The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 264

from hie Spirit, or divirle the link without -clearly pointing bnck to ver. 12-that ye which they could bear no fruit Rt e.ll. The may love one another. This entire medite,. "fruit" me.y hero, in He issues, suggest tion cnlmiMtes whore it began. The di- nnother ole.se of idoe.e. Jn the Jlret cose the gression comes b11ck to the m11in theme. "fruit" wns !ho "fruit of the Spirit," but Westcott regarils it ns the starting-point o( hero it would eoem to be the abiding conee- e. new theme, but our Lord did not return quenco of the "greater works'' which they upon the iden. of mutual Jove, but diacml1!811 would bo onlled upon to do. Thie rich fruit the effoct upon tho world of that love to includes e.11 the victories they were to win each other and to him which blended their over souls, nnd all the effects of their personalities into one mystic unity. This ministry. "Fruit" in either cose is only verse shows how the new topic links itself volunblo when it is utilized by the Husbnnd- with the previous discussion. Hie dying mnn nnd e.ccording to hie purpose. "Fruit" for them, thus proving hie friendship for is n Divine self-exhaustion of the Ii ving them, n.nd all the other signs of hie interest organism; it does no good to the bro.nch nor and confidence, have been set before them to the stem; it is the sacred property of the to this great end; for while the world is full busbandmnn, whether for his own joy or for of outrage and mutual Rnimosities, the fresh seed. In this cnse your fruit will motive of his own entire self-manifestation abide for ever, not in the bmnch, but in the is to a.waken a new and higher type Rnd Father's ho.nde, that (1va) whatsoever ye model of humanity. Well may the familiar shall ask of the Father in my Ne.me, he may legend of St. John in the churches of Ephesus give it you. It now becomes a question con1irm this sublime truth. whether the second 1va introduces a clause which is co-ordinate with the former or one From this point to the end of the chapter logically depending on the preceding. Meyer (ver. 27) Christ unfolded the consequences, concludes the :first, viz. that the granting of to the unbelieving world, of the sacred prayer brings about the fruit and its con- union between himself and hie disciples, tinuance (so De Wette, Liicke, Stier, Godet); and Olehnueen maintains the second, viz. e.nd he discUBBed the reciprocal relations that by going and bringing forth fruit we between hie own disciples and the world, enter into that relation with God from which seeing that they a.re united with him in proceeds the prayer in the name of the Son such a close incorporation. which the Father will grant, thus bringing the passage into close relation with eh. xiv. Ver. 18.-You need not be surprised if 13 and xvi. 23. Hengetenberg ea.ye, "By the world hate you. "The world," ,coo-µ.o, their fruit they would show themselves to (five times used in strongly emphatic man- be true disciples of Christ, and to euoh the ner), is humanity a.part from grace. Thie Father oan deny nothing." But W eetcott world will despise and hate your mutual and Lange endeavour to combine both ideas. love, will ecom your love to itself for my The co-ordination of the two cle.ueee re- sake, will detest the higher e.nd unworldly quires the in version of their order, or the standard which you will set up. But here introduction of ,cal before the second 1va. ie some consolation. Know ('yu,wa1e,n im- Moreover, the thought that Christ chose perative, e.s µ.VT1µ.011e,',,Te in ver. 20) that it and appointed them in order tho.t whatso- has hated me before (it hated) you. "Me ever they should e.ek God would give, is :first, me moat" (Lange). "The superlative out of harmony with "the conditions of contains the compa.re.tive" (Tholuck). "Thie acceptable prayer" elsewhere insisted on; hatred is e. community of destiny with me" while the bearing of fruit-in both senses, (Meyer). You know how it has hated me, (a) thot of Christian grace and (b) Christian and hunted me from Bethlehem to Egypt, usefulness-completes the idea. in e. concrete from Nazareth to Caperoaum, from Gerges11 form of abiding in Christ e.nd having his to Jerusalem. Be not surprised if it hate you. words a.biding in them. Surely the view Ver. 19.-lf ye were of the world-i.e. tho.t the eocond clause is conditiono.ted by still a part of it, deriving your life, mllims, the first, is fe.r from obscure, as Luthardt and pleasures from it ; if you could sym- says, while be virtually accepts the same pathize with its vulgar passion, and its interpretation: "If they ea.use themselves temporary fleeting excitements, pn.rtisanships, to be found in the right service of Jesus, and bigotries-the world would be loving then will be granted to them what they ask ( ,41,;1.,!, notice the form of the conditional in the no.me of Jesus." Moulton confirms sentence, 11 supposition contrary to fe.ct, the ea.me interpretation. (On the clo.use, therefore anticipating the negative clo.1l88 "in my Name," see eh. xvi. 24.,) that follows, "but ye a.re not of the world;" Vere.17-27,-(b) The resultB ofthiB union notice e.lso the.t ipt;1.u,, the love of affection. ,oith ChriBt to the unbelieving world. not c\')'11,rd.,, the love of reverence ll.lld pro- Ver. 17.-These things do I oommud 7011 found regard, which you 11re to show to 0110 JOHN-II, 'I 2i•I THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOilN. [cR, xv. 1-27.