with, "Ye shall not find Me," and "Ye shall die in your sins." In the last, it evidently means the temporary separation be- tween Christ and His disciples which would be caused by His ascension.
Melancthon observes that nothing seems to bring on men such dreadful guilt and punishment as neglect of the Gospel. The Jews had Christ among them and would not believe, and so when afterward they sought they could not find.
Rollock observes that the " seeking " which our Lord here fore- tells was like that of Esau, when he sought too late for the lost birthright.
Burkitt observes, "Better a thousand times to die in a clitch than to die in our sins 1 They that die in their sins shall rise in their sins, and stand before Christ in their sins. Such as lie down in sin in the grave shall have sin lie down with them in hell to all eternity. The sins of believers go to the grave be- fore them; sin dieth while they live. The sins of unbelievers go to the grave with them."
22. — [Then said the Jews, etc.~\ It is plain that this last saying of our Lord perplexed His enemies. It evidently implied some- thing which they did not understand. In the preceding chapter (vii. 34) they began speculating whether it meant that our Lord was going forth into the world to teach the Gentiles. Here they start another conjecture, and begin to suspect that our Lord must mean His going into another world by death. But by what death did He think of going? Did He mean to "kill Himself?" It seems strange that they should start such an idea. But may it not be that their minds were occupied with their own plan of putting Him to death? " Will He really anticipate our plan, by committing suicide, and thus escape our hands?"
Origen suggests that the Jews had a tradition about the man- ner in which Messiah would die: viz., "that He would have power to depart at His own time, and in a way of His own choosing."
Rupertus observes that afterwards, at the siege of Jerusalem by Titus, many of the desperate Jews did the very thing they here said of our Lord — they killed themselves in madness of despair.
Melancthon remarks that nothing seems to anger wicked men so much as to be told they cannot come where Christ is.
23. — [And he said, Ye are from beneath, etc.~\ Our Lord's argument in this case appears to be as follows : ""There is no union, har- mony, or fellowship between you and Me. Your minds are en- tirely absorbed find buried in earth and objects of a mere earthly kind. You are from beneath, and of this world ; while I came from heaven, and My heart is full of the things of heaven and My Father's business. No wonder, therefore, that I said you