15. Told (avyjyyetrev). See on iv. 25. The best texts, how- ever, read eizrev, sard.
16. Did the Jews persecute. The imperfect tense (éd/o- cov) might be rendered began to persecute, as this is an open- ing of hostilities against Jesus, or, more probably, corresponds with the same tense in é7roée., he did, or better, was wont to do. Atwxw, to persecute, is originally to run after, to pursue with hostile purpose, and thence to harass.
And sought to kill Him. The best texts omit.
He did. See above. Godet observes: “the imperfect ma- lignantly expresses the idea that the violation of the Sabbath has become with Him a sort of maxim.”
17. Worketh. The discussion turned on work on the Sab- bath. The Father’s work in maintaining and redeeming the world has continued from the creation until the present mo- ment (€ws apts): wntdl now, not interrupted by the Sabbath.
And I work («ayo épydfouar). Or, J also work. The two clauses are co-ordinated. The relation, as Meyer observes, is not that of ¢mztation, or ewample, but of equality of will and procedure. Jesus does not violate the divine ideal of the Sab- bath by His holy activity on that day. ‘Man’s true rest is not a rest from human, earthly labor, but a rest Jor divine, heavenly labor. Thus the merely negative, traditional observance of the Sabbath is placed in sharp contrast with the positive, final ful- filment of spiritual service, for which it was a preparation ” (Westcott).
18. Had broken (@ve). Lit., was loosing: the imperfect tense. See on He did, ver. 16. Not, broke the Sabbath in any particular case, but was annulling the law and duty of Sab- bath observance.
His Father (ratépa idiov). Properly, His own Father. So Rey.