PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels — St. John — Volume 2
Ryle, J. C. (John Charles), 1816–1900 · 168,104 words · 353 reading sections
KYLE'S COMMENTARIES.
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels. By Rev. J. C. Ryle. Matthew $1.50 Mark 1.50 Luke. 2 vols 3.00 John. Vols. 1 and II. Each . . 1.50 " Mr. Ryle is one of the most plain, positive, and practical writers of toe day. He goes directly to his subject, and finds a straight path to the hoart of his reader. The excellenc…
252 wordsSECTION 2PREFACE TO SECOND VOLUME.
In sending forth the second volume of my * ' Exposi- tory Thoughts on St. John," I have little or nothing to add to the introduction with which I prefaced the first volume. In the general plan of the work, — in the style of expositions, notes, and critical remarks, — in the list of Commentators employed and consulted …
161 wordsSECTION 3VI PREFACE TO SECOND VOLUME.
" passed over " me since I first began writing on the Gospels, I humbly hope have not been thrown away. They have been to me years of many trials, and I may add of much work, much reading, much reflec- tion, and not a little prayer. At the end of these fourteen years, I feel more than ever convinced that what are calle…
240 wordsSECTION 4PREFACE TO SECOND VOLUME. VU
volumes. Give me the doctrines that men cling to, and find soul-comforting in the hour of death ! I now send forth this volume with an earnest prayer that God may bless it and make it useful. Ignorance of Scripture, I feel more than ever, is the curse of these latter days. Men read many books, and yet neglect " the on…
82 wordsSECTION 5J. C. KYLE.
Stradbroke Vicarage , 22d October, 1869. P. S. I hope, if it please God to prolong liie, health, and a moderate degree of leisure, to carry on my work on St. John without delay. A third vol- ume will complete it. If any one will take the trouble to count all the verses in St. John's Gospel, he will find that the last …
124 wordsSECTION 6VII.
John. Pagb 1—13. Hardness and unbelief of man, — reason why many hate Christ, — various opin- ions about Christ . . - 1—5 14 — 24. Honest obedience the way to spiritual knowledge, — a self-exalting spirit in ministers deprecated,— the danger of hasty judgments. . . . 13 — 17 25 — 36. Blindness of unbelieving Jews,— …
101 wordsSECTION 7VIII. 1—11.
The power of conscience, true repentance . -the nature of 61—64 12—20. Christ the light of the world, — promise to those who follow Christ, — Christ's exposure of His enemies' ignorance. 74- -77 21—30. Christ may be sought in vain, — differ- ence between Christ and the wicked, — the awful end of unbelief . 87-9…
54 wordsSECTION 8X TABLE OF CONTENTS.
John. Pagb VIII. 31 — 36. Importance of steady perseverance in religion, — nature of true slavery, — na- ture of true liberty . . . 100—104 37 — 47. Ignorant self-righteousness of natural man,— true marks of spiritual sonship, — reality and character of the devil 109- -112 48—59. Blasphemous language addressed to o…
203 wordsSECTION 9X.
John. 31—42. Page Wickedness of human nature, — honour put on Scripture by Christ,— impor- tance attached by Christ to His mira- cles 215- -219…
25 wordsSECTION 10XII.
1 — 6. True Christians may be ill as well as others, — Christ is the best Friend in time of need, — Christ loves all true Christians, however varying in tem- perament,— Christ knows best the time to help .... 228—331 7 — 16. Christ's ways with His people some- times mysterious, — Christ's tender lan- guage about His p…
188 wordsSECTION 11TABLE OF CONTENTS.
John. XII. 12—19. Pagf Christ's sufferings entirely voluntary, — prophecies about Christ's first advent minutely fulfilled . . . 321- -325 20—26. Death the way to spiritual life,— Christ's servants must follow Him . . 331—335 27 — 33. Man's sin imputed to Christ, — Christ's internal conflict,— God's voice heard f…
76 wordsSECTION 12JOHN VII. 1—13.
1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jew- ry, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judsea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. 4 For there is no…
342 wordsSECTION 132 EXPOSITOEY THOUGHTS.
