The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 506

Vere, 21, 22.-0uriosity rebulced. Peter and John were the two amon" the twelve who were nearest to Obrist, and they were peculiarly intimate in their fri~ndship and congenial in their disposition. It Wl\8 very natura! that when the risen Jesus had ~ttered so explicit B prediction concerning the future of th; a.postls--viz. that he shoultl hvo to old age, e.nd then should glorify God by enduring a martyr's death by cruci- fixion-a general desire should be aroused in the brea.qts of the disciples to know some- thing of the future history and the end of John. Especially it was very natural that Peter should put to the Lord the question here recorded. Yet Jesus not merely declined to comply with this request, he even rebuked the questioner for his curiosity. I. THE CAUSES OF CURIOSITY. 1. Of these one is good, viz. the natural desire to know, with which is conjoined that sympathy that transfers to another the feelings of interest first belonging to one's self. A person utterly indifferent to the prospects of his neighbours would be regarded as morally imperfect and defective. 2. On the other hand, there is something of evil in the springs of curiosity, inasmuch as this habit of mind arises very much from the tendency to remove attention from principles, and attach it to persons. He who thinks only of principles is pedantic, and his pedantry is blamed; but he who thinks only of persons and of what happens to them is curious, and his disposition is condemned as trivial and prying. Peter's question was evidently regarded by our Lord in this la.tter light. IL THE MISCHIEF OF CURIOSITY. In two respects this mental habit is injurious. 1. There is a great danger of the curious man's attention being drawn away from what relates to himself and his own true welfare. 2. There is a further danger lest the curious man should yield to the temptation to indulge in gossip, and even in scandal. It is not easy to speculate much a.bout the circumstances and prospects of others with- out talking about their affairs, and surmising with regard to matters upon which we have no means of exact knowledge. III. 'lHE REBUKE A.ND CURE OF CURIOSITY. The language of the Lord Jesus was very emphatic and very just, 1. Let every man remember his own personal responsibility. "Follow thou me," sa.id Jesus to Peter. We are not accountable for our neighbours, but we are accountable for ourselves. 2. Let every man remember that the case of others is in the hands of Divine wisdom and beneficence. "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" said Jesus; i.e. fear not; he is cared for equally with thyself; e. good hand is over him, and he shall not be forsaken. There is often good reason for us to bear in mind the somewhat sharp but very needful rebuke of Christ, "What is that to thee? "-T. Ver. 23.-771e untrustworthiness of tradition. Tradition is the handing down from one person to another of what is not committed to writing. It is customary in those primitive societies where writing is unknown. It is practised also in communities more advanced in civilization, when there is some special reasun why it should be preferred to documentary preservation and transmission. That there was traditional tear-hing con- cerning our Lord's ministry is undoubted; and it has been disputed to what extent our Gospels embody such teaching. But this passage seeIDS to have been inserted here as if to remind us how carefully coming ages of the Church have been preserved from a fruitful source of error. J. THERE WERE PECULIAR REASONS WllY THE BAYING HEBE RECORDED SHOULD HA VE BEEN PRESERVED IN 1TB INTEGRITY. 1. In this case the saying concerning John was a saying of Christ e.nd as such might be supposed to be treasured with the greatest care and reverence'. 2. It was uttered in the hearing of the select friends of our Lord, who, if any could do so, would guard: it from co_rruption. 3•. T~e apostles of Christ must have been the reporters of this saymg to the~. fellow-Chr~stians. 4. Th~ person con- cerning whom the tradition went abroad was hvmg at the time that the Ill!srepresenta- tion was repeated. II. YET AN ALTOGETHER ERRONEOUS VERSION OF THIS SAYING WAS CURRENT IN THE EARLY CuuaoH. Although Jusus had simply said to Peter," If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" which might be simply a strong way of rebuking  522 THE GOSPEL AOCORDING TO ST, JOHN. [on, xx1. 1-26.