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, but " from" myself.
By "doing the will of God," our Lord must mean, "obeying and performing, as far as in us lies, that will of God which we have expressly declared to us in the word of God." (17th Arti- cle.) Such " doing " He declares is the way to knowledge. It is the same idea as the "doing truth" of John iii. 21.
The principle here laid down is one of immense importance. We are taught that clear knowledge depends greatly on honest obedience, and that distinct views of Divine truth cannot be expected, unless we try to practise such things as we know. Living up to our light we shall have more light. Striving to do the few things we know, we shall find the eyes of our under- standing enlightened, and shall know more. Did the Jews pro- fess to feel perplexed, and not to know whether our Lord was sent from God ? Let them honestly do God's will, and seek knowledge in the path of sincere obedience in such matters as were clear and plain. — So doing they would be guided into all truth, and find their doubts removed.
We learn from these words how greatly they err who profess to be waiting till their mental difficulties are removed before they become decided Christians. They must change their plan. They must understand that knowledge comes through humble obedience as well as through the intellect. Let them begin by honestly doing God's will as far as they know that will, and in so doing they will find their minds enlightened.
We learn, furthermore, that God tests men's sincerity by making obedience part of the process by which religious knowledge is obtained. Are we really willing to do God's will so far as we know it ? If we are, God will take care that our knowledge is increased. If we are not willing to do His will, we show clearly that we do not want to be God's servants. Our hearts and not our heads are in fault.
We learn, finally, the great principle on which many will be condemned at the last day. They did not live up to their light. They did not use such knowledge as they possessed, and so were left dark and dead in sins. There is probably not one in a thousand among unconverted people, who does not know far better than he practises. Such men surely, if lost, will have none to blame but themselves !
In interpreting this verse, I believe we must be careful not to lay more meaning on the expression "do His will," than our Lord meant it to bear. I say this because I observe many re- spectable commentators place such f. very wide and comprehen-
john, chap. vn. 21
give sense upon "doing God's will," that they miss entirely our Lord's purpose in speaking the words. They start with saying, that to " do God's will," we must have faith in Christ, new hearts, grace reigning within us, and the like, and thus repre- sent our Lord as saying in effect, " If any man will become a true believer, and a converted man, he shall ' know of the doctrine,' " etc. I venture to think that such interpretation completely misses the mark, and is going round in a circle. Of course any true believer knows true doctrine. I believe that our Lord's object was simply to encourage the honest-minded, sincere, single-eyed inquirer after truth. To such a man, though at present very ignorant, He says, " If you really have a desire to do God's will, to please Him, and to follow any light He gives you, you will be taught of Him, you will find out the truth. My doctrine may be hid from the wise and prudent, but it is revealed to babes." (Matt. xi. 25.) I hold, in short, that we should take as simple a view as possible of the sentence, "If any man will do His will," and be very careful that we do not mar its usefulness by putting more meaning on it than our Lord intended.
Bishop Hall thus paraphrases the text: "If any man shall, with a simple and houest heart, yield himself over to do the will of my Father, according to the measure of that he knows, God shall encourage and bless that man with further light; so as he shall fully know whether my doctrine be of God, or of myself."
Burgon remarks : " The perception of truth depends on the practice of virtue. It is a favourite maxim of the present day, that increased knowledge will bring with it growth in godli- ness. Scripture at all events entirely reverses the process. The way to know of the doctrine whether it be of God, is to do His will." (See John v. 44; viii. 12.)
Hengstenberg remarks : " Whosoever would lead souls to Christ should not tarry long about the specious arguments with which the natural man seeks to disguise the hateful per- version of his state of will, but should above all things try to excite willingness to do the will of God."
18. — [He that speaketh of himself, etc.'] In this verse, as in the preceding verses, " He that speaketh of himself" would be more literally rendered "speaketh from himself." The verse con- tains a general principle, applicable not only to our Lord's ow'.i case, but to teachers of religion in every age. The meaning seems to be as follows : — " He that undertakes on his own re- sponsibility, and without being sent by God, to speak to men about religion, will naturally seek to advance his own im- portance, and get honour for himself. Speaking from himself, he will speak for himself, and try to exalt himself. He, on the contrary, who is a true messenger of God, and in whom there is no dishonesty or unrighteousness, will always seek first the