harmless and blameless as He was in life, some of bis nearest relatives, according to the flesh, did not receive Him as the Messiah. It was bad enough that His own people, " the Jews sought to kill Him." But it was even worse that " His brethren did not believe." That great Scriptural doctrine, man's need of preventin…
335 wordsSECTION 14JOHN, CHAP. VH. 3
fort, and pour out their hearts before Him. He " has suffered Himself being tempted" in this way, and He can help as well as feel. (Heb. ii. 18.) We should observe, for another thing, in this passage, one principal reason why many hate Christ. We are told that our Lord said to His unbelieving brethren " The world cann…
325 wordsSECTION 154 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
among the people concerning him : for some said, He is a good man : others said, Nay, but he deceiveth the people " The words which old Simeon had spoken thirty years be- fore were here accomplished in a striking manner. He had said to our Lord's mother, " This child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Isra…
357 wordsSECTION 16JOHN, CHAP. VII. 5
because our religion is a standing witness against them. But the last clay will show that we chose wisely, lost nothing, and gained a crown of glory that facleth not away. Notes. John VII. 1—13. 1. — [After these things Jesus walked in Galilee.'] These words cover a space of about six months. The events of the las…
457 wordsSECTION 17EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
up to Jerusalem. (Deut. xvi. 16.) It was held in autumn, aftei the completion of the harvest, in the seventh month. The time of the Jewish " Passover " answered to our Easter, " Pentecost " to our Whitsuntide, and "Tabernacles" to our Michaelmas. The seventh month was remarkable for the number of ordi- nances which the…
1,022 wordsSECTION 18EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
If Mary really had sons after the birth of our Lord, it cer- tainly seems strange that our Lord should commend her to the care of John, on the cross, and not to her own sons, His half- brethren. That at the latter part of His ministry He had some " brethren" who were not Apostles, but believed, is clear from Acts i. 14…
516 wordsSECTION 19JOHN, CHAP. VII. 9
were not converted. The idea of some that the words mean, " His brethren did not fully and entirely believe in Him," seems to me utterly without foundation. It cannot, moreover, be reconciled with the language that soon follows, — "The world cannot hate you," etc. Such language cannot be applied to disciples. The whole…
499 wordsSECTION 2010 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
indicated. It was not merely His claims to be received as the Messiah. It was not merely the high and spiritual doctrine He preached. It was rather His constant testimony against the sinful lives and wicked practices of the many in His day. That adultery, covetousness, and hypocrisy were rife and common among the leadi…
1,055 wordsSECTION 2112 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
once, and that was when He entered Jerusalem, at the last pass« over, just before His crucifixion. Then He wanted to draw at- tention to the great sacrifice He was about to offer up on the cross. The contrast between His conduct on that occasion and the present one is very remarkable. When it says that " He went in se…
494 wordsSECTION 22JOHN, CHAP. VII.
13 mankind. They either like Him or dislike Him. Strife and conllict of opinion are the certain consequences of the Gospel really coming among men with power. The fault is not in the Gospel but in human nature. Stillness and quiet are signs not of Fife but of death. The sun calls forth miasma and malaria from the swam…
238 wordsSECTION 23JOHN VII. 14-24.
14 IT Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. 15 And the Jews marvelled, say- ing, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned ? 16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, w…
256 wordsSECTION 2414 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
Lord says, " If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." The difficulty of finding out " what is truth " in religion is a common subject of complaint among men. They point to the many differences which prevail among Christians on matters of doctrine,…
348 wordsSECTION 25JOHN, CHAP. VII. 15
Whatever some may say about their inability to find out truth, you will rarely find one of them who does not know better than he practises. Then if he is sincere, let him begin here at once. Let him humbly use what little knowl- edge he has got, and God will soon give him more. — " If thine eye be single, thy whole bod…
349 wordsSECTION 2616 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
Does any one ask for a test by which he may discern the real man of God from the false shepherd in the present day? Let him remember our Lord's weighty words, and notice carefully what is the main object that a minister loves to exalt. Not he who is ever crying, — " Behold the Church ! behold the Sacraments ! behold th…
329 wordsSECTION 27JOHN, CHAT. VII. 17
are the true evidence of what a man is. — In a word, we forget our Lord's saying, — "Judge not according to the appearance." We are too ready, on the other hand, to be deceived by the appearance of evil. We are in danger of setting down some men as no true Christians, because of a few faults or inconsistencies, and " …
353 wordsSECTION 2818 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
feast of tabernacles is typical, I believe it points to the second advent of Christ much more than to the first. [Jesus went up. ..temple.'] This means the outer court of the temple, where pious Jews were in the habit of assembling in order to hear the doctors of the law and others, and to discuss religious subjects. …
517 wordsSECTION 29JOHN, CHAP. VII. 19
teaching that I am proclaiming is not a thing of my own private invention, and the product of my own isolated mind. It is the doctrine of my Father who sent me. It deserves attention because it is His message. He that despiseth it, despiseth not only me, but Him whose messenger I am." — The great truth of His own insep…
535 wordsSECTION 3020 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
doctrine of God the Father, which he has commissioned arid sent me to proclaim to man, — or whether I speak from myself, on my own isolated responsibility, without any license or com- mission." The translation "speak of myself," is unfortunately equivocal. The expression does not mean " about and concern- ing " myself,…
1,035 wordsSECTION 3122 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
