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28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

30 I can of mine own self do

:

but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

32 There is another that beareth witness of me, and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive not testimo

nothing as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; be- ny from man: but these things cause I seek not mine own will, I say, that ye might be saved.

ment is to be performed by the Mes- the dead and performing the final siah, not only because he is the only- judgment, Jesus next proceeded to begotten Son of God, partaking of bring forward some appropriate evithe divine nature; but also because dences that he really was the Messihe is the Son of man, and holds a pe-ah, to whom all this dignity pertained. culiar relation also to the human race. How interesting the thought, that the Saviour and the Judge of men, while, on the one hand, he is keenly alive to the honor of God, has also, on the other hand, a most tender sympathy for human beings!

28. All that are in the graves shall hear his voice. Still dwelling on those greater things (v. 20), and alluding to what he had mentioned in v. 25, as soon to take place, he distinctly announced the resurrection of all the dead at his bidding.

29. Resurrection of life; the future state of bliss.

30. Of mine own self; that is, independently of the will and authority of the Father, as though I had a separate interest, a will and a plan of my own, irrespective of him. See v. 19. As I hear; that is, from the Father; as I perceive the mind of my Father. 1 judge. He alluded probably to the final judgment. || My judgment; the decisions which I shall pro

nounce.

31. If I bear witness. Having so distinctly declared his intimate connection with the Father, the supreme authority which was vested in him in respect to the human race, and his being appointed to the work of raising

The evidence which he produced was threefold: 1. The testimony of John the Baptist. vs. 32, &c. 2. The testimony of his miracles. v. 36. 3. The testimony of the Father given in the Scriptures. vs. 37, &c. | Is not true; is not valid, or adequate in respect to a legal investigation. Because testimony respecting himself, and given by himself, might be suspected as partial. In the view of men, it might be liable to exception. A person's testimony respecting himself may be perfectly true; yet, as it is of personal interest, it may not be regarded as valid, but should be set aside. It is in this legal respect that the Saviour here disclaimed his own testimony.

32, 33. Another; that is, John the Baptist. Compare 1: 29-34.

34. I receive not testimony from man. Jesus was not dependent on man for testimony; his principal testimony came from a higher source. Nor did he eagerly grasp at the testimony of John, honorable though it was. Jesus had no selfish ends in view by appealing to the testimony of John. || But - that ye might be saved. The anxious desire of Jesus that his hearers might be saved, induced him to bring distinctly to view the testimony of John. That testimony was happily

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35 He was a burning and a heard his voice at any time, nor shining light and ye were will-seen his shape. ing for a season to rejoice in his light.

36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

37 And the Father himself which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither

adapted to convince them that he was the Messiah, and it was testimony of which they could easily judge. John's character would give weight to any declarations which he had made, and he had made ample declarations respecting Jesus.

38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

39 Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: And they are they which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

41 I receive not honor from men.

38. Whom he hath sent; whom he has sent as the promised Messiah. The Jews had imbibed utterly erroneous opinions respecting the Messiah, because they did not regard him in the very light in which God's word had presented him. By their not receiving Jesus, they showed clearly, that their minds were not imbued with the instructions of God.

35. A burning and a shining light; an eminent teacher. Compare Matt. 11:11. Ye were willing to rejoice; ye were glad. || For a season; a short time. When John had fully developed his sterling piety, and his uncompromising devotion to the truth, the Pharisees became disinclined tow-edged that they were in the habit of ards him. See Luke 7:30.

36. The same works that I do, &c. Our Lord next appealed to his miracles, as proofs that he had been sent forth by the Father. These miracles were a divine attestation in favor of the claim which he made to be the promised Messiah. To this sort of evidence he appealed on other occasions also. See 10: 25, 37. 14: 10, 11. 15: 24.

37. And the Father himself, &c. Our Lord produced, as a third distinct evidence, the testimony of the Father. This testimony was given not in an audible manner, nor by the Father's becoming visible to their eyes. It had been given in the Scriptures, the word of God, which yet they did not cordially receive. || Ye have neither heard his voice, &c. The testimony of God was given not in an audible, nor a visible, manner.

39. Search the Scriptures. It is generally thought, that our Saviour did not here direct the Jews to search the Scriptures; but rather acknowl

searching them. The words may be translated, Ye search the Scriptures. In these God's testimony may be found, to which the Saviour was appealing. || For in them ye think ye have, &c. "The Jews professed a high regard for the Scriptures, as revealing the will of God, and showing how to obtain eternal life. || They are they, &c. It is those very Scriptures which testify of the Messiah, and which I, as the Messiah, am fulfilling.

40. And. Probably the word but would better express the force of the original word. Thus: You search the Scriptures, and it is they which testify of me; but you will not come, &c. | Come to me; confide in me.

41. I receive not honor, &c. Though Jesus had been vindicating his own cause, and though he had just expressed regret that the Jews would

42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

44 How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?

not receive him, yet he was not at all anxious for human favor.

42. He then traced their unwillingness to receive him in his proper character, to its true causes. These were two; first, the absence of real piety in their hearts; and next, as expressed in v. 44, their fondness for one another's good opinion, their vain ambition.

