The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 488

hie 8upematunl Aid in speeoh, to the epot- things, as the truth n.bout God nnd man. lees. sinlPBB <'hanoter or his hidden life. It He ndds, And ye shall come fully to know was remarl,,tbJe that n.nv strangers or ene- the trnth; i.e. to realizo in the very depths mit>B ebonld have surrendered themselves to of your being the trustworthy ohnre.ctcr of them. The event showa that the surrender my word. "The Truth" (see eh. xiv. 6) is <'ould not etnnd the teat. one of the distinguishing no.mes which Josue Vere. 81-59 deeoribe a further conver- takes to himself. He is the Truth, e.nd "full sation, not with the same andienoe. The of grace o.nd truth." So far this statement corresponds with oh. vii. 16, 17. Tho words record a vivid oonfl.ict between the "Jews" who hRd believod him would not Lord and the JetDB IDM believed him,· who feel the fiery ordeal and touch of fie.me ap- nooepted the Messia.nio olaims, but pereisted plied to the sensitive skin or their pride and in interpreting them, not by his word, but 11elr-importance; but when he added, And by their own ideas of the theocratic king- the truth shall emancipate yon, the case was nltered. Truth only can set the mind dom, by their privileges as children of free from its bondage under ignoranoe and Abre.h&m, by their national animosity to prejudice and evil habit. If the Light of their nee.rest neighbolll'I! the Samaritans, by the world shines into the durk places of the their inn.bility to press behind the veil of heart, the chains erewhile misunderstood will his humanity to his Divine nature. Their not only become visible, but will be broken. Goclet bea,utifnlly se.ys that "the empire of faith was of the most imperfect kind ; but sin in a human heart is based upon an illu- snob as it was, it we.s made ma.nifest to the sion, a fascination. Let troth shiue, o.nd the observation of the apostle, and this throws spell is broken, the will is disgusted with that light upon the foct that, among the many which seduced it-• the bird escapee from who belie'Ded on him, or rather alongside of the net of the fowler.'" But this proffer of freed!lm to his disciples by continuing in his these, there was a oerta.i.n section of " the word was too startling a suggestion for their Jews," of the ohier ntlere and rabbis, who nascent o.nd imperfect fa.ith. He ha.d told made a definite movement towards him. them that without faith in him they would This doubtless excited the intense enthu- die in their sins (ver. 2'1); now he assures siasm of the disciples, who might at once them that, unless they abide steadfastly in his word, they will not escape from o. bond- hope and almost expect that Jesus would age manifest enough to his eye, if not to with open nnn.e accept their homage. But theirs. This brings from them an angry he at once puts this faith of theirs-perhaps response. ignorantly expressed-to a proof absolutely Vera. s~,6.-(5) The offer of spiritual necessary for the s:1.I-rntion of his hearers. freedom to the seed of Abrnham provoked. bitter hostility and misapprehension. V ers. 31, 32.--{ 4) The test Chrilit rupplied Ver. 33.-They a.nswered him, We be tD those t0/w admitted his testimony-true dis- Abraham's seed-taking the highest position cipleship and frtt-d<Ym. J"eBUB therefore said of national grandeur o.nd racial pride. V e.st to the J"ews who had believed him-or, had were the pretensions which the Jews often bee.ome believing, and were now waiting for assumed from this lofty ancestry. "They BOme specio.l sign that their belief of his were all children of kings ; " "Solomon's words we.s to be :immediately rewarded by feast was not too good for them ; " "He some closer conformity between his next step we.s heir of the world ; " " They were the in- and their own preposseesions-U ye abide heritors in him of nil lhe no.tions." They in my word, then are ye truly my disc:iples. had rung this cry into the ears of John the Short of making the word of Jesus the Baptist, when this last prophet hud called resting-place for both heart and intellect, upon them for repentance. Their following full discipleship would be impossible. The boast is difficult to understand: We have true disciple receives and continues in never yet been enslaved to any one; and the word of his Me.ster. The expression great difference of opinion has preve.iled expands nnd illustrates the difference be- over the meaning of these words. It is tween believing Christ to spea.k the truth, incredible that John should rep1·esenf; the end bd.ieving iu him. Many ancient Jewd Jews as ignore.at of their national politicol and modem Christians believe so m nch of history. The first word of their Decalogue Christ's word as is verified by their moral incl udcd a. reference to the " house of bond• consciowmllllll, and dispute or dispose of the age" from which Jehovah had delivered rest e.s Aberglaube. The genuine disciple the seed of Abraham. Moreover, their poli- continues, abides, in the word of him who tical humiliation e.t the han<l of the border is tl,e iucamate Word, yielding to it entire kingdoms of ABsyria, Babylon, e.nd Syria Wll8 acquit,SOOnoe, 1111 the o.bsolute reality of the perpetual theme of prophet and psnlmillt.. oit. mt. 1-----69.] Ttm GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST. JOHN. 361