The expression, " as my Father hath taught Me I speak these things," again bears special reference to the divine commission of our Lord and the perfect union between Himself and His Father. " I do not speak the things I speak of Myself and by My own authority only. I speak nothing but what My Father has taught, commissioned, and appointed Me to speak." Com- pare 7th, 16th, and 26th verses of this chapter.
Augustine says here : " Do not as it were represent to your- selves two men, the one father, the other son, and the father speaking to the son, as thou doest when thou sayest certain words to thy son advising and instructing him how to speak, that whatever he has heard from thee he may commit to mem- ory, and having committed to memory utter also with the tongue. Do not so conceive. Stature and motion of the body, the office of the tongue, distinction of sounds, do not go about to conceive them in the Trinity." Again : " incorporeally the Father spake to the Son, because incorporeally the Father begat the Son. And He taught Him not, as if He had begotten Him ignorant and in need of teaching; but this ' taught' is the same as begat Him knowing."
29. — [And he that sent me, etc.'] This verse contains once more that deep and oft-repeated truth, the entire unity between God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the consequent entire and complete harmony between the mind of the Father and the mind of the Son. It contains moreover that entire and com- plete performance of the Father's will by the Son, and that per- fect righteousness, obedience, and holiness, wherewith the Father is well-pleased.
When we read such words as "he that sent Me is with Me," and " hath not left Me alone," we must remember that there is much in them which we cannot fully explain. We must be con- tent to believe that the Father was " with " the Son, and never "left" Him during the whole period of His incarnation, in an ineffable and inscrutable manner. Perhaps also there is a ref- erence to Isai. 1. 7, 8, 9.
Augustine remarks: "Albeit both are together, yet one was sent, and the other did send. The Father seut the Son, yet quitted not the Son."
When we read such words as " I do always those things that please Him," we must see in the expression a description of that spotless perfection with which the Son during His incarna- tion constantly pleased the eternal Father.
Let Christians never forget the practical lesson that in this verse, as in many other places, Christ is their example and their encouragement. Like Him, however short they may come, let them aim at " always doing what pleases God." Like Him, let them be sure that so doing they will find the Father " with them," and will never be left quite " alone."
tOO EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
Calvin remarks : " This is the courage with which we ought to be animated in the present clay, that we may not give way <>n account of the small number of believers: for though the whole world be opposed to His doctrine, still we are not alone. Hence it is evident how foolish is the boasting of the Papists, who, while they neglect God, proudly boast of their vast numbers."
}. --[As he spake these words, many believed on him."] There can be little doubt that " these words " in this place, refer to the whole discourse which was delivered at this time, and not to the [sin- gle verse which immediately precedes this one. It is possible that the reference to Isai. 1-. 7, 8, 9, may have brought light to the Jews' minds, and explained our Lord's relation to the Father, and His claim to be received as the Messiah.— Other- wise it is not very clear what it was that made " many believo" on Him at this juncture. There is, however, no reason to think that the " belief " here was anything more than a head belief that our Lord was the Messiah. That many did so believe whose hearts remained unchanged, there can be little doubt. The same expression occurs at x. 42, and xi. 45, and xii. 42. The extent to which men may be intellectually convinced of the truth of religion, and know their duty, while their hearts are unrenewed, and they continue in sin, is one of the most pain- ful phenomena in the history of human nature. Let us never be content with believing things to be true, without a personal laying hold on the living Person, Christ Jesus, and actually fol- lowing Him.
Chrysostom observes : " They believed, yet not as they ought, but carelessly and by chance, being pleased and refreshed by the humility of the words. For that they had not perfect faith, the Evangelist shows by their speeches after this, in which they insult him again." Theophylact, Zwingle, and Calvin take the same view.