43. Shall come; should come. || Ye will receive; you would receive. Alas! how true was this declaration ! Many, during the troublesome times which afterwards befell the nation, pretended to be the Messiah, and obtained followers. None of these pretended Messiahs rose above the prejudices and desires of the people, and gave true, spiritual instruction.

44. How can ye believe, &c. Fondness for human applause, and the absence of a supreme regard to the approbation of God, effectually hindered the principal men among the Jews from admitting the claims of Jesus. To acknowledge him as the Messiah at that time, required of them a strength of piety and an elevation above human favor, to which they were strangers.

45-47. Having made so serious charges against them, Jesus then wholly disclaimed any ill-will towards them, and any desire to appear as their accuser before God. Nor was there need that he should bring an accusation against them. The writings of Moses, for whom they professed so high a regard, and whose followers they called themselves, would furnish an accusation. Moses

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

and the other writers of the Old Testament, had spoken of the Messiah with sufficient clearness to secure the assent of candid and pious persons to the claims of Jesus. Hence those who strenuously persisted in withholding their faith from Jesus, clearly showed that they did not in heart believe the writings of Moses, and that they were not cherishing such a spirit as those writings enjoined.

REMARKS. 1. A scrupulous attention to outward religious observances may consist with the utter absence of love to God, and may be connected with an insatiable thirst for the good opinion of men. v. 10, compared with vs. 42, 44.

See

2. The calm and dignified manner in which our Lord spoke on this occasion, is worthy of admiration. He was conscious of being the Messiah, and of possessing attributes unspeakably above those of a mere man. v. 17. Yet he asserted his claims and appealed to the proper evidence, with entire freedom from the desire of pleasing men. He exposed the wickedness of his adversaries, and warned them of the doom which they were incurring, with perfect self-possession, and without indignation.

3. We cannot repose too strong a confidence in Jesus Christ as our Saviour; nor need we fear that we shall have too exalted an opinion of him, or shall cherish too great a love and esteem for him. The more we honor the Son, the more do we honor the Father; and the more we pay re

CHAPTER VI.

8 One of his disciples, An

AFTER these things Jesus drew, Simon Peter's brother,

went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?

6 (And this he said to prove him for he himself knew what he would do.)

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

gard to the Father, the more disposed shall we be to cherish a deep reverence for the Son. v. 23.

4. The habit of diligently studying the Scriptures is commendable. We ought to study them with candor, and submit to their guidance. v. 39.

5. True love to God will guard us against many religious errors. v. 42. 6. Desire for human applause is exceedingly dangerous. The approbation of God is unspeakably valuable; and seeking for that will elevate us above the influence of men's flatteries and frowns. v. 44. "The fear of man bringeth a snare." Prov. 29: 25.

CHAPTER VI.

1-14. Compare Matt. 14: 13–21. Mark 6: 32-44. Luke 9: 10-17. After these things. This expression is indefinite, not meaning immediately

saith unto him,

9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. (Now there was much grass in the place.) So the men sat down in number about five thousand.

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes, as much as they would.

12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve

after the things mentioned in the preceding chapter. A considerable interval of time had elapsed. What is related in the preceding chapter occurred in Jerusalem during one of the festivals. See 5: 1. Jesus was now in Galilee, and another festival (see 4) was at hand.

V.

6. To prove him; to try him, whether he would express confidence in the ability of Jesus to produce a sufficient supply of food.

7. Pennyworth; the coin which is frequently mentioned in the Gospels, and which was equivalent, as some compute, to about fourteen cents of our money.

10. Sit down; recline, as was usual at taking a meal.

12. Gather up the fragments, &c. Though Jesus was able miraculously to furnish any amount of food, he strictly forbade wastefulness.

We

baskets with the fragments of the five barley-loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world.

15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,

17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

19 So when they had rowed

ought to be neither anxious about the future (see Matt. 6: 25), nor regardless of those present advantages which may supply our necessities in time to

come.

14. That Prophet. The Messiah was sometimes regarded as the great religious guide and revealer of God's will. As such, he was foretold in Deut. 18: 15.

about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.

20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks :)

16-21. Compare Matthew 14: 22-36.

19. Five and twenty, or thirty, furlongs; about four miles. || They see Jesus. But they did not know that it was he. It was too early in the morning for them to see distinctly. See Matt. 14: 25.

21. Immediately; very speedily. We often use such expressions as im15. To make him a king. Accord-mediately, at once, &c., meaning very ing to the opinions cherished among soon. There is no reason for thinkthe Jews, the Messiah was to be a ing that the vessel was urged forward great earthly king. They were very miraculously. uneasy under the Roman yoke; and the company who were now with Jesus, struck with admiration at the miracle which he had wrought, would gladly have lent their aid in effecting a revolution, and in making Jesus, in their own sense of the title, king of the Jews. Into a mountain himself alone. Compare Mark 6: 46.

22. On the other side of the sea. That is, on the eastern side where Jesus had fed the multitude. || That there was none other boat there; or, that there had been there only the one boat in which the disciples had departed on the preceding evening.

23. Howbeit, &c. The information given in this verse was necessary in

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