not with him the previous clay. — The thought seems parallel to that contained in the words, ," Tlie kingdom of God cometh not with observation." — " The messenger of Grod cometh sud- denly to his temple." (Mai. iii. i ; Luke xvii. 20.) All serve to point to the same truth, viz. — that when Messiah came the first time, He came quietly, Avithout noise, without display, without the nation of the Jews knowing it, so that he "stood among them," and yet they were not aware of His presence.
The Greek word rendered "standeth," is in the perfect tense, and would be literally rendered, " there hath stood," that is, ''hatli stood for some httle time, and is still standing." The Messiah has come and is present. Bengel renders it, " hath taken his stand."
Tlie view I have maintained of the meaning of the word " standeth," is held by Parkhurst, who defines it as " being or living," and quotes John vi. 22, as a parallel instance. Pearce takes the same view, and quotes Acts xxvi. 22. Jansenius renders it, "has conversed among you, as when he sat among the doctors" in the temple. Aretius renders it, " He is present in the flesh, and walking in Judaea."
f Ye know not] Tiiis seems to mean, not only that the Jews knew not Jesus the Messiah by sight, but that they had no spiritual knowledge of him, and of the true nature of his office, as the Saviour of sinners. — " Ye look for a conquering, reigning Messiah. Ye know not the suffering Messiah, who came to be cut ofi", and to be crucified for sinners."
Bengel remarks, that John is here specially " addressing inhabitants of Jerusalem, who had not been present at the bapdsm of Jesus. And he Avhets their desires, that they may be anxious to become acquainted with him."
27. — [Coining after... .preferred before.] The remarks made on the 15th verse apply fully to this expression. John declares, that though his master, in point of time, began his ministry after him, in point of dignity he was far above him. To exalt Christ, and abase himself, seem ideas never long out of John's mind.
[Shoe's lafchet... .worthy to unloose.] This is evidently a pro- verbial expression. "I am so interior to Him that came after me, that in comparison with him, I am like the humblest servant compared to his master." To be not fit to carry a person's shoes, in our times, is a well-known proverb, describing inferiority.
28. — [These things....done in Bethahara.] In hot countries hke
Palestine, it was evidently important for John the Baptist to be near a supply of water, suited to the baptism of the multitudes who came to him. If Beth-barah, spoken of in Gideon's history