Explanation of John 3
By Rev. John Clowes M.A.
Explaining the Inner Meaning of John 3
Verses 3:1, 2. That some in the perverted church, in consequence of the miracles which the Lord worked, seek conjunction with him, and acknowledge his doctrine to be divine.
Verse 3:3. To whom it is taught, that man cannot attain any perception of heavenly good and truth, except by regeneration.
Verses 3:4, 5. This however is understood by those of the perverted church, according to a natural idea, and not according to a spiritual idea, and therefore they are further instructed, that regeneration is effected by a reception of the truths of faith in man's understanding, and by a love and life in conformity with those truths.
Verses 3:6, 7. Because man is at first born merely natural, but has the capacity of afterwards becoming spiritual, by a life according to truths derived from the Word, and therefore he ought not to regard regeneration as a strange, or irrational operation.
Verse 3:8. Yet that scarcely any of the innumerable arcana of regeneration come to the knowledge and perception of man.
Verses 3:9, 10. This cannot be comprehended by those of the perverted church, who are in the knowledges of external truth, when yet those knowledges ought to have conducted them to the apprehension of internal truth.
Verses 3:11, 12. For the literal or external sense of the Word proceeds from, and is filled with, the interior things of the divine truth and wisdom, which things are rejected by those who remain in the love of mere natural things, and who, on that account, cannot comprehend celestial and spiritual things.
Verse 3:13. For celestial and spiritual things can only be comprehended by those who receive into their minds and lives the divine truth, inasmuch as the divine truth alone comes down from heaven, and therefore is alone capable of elevating any into the things of heaven.
Verses 3:14, 15. That this divine truth therefore assumed a sensual corporeal principle here on earth, to the intent that sensual corporeal men might have a divine object of faith presented to them, and being thus elevated to conjunction with that object, might be preserved from the defilement and death of merely sensual and corporeal life.
Verse 3:16. That this was effected from the divine love, to the intent that mankind might no longer continue immersed in mere natural love, but might be raised into the sphere of celestial and spiritual love.
Verses 3:17, 18. Wherefore God assumed the Human [nature] to the intent that mankind might conjoin goodness and truth in their minds and lives, since a right faith in the Divine Humanity of the Lord leads to such conjunction, whereas a want of that faith leads to separation.
Verses 3:19, 20. For the Divine Humanity of the Lord is divine truth, and if divine truth be rejected in consequence of evil love, then nothing appertains to man but the false principle of evil.
Verse 3:21. On the other hand, if divine truth be loved and obeyed, man is conducted to the Lord's Divine Humanity, because he is willing to acknowledge that all the good which he wills and does is from that divine source.
Verses 3:22, 23, 24. That when the Lord had finished these sayings, he instructs the perverted church in the truths of purification, which truths also were taught in abundance by those who were principled in charity and faith, whilst they were in a state of freedom.
Verses 3:25, 26, 27. Nevertheless these truths are received with doubt by those of the perverted church, and therefore it is taught that all purifying truth is from the Divine Truth, and thus that all wisdom, intelligence, reason, and science, are not of man, but of the Lord in his Divine Humanity.
Verses 3:28, 29. And that the design of all representative truth is only to prepare mankind for the reception of the Divine Truth, that thus good and truth may be conjoined in the church, and the church may rejoice in being instructed concerning the precepts of faith, and in receiving them in faith and obedience.
Verses 3:30, 31. Thus the Divine Truth becomes all in all in the church, as being inmost truth, and all other good and truth only administer externally.
Verses 3:32, 33. For the Divine Truth testifies concerning the Lord, both as to his divine wisdom and divine love, and notwithstanding its being rejected by the generality of mankind, brings conviction along with it to those who receive it.
Verses 3:34, 35. Which truth is from the Lord's Divine Humanity, whose intelligence and wisdom are infinite, being in eternal union with the divine good, and thus possessing the all of that good.
Verse 3:36. Whosoever therefore receives truth from that Divine Humanity with a right faith, is made partaker also of the divine good, but whoever rejects it, can have no apprehension of that good, but remains in his own natural evils.
Luke 18
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He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,
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saying, "There was a judge in a certain city who didn't fear God, and didn't respect man.
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A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, 'Defend me from my adversary!'
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He wouldn't for a while, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God, nor respect man,
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yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"
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The Lord said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.
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Won't God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
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I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
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He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.
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"Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
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The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
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I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.'
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But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'
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I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
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They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
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Jesus summoned them, saying, "Allow the little children to come to me, and don't hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
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Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it."
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A certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
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Jesus asked him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one--God.
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You know the commandments: 'Don't commit adultery,' 'Don't murder,' 'