Thomas, Philip, and Jude, ignorant and slow as they were drew out of our Lord's mouth rich and precious sayings.
[^How is U...mauifest...us...not...ioorld.] This question is the simple inquiry of one guessing after the truth, and not able to see clearly what our Lord's words meant, — whether a visible or an invisible manifestation of Himself: — "What is the precise distinction of privilege between ourselves and the world to which you point ? "
The Greek for " how is it ? " would be literally, " What has happened ? " The Greek for " Thou wilt," is literally, " Thou art about."
Whitby thinks that Jude, like most Jews of his time, expect- ed Messiah's kingdom to be a visible temporal kingdom over all the earth. He could not therefore understand a manifesta- tion of Christ confined to the disciples.
83. — [Jesus answered... will love him.] This sentence is simply a repetition of the truth contained in the fifteenth and twenty- first verses : " 1 tell you again emphatically that the man who really loves Me will keep my words, and obey my command- ments. And I repeat that such a man will be specially loved and cared for by my heavenly Father."
Let us note that in this verse our Lord does not say, " Keep my commandments," but my " word " generally, in the singu- lar number, inclading all His whole teaching.
[And we will come...dbide with him.] These words can only admit of one sense, — a spiritual and invisible coming and abid- ing. The Father and the Son will come spiritually into the heart and soul of a true saint, and will make their continual dwelling with him. This, again, is a purely experimental truth, and one that none can know but he that has felt it.
Let us note the condescension of the Father and the Son, and the high privileges of a believer. No matter how poor and lowly a man may be, if he has faith and grace, he has the best of company and friends. Christ and the Father dwell in his heart, and he is never alone, and cannot be poor. He is the temple of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The use of the plural number " we," is very noteworthy in this place.
24. — [He...lot)eth Me not. ..my sayings^ Once more the same great principle already taught, is laid down again from the negative side. Where there is no obedience to Christ, there is no love. Nothing can be more plain than our Lord's repeated warnings that practical obedience, keeping His commandments and say- ings, doing His will, is the only sure test of love to Him. With- out this obedience, profession, talk, knowledge. Churchman- ship, yea, even feeling, conviction, weeping and crying, are all worthless things. [And word. ..not mine. ..Father. ..sent Me.] The purpose of this