comprehend." Otliers think that it means, "he cannot enter, enjoy, partake of^ or posses'^" Tlie last I believe to be the true meaning of the expression. The first is truth, but not the truth of the text. The second ib confirmed by the language used in the fifth verse, and is a common form of speech of which there are many instances in the Bible. Thus we find, to " see hfe,'' (John lii. 36,)— to "see corruption," (Psalm xvi. 10,) — to "see death," (John viii. 51,) — to see evil," (Psalm xc. 15,) — to " see sorrow." (Rev. xviii. 7.)
[The Hngdom of Godi] This expression means that spiritual kingdom which Messiah came into the world to set up, and of which all believers are the subjects, — the kingdom which is now small, and weak, and despised, but which shall be great and glorious at the second advent. Our Lord declares that no man can belong to that kingdom and be one of its subjects, without a new birth. To belong to the covenant of Israel with all its temporal privileges, a man need only be born of Jewish parents. To belong to Messiah's kingdom, a man must be " born again " of the Spirit, and have a new heart.
Luther's remark on this verse, quoted by Stier, is worth reading. He supposes our Lord to say, " My doctrine is not of doing, and of leaving undone, but of being and becoming ; so that it is not a new work to be done, but the being new created; — not the living otherwise but the being new born."
The unvarying suitableness of our Lord's t-eaching to the special state of mind of those whom He taught, deserves observation. To the young ruler fond of his money, He says, " Sell all and give to the poor." — To the multitude craving food, He says, " Labour not for the meat that perisheth." — To the Samaritan woman coming to draw water, He commends " living water." — To the Pharisee proud of his hirth^ as a son of Abraham, He says, " Ye must be born again." (Luke xviii. 22 ; John vi. 27 ; iv. 10.)
4. — [Nicodemus saifh...Jiow.] The question of Nicodemus is pre- cisely one of those which the natural ignorance of man in spiritual things prompts a person to ask. Just as the Samaritan woman, in the 4th chapter, put a carnal meaning on our Lord's words about " living water," and the Jews, in the 6th chapter, put a carnal meaning on the "bread of God," so Nicodemus puts a carnal meaning on the expression " born again." — There is nothing which the heart of man in every part and every age of the world is so slow to understand as the work of the Holy Ghost. Our minds are so gross and sensuous, that we cannot take in the idea of an inward and spiritual operation. Unless we can see things and touch things in religion we are slow to believe them
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