glory of the God who sent him." In Fhort, it is one mark of a man being a true servant of God, and really commissioned by our Father in heaven, that he ever seeks his Master's glory more than his own. The principle here laid down is a very valuable one. By it we may test the pretensious of many false teachers of reli…
523 wordsSECTION 32JOHN, CHAP. VII. 23
The expression " Thou hast a devil," may possibly be a repetition of the old charge, that our Lord wrought His miracles by Beelzebub, and was in league with the devil, as John viii. 48. In that sense it would be the strongest form of reproach, blasphemy, and contempt. But considering who the speakers were, it is more l…
493 wordsSECTION 3324 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
(4) Some, fis Chemnitius, Musculus, and De Dieu, interpret "therefore" as "because," and make the sentence mean, " Because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a man on the Sabbath day," etc. But it seems a violent strain to make the Greek word we render "therefore" mean "because."— (5) Some, finally, as Alford,…
1,057 wordsSECTION 34EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
There is perhaps a reference here to Isaiah's prophecy about Messiah, "lie shall not judge after the sight of His eyesl" (Isa. xi. 3.) The principle here laid down is one of vast importance. Nothing is so common as to judge too favourably or too un- favourably of characters and actions, from merely looking at the outw…
307 wordsSECTION 35JOHN VII. 25-36.
25 Then said some of them of Jeru- salem, Is not this he whom they seok to kill ? 2G But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do tho rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ ? 27 Ilowbcit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence ho is. 28 Then cried Jesus…
196 wordsSECTION 36JOHN-, CHAP. VII.
27 A little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. 34 Yo shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither yo cannot come. 35 Then said the Jews among them- selves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto tho dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles…
354 wordsSECTION 3728 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
reason to use the expression. It is a sore spiritual disease, and one most painfully common among men. There are thousands in the present day just as blind in their way as the Jews. They shut their eyes against the plainest facts and doctrines of Christianity. They pretend to say that they do not understand, and cannot…
357 wordsSECTION 38JOTIN, CHAP. VII. 29
It is " full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to goclly persons." Let such never forget that they live in a world where God overrules all times and events, and where nothing can happen but by God's permission. The very hairs of their heads are all numbered. Sorrow and sick- ness, and poverty, and persecution…
355 wordsSECTION 3930 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
virgins in the parable, that when they found the door shut, they knocked in vain, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us." (Matt. xxxv. 11.) Awful as it may seem, it is possible, by continually resisting light and warnings, to sin away our own souls. It sounds terrible, but it is true. Let us take heed to ourselves lest we s…
414 wordsSECTION 40JOHN, CHAP. VII. 31
the multitude said, "This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." (Matt. xxi. 11.) When an inscription was put over His head on the cross, in the letters of the three languages, it was, "Jesus of Nazareth the king of the Jews." ( John xix. 19. See also Matt. xiii. 55 ; Mark vi. 3 ; Luke iv. 22.) Yet we know all …
531 wordsSECTION 4132 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
at Bethlehem, and only knew that His birth was to be a mys- terious thing. This is a possible view, if not a very probable one. — The argument of the speakers before us would then be as follows : — " When Messiah comes, He is to come suddenly, as Malachi foretold, saying, ' the Lord shall suddenly come to His temple,' …
518 wordsSECTION 42JOHN, CHAP. VII. 33
in four other passages in the Gospels,— viz., Matt, xxvii. 50; Mirk xv. 39 ; John vii. 37, and xii. 44. The Greek for "cried " in Matt, xxvii. 46 is even a stronger word than that before us. [Ye both know me and. ..whence lam.'] This is an undeniably difficult expression; partly because it is hard to reconcile with Jo…
494 wordsSECTION 4334 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
Jews ignorance of the God whom they professed to serve, and for whose honour they professed to be jealous. With all their boasted zeal for true religion and the true God, they did not really know God. The word "true," here, is of doubtful interpretation. It means " truthful," according to Cyril, Chrysostom, Theophy- l…
504 wordsSECTION 44JOHN, CHAP. VII. 35
tening to our Lord. With the characteristic keenness of all Jews they at once detected in our Lord's language a claim to be received as the Messiah. Just as on a former occasion, they saw, in His " calling God His Father," that He " made Himself equal with God, " (John v. 18,) so here in His saying "I am from Him : He …
491 wordsSECTION 4536 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
are we waiting for? Why should we not acknowledge this man as the Christ?"" 32. — [The Pharisees heard that the people murmured... him.'] This would be more literally translated, " The Pharisees heard the people murmuring ; " they actually heard with their own ears the common people, as they walked about the temple co…
538 wordsSECTION 46JOHN, CHAP. VII. 37
the whole body, in fact, of our Lord's unbelieving enemies: — ■* A day will come too late, when you will anxiously seek me, and bitterly lament your rejection of me, but too late. The day of your visitation will be past and gone, and you will not find me." There is a great Bible truth taught here, as elsewhere, which …
528 wordsSECTION 4738 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
kind are finally to go to heaven, cannot possibly be reconciled with this expression. Men may please themselves with thinking it is kind and loving and liberal and large-hearted to teach and believe that all men and women of all sorts will finally be found in heaven. One word of our Lord Jesus Christ's overturns the wh…
497 wordsSECTION 48JOHN, CHAP. VII. 39
86.— [WJiat manner of saying, etc.~\ This question of the Jews is the language of people who saw that there was probably some deep meaning in our Lord's words, and yet were unable to make out which He meant. Hating our Lord bitterly, as many of them did, — determined to kill Him the first opportunity, — vexed and annoy…
125 wordsSECTION 49JOHN VII. 37—39.
