I rest the credit of My mission, from man: but these things I say, to lead you to the acknowledgment of that truth which is necessary to your salvation. Drs. Clagett and Doddridge.

John 5:35

35. He was a burning and a shining light:] It was a mode of expression familiar to the Jews, to denote the ministry of the word by lamps or candles, Zech. iv. 2, 3, 14: Rev. i. 12; xi. 4; and they so denominated any person who was distinguished for his knowledge or other good qualities. Dr. Lightfoot.

— ye were willing for a season &c.] Ye were well pleased to hear him for a season; but, as soon as he testified of Me, then ye rejected him. Dr. Hammond.

John 5:36

36. — the works] Alluding to His miracles, and every thing which He did during His ministry. Beausobre.

John 5:37

37. And the Father himself, &c.] God the Father hath in several ways borne witness of me. Ye have not indeed seen Him visibly, or heard Him speak (although the appearance of the Holy Ghost, and the voice from heaven at My baptism, amounts to little less than that). But in His Law, and in His Prophets, who wrote by the impulse of His Holy Spirit, He hath made many and ample declarations concerning Me. Dr. S. Clarke.

S 2 The scriptures testify of Christ. He feedeth five thousand Anno DOMINI 31.

John 5:39

39. Search the Scriptures; for &c.] Examine the writings of the Old Testament, whereon ye depend, and by obeying the precepts of which, ye believe ye shall obtain eternal life; and ye will find that all those types and prophecies are fulfilled in Me. Dr. Hammond.

John 5:40

40. And ye will not come to me.] And yet, though these Scriptures testify of Me, ye are not willing to come unto Me, &c. Abp. Newcome.

As if He had said, Ye believe the Scriptures to be given by inspiration of God, to direct you in the way to eternal life, and therefore ye expect to find there how to obtain it; and, if ye search the Scriptures, ye may there see that they testify of Me; that I am the Christ, the Son of God, by whom alone ye can obtain eternal life. Bp. Beveridge.

John 5:41

41. I receive not honour from men.] I do nothing from the desire of their applause: but, as a true Prophet, to promote God’s glory. Dr. Lightfoot.

John 5:42

42. But I know you.] Others ye may deceive by your pretended piety; but Me ye cannot, for I know you. Bp. Mann.

John 5:43

43. I am come in my Father’s name, &c.] I am come with authority from My Father, as My works shew. Others will come who can give no such proof of their commission, and ye will receive them. They had done so before the coming of Christ, Acts v. 36, 37; and after His death impostors arose who had many followers. Bp. Mann.

John 5:44

44.—which receive honour one of another.] Which seek honour one of another, fearing the reproach of the Pharisees and elders, and being more influenced by this, than the desire of God’s approbation. Dr. Whitby. It is very evident, that in this verse there is an opposition between the praise of men and the praise of God; and that the Jews are condemned, as preferring the

CHAP. VI. Anno DOMINI 32.

John 5:45

45. Do not think that I will accuse you] It will not be necessary that I should accuse you; for, even now, that Moses, in whom ye trust, as your great lawgiver and patron, is, as it were, your accuser before God, and charges you with being regardless of Him as well as of Me. Dr. Doddridge.

—even Moses, in whom ye trust.] By obeying whose law ye trust that ye shall have life, ver. 39. Dr. Whitby.

John 5:46

46.—for he wrote of me.] See the margin. His predictions and typical representations would have led you to believe in Me, in whom they are all fulfilled. Their pretences for not believing in Christ were these two, their love to God and their reverence for the law of Moses: Christ shews at ver. 42, that they could have no true love to God; and, in this verse, that they had no real faith in Moses; for, if they had, they would have believed on Him. Drs. Whitby and Hammond.

Chap. VI. ver. 1. After these things] There is here an omission of many things recorded by the other Evangelists. It is probable that a whole year intervened; the cure at the pool of Bethesda, chap. v. 1, having occurred at one passover, (according to some opinions,) and this miracle of the loaves, ver. 4, at the passover which occurred in the following year. Dr. Lightfoot.

—the sea of Tiberias.] See note at Matt. iv. 18.