Augustine, quoted by Burgon, remarks, " When Christ came forth from the Father. He so came into the world as never to leave the Father ; and He so left the world and went unto the Father as never to leave the world."
29. — l^His disciples said, etc.'] The words of the disciples seem to be a reference to our Lord's statement in the twenty-fifth verse, that " the time was coming when He would no more speak in proverbs, but show them plainly concerning the Father." The eleven appear to catch at that promise. " Even now Thou art speaking to us more plainly that we have ever heard Thee speaking before, and not in figurative language."
80. — [Ifow are we sure, etc.] This is a peculiar verse. It is hard to see what there was in our Lord's statement iu ver. 28, to carry such conviction to the minds of the eleven, and to make them see things about their Master so much more clearly than they had seen them before. But the precise reason why words alfect men's minds, and lay hold on their attention at one time and not at another, is a deep mystery, and hard to explain. The very same truths which a man hears from one mouth and is utterly unimpressed, come home to him with such power from another moath, that he will declare he never heard them before ! Nay, more : the very same speaker who is heard with- out attention one day, is heard another day teaching the very same things with the deepest interest, by the same hearers, and they will tell you they never heard them before !
The words, " We are sure," are literally, " We know." They mean, " We know now that Thou knowest all things concerning Thyself, Thy mission, and the Father."
The words, " Thou needest not that any man should ask Thee," mean, " Thou hast told us so plainly who and what Thou art, that there is no need for any one to ask Thee ques- tions, or seek further explanation."
The words, " By this we believe," must mean, " We are con- vinced and persuaded by the statement Thou hast j ist made," in ver. 28.
31. — [Jesus answered... now believe.] In this verse our Lord warns the eleven of their self -ignorance. They thought they believed. They did not doubt their own faith. Let them not be too con- fident. They would soon find they had an evil root of unbelief within. Never do we find our Lord flattering His disciples. Warnings against self-confidence need to be continually pressed on believers. Nothing is so deceptive as feeling and excite- ment in religion. We know not the weakness of our hearts.
Alford thinks that "do ye now believe," should not be ren- dered as a question, but as an affirmation. " You now believe, I know," The Greek admits of either view. I prefer the question.