Explanation of John 7
作者: Rev. John Clowes M.A.
Explaining the Inner Meaning of John 7
Verse 7:1. That the Lord has more delight in instructing the Gentiles, who are in the good of ignorance, than in instructing those of the perverted church, who are principled in self-love, because the love of the latter is opposed to his love.
Verse 7:2. For the Lord is always seeking the implantation of good in truth, and thus liberation of the church from evil.
Verses 7:3, 4. Nevertheless he is tempted by the affections of the natural man to make an external display of his omnipotence, by which both they who are of the church, and they who are not of the church, might be led to acknowledge him.
Verses 7:5, 6. But this suggestion is not influenced by divine truth, which teaches, that the state of the Lord, when he was in the world, differed from that of natural men, because he was always advancing, as to his humanity, towards union with the divine good in himself, whereas natural men are in the present possession of their good.
Verse 7:7. And therefore natural men are not sensible of opposition from the powers of evil, whereas the Lord, as to his humanity, felt the whole weight of that opposition, in consequence of making those powers manifest.
Verses 7:8, 9. On which account natural men are enjoined the use of representative worship, but not so the Lord, since the glorification of his humanity is the end of all representations, and therefore he remains with those who receive him according to that end.
Verse 7:10. At the same time he interiorly is in the good of that representative worship, which relates to the implantation of good in truth, and thus to the glorification of his humanity, but not exteriorly.
Verses 7:11, 12, 13. By which means he excites enquiry in the church concerning himself, which enquiry leads some to justify him, and some to condemn him, yet all are afraid to speak their sentiments, being over-awed by public opinion.
Verse 7:14. That from divine good, and consequent elevation into the light of divine truth, the Lord gives instruction.
Verse 7:15. The interior source of which instruction cannot be apprehended by the natural man.
Verse 7:16. Until he is taught, that the truth proceeding from the Lord's humanity is not of the humanity only, but of the divine good dwelling in it, and one with it.
Verse 7:17. And that therefore all, who live in conformity with that good, will be instructed as to the origin of truth.
Verse 7:18. Since self-love always gives birth to false principles, whilst divine and heavenly love gives birth to principles of truth and justice.
Verses 7:19, 20. Hence comes the Divine Word, which still is not obeyed, and therefore the Lord in his Divine Humanity is rejected, and his operation imputed to infernal agency, whilst they who reject him are not aware of the crime which they are committing.
Verses 7:21, 22, 23. Therefore they are taught, that since the Lord in his Divine Humanity had manifested, by their own confession, an operation more than human; and since on this account the Word, both in the Israelitish church, and in the ancient church, required purification from unclean loves, which requirement they fulfilled, as to its external representation, therefore out of regard to the Word, they ought not to oppose that humanity in its purpose of communicating spiritual life, which was represented by the Sabbath.
Verse 7:24. Neither ought they to form their judgement from truth alone, but from truth in conjunction with its good.
Verses 7:25, 26. That the opposition of the perverted church to the Lord in his Divine Humanity, was known to those who were principled in the doctrine of truth, and who thus, seeing the power of the divine truth over its adversaries, are led to enquire how far they, who are principled in knowledges, believe in that humanity.
Verse 7:27. Yet they are perplexed about the origin of that humanity, because they could not discern his divinity.
Verse 7:28. Therefore they are taught that the humanity was known, and also its origin, since it is not self-derived, but from the invisible and unknown divinity.
Verse 7:29. Yet the humanity knows the divinity, because it proceeds from the divinity.
Verse 7:30. That this doctrine excites violent opposition in will, but not in act, being restrained for the present by the Lord's divine providence.
Verse 7:31. Nevertheless, with those who are principled in truth, it excites faith in the Lord's humanity, the operation of which humanity is exalted by them above every other operation.
Verses 7:32, 33, 34. But this faith so excited tends only to increase the spirit of opposition amongst those of the perverted church, who are principled in self-love, and therefore they are taught, that the Lord's humanity will certainly be united with his divinity, on which occasion he cannot be approached by those who merely speculate about him, because they are destitute of the love and life in which he dwells.
Verses 7:35, 36. Still they who are principled in self-love are not able to comprehend what is meant by the union of the Lord's humanity with his divinity.
Verses 7:37, 38, 39. Therefore they are further instructed, that if they are desirous of attaining the knowledge of truth, they must receive from the Lord in his Divine Humanity the truths of doctrine and their faith, since hence comes spiritual intelligence of divine truth from the Lord, inasmuch as to impart such intelligence is the great purpose of the glorification of the Lord's humanity.
Verse 39, latter part. For spiritual intelligence of divine truth cannot be given but from divinity and humanity united in the one divine person of the Lord.
Verses 7:40, 41, 42, 43. That in consequence of this instruction, they, who are principled in truth, are led to acknowledge the Lord's humanity as the all of doctrine, and the all of truth, whilst others are perplexed about the divine origin of that humanity as taught in the Word.
Verse 7:44. Hence inclination is inwardly cherished to do violence to that humanity, but the power to do it is checked.
Verses 7:45, 46. And on enquiry how, it was checked, it is discovered, that the truth proceeding from that humanity was more than human, so that the simple could not resist it.
Verses 7:47, 48, 49. Therefore they, who are blinded by self-love, and who fancy themselves qualified by their superior learning to decide on what is true, or otherwise, condemn the simple as ignorant of the truth.
Verse 50, 51. Yet their own learning suggests the consideration that no one ought to be condemned, until it be first known whether he be guilty, and what his guilt is.
Verses 7:52, 53. But this consideration is over-ruled, as not applicable to the Lord's humanity and the doctrine which he taught, since no teacher of truth can be born out of the church, therefore all abide in their own ruling love and persuasions.
John 6
1
After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
2
And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
3
And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
4
And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
5
When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6
And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
7
Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
8
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
9
There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
10
And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11
And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
12
When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13
Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
14
Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
15
When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
16
And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
17
And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
18
And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
19
So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
20
But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
21
Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
22
The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;
23
(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
24
When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
25
And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26
Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28
Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30
They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
31
Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34
Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
36
But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39
And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
41
The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
42
And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
43
Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
46
Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
49
Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50
This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
52
The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57
As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58
This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
59
These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
60
Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
61
When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
62
What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
64
But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
70
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
71
He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