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, Baying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly ehall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of tho Spirit, which they that believe on him should rec…
977 wordsSECTION 5042 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
The fulfilment of the first part of the promise could be testified lry thousands of living Christians in the present day. They would say, if their evidence could be collected, that when they came to Christ by faith, they found in Ilim more than they expected. They have tasted peace, and hope, and comfort, since they fi…
349 wordsSECTION 51JOHN, CHAP. VII. 43
Christ's Church, Christ's ministers, and Christ's ordinan- ces. It is quite another thing to come to Christ Himself. Happy is he who not only knows these things, but acts upon them ! Notes. John VII. 37—39. 87. — [In. ..last day... great day... feast. ] There seems to be an in- terval of three days between this verse…
498 wordsSECTION 5244 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
ning, and remembered well. Now on the eighth day, when there was no water drawn, there seems a peculiar fitness in His crying, — " Come unto me and drink. The water of life that I give may be drawn, though the feast is over." [Jesus stood and cried.] These words must mean that our Lord chose some high and prominent po…
520 wordsSECTION 53JOHN, CHAP. VII. 45
The whole sentence is one of those golden sayings which ought to be dear to every true Christian, and is full of wide en- couragement to all sinuers who hear it. — Its words deserve special attentiou. We should note the breadth of the invitation. It is for " any man." No matter who and what he may have been, — no matt…
501 wordsSECTION 5446 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS'.
thus. For another thing, it would introduce doctrinal con- fusion. Our Lord's invitation was not made to him " that be- lieveth," but to him that is " athirst." (2) Some, as Chrysostom, Theophylact, Pellican, Heinsius, Gualter, De Dieu, Lightfoot, Trapp, and Henry, would connect " lie that believeth on me" with the fo…
504 wordsSECTION 55JOHN, CHAP. VII. 47
In him that drank it "a well of water springing up into ever- lasting life." (John iv. 14.) The full meaning of the promise is that every believer in Christ shall receive abundant satisfac- tion of his own spiritual wants ; and not only that, but shall also become a source of blessing to others. From him instru- mental…
510 wordsSECTION 5648 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
Luther paraphrases this verse thus : " He that cometh to me shall be so furnished with the Holy Ghost, that he shall not only be quickened and refreshed himself and delivered from thirst, but he shall also be a strong stone vessel, from which the Holy Ghost in all His gifts shall flow to others, refreshing, comforting,…
1,049 wordsSECTION 57EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
present "is not uncommon in the Bible. (Thus 2 Chron. xv. 3.) When therefore we read " the Holy Ghost was not," we need not be stumbled by the expression. It simply means " He was not fully manifested and poured out on the Church." Peter, and James, and John, no doubt, had the Spirit now, when our Lord was speaking. Bu…
195 wordsSECTION 58JOHN VII. 40—53.
40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. 41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of Da- vid, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was ? 43 So…
598 wordsSECTION 5952 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
may be ignorant of Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and mathe- matics, but he shall be saved. These verses show us, for another thing, how eminent must have been our Lord's gifts, as a public Teacher of religion. We are told that even the officers of the chief priests, who were sent to take Him, were struck and amazed. They were…
325 wordsSECTION 60JOHN, CHAP. VII. 53
their Lord's pattern. Let them remember that fine bom- bastic language, and a sensational, theatrical style of address, are utterly unlike their Master. Let them realize, that an eloquent simplicity is the highest attainment of public speaking. Of this their Master left them a glorious example. Surely they need never b…
337 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (1857). Text from OCR of an original Internet Archive scan; OCR may contain recognition errors.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.