without excuse was their unbeUe/ I They had heard but one consistent cleclaration of truth, ever growing in clearness and fulness; yet there v-as no spiritual or intellectual response to this teaching. Vere. 26-29.-.A still clearer revelation in stO'l'e for them. L JEsus HAS A STILL YOLLEB REVELATION TO GIVE THEM OF THEIR MORAL CONDITION. "I have many things to say and to judge concerning you." 1. His judgment is true. "But be that sent me is true." He only declares the judgment of bis Father concerning their actions. 2. Th£ Jews could not recognize the Divine origin of this judgment. "They understood not that he spake to them of the Father." II. His CRUCIFIXION WOULD MAKE MANY THINGS CLEAR TO THEIR MINDS, "When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself." That dreadful event would reveal the secrets of many hearts. 1. He recognizes the Jews as the future instruments of his crucifixion. Verily it was" with wicked hands" they slew him (Acts ii. 23). 2. Though he was to be crucified in weak- ness, yet he was to live by the power of God. 3. Bis death was the gateway to his ascension-glory. 4. His death would establish the absolute unity of purpose and action that existed between himself and his Father. 5. The ejfect of the Son's obedience to his Father's will. "The Father bath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him." The Father's presence is not accounted for merely by the Son's active and perfect obedience, but is the spring and principle of it. Vere. 30-32.-The bondage of the Jews, and the source of troe liberty. The effect of the previous discourse was remarkable. I. THE INTELLECTUAL ACCEPTANCE OF JESUB BY THE JEWS, "As he spake these words, many believed on him." They accepted his statements, and believed him to be the Messiah. •They were not, however, true believers, because Jesus afterwards repre- sents them as seeking to kill him (ver. 37). II. THE COUNSEL OF OUR LORD TO THE l!IEW CONVERTS. "If ye continue in my Word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 1. The necessity of steadfastness in the truth. (1) It is implied that obstacles would have to be overcome. Satan is ever at hand to pluck the good ~eed of the Word out of the heart. The strength of Jewish prejudice would mass itself against the truth. (2) Steadfastness is a condition of discipleship. The words of Christ imply the first rude beginnings of faith. It implies that Christ's Word has come with power, and has a,place in their hearts. 2. The blessed privilege of steadfast dis- ciples. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (1) The truth being the element in which the Christian lives, there is in his abiding in it a guarantee for fuller knowledge. "In thy light shall we see light." While others should be. ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, the Chris- tian receives a larger knowledge-is led into all truth, and sees more of the beauty and glory of Christ. (2) The truth gives true freedom. (a) This was more than freedom from Roman rule, which was expected to fall with the advent of the Messiah. (b) As evil has its stronghold in darkness, the light of truth destroys it, and thus the Christian is freed from ignorance and error, and the indisposition to all good.
Vers. 33-36.-Misapprehension of the disciples corrected. I. THEIR STRAN0E MIS- CONCEPTION. "They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man : how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?" 1. We cannot ima;7ine tM speakers to be capable of the absurdity of making a historical misstatement. The facts of Jewish history were universally known at Jerusalem. The Jews could not deny the Egyptian, Babylonian, Syrian, and Roman conquests. 'l'hey either referred to the civil liberty which they had long enjoyed, or they meant to assert that they had never recognized their conquerors or acquiesced in their dominion. 2, Yet there was a serious misunderstanding springing from their prevailingly carnal tone. They seemed as yet unable to recognize the inner bondage of soul which is dissolved by grace. II. Oun LORD'S ELUCIDATION OF THE MYSTERY. .. ,vhosoever committeth sin is the slave of sin." 1. He refers to the habitual sinner, not to the man who commits au individual act of transgression. Suoh a man gives himself to sin, sellll himself to work 378 THE GOSPEL ACOORDING TO ST. JO~N~ [on. vm. 1-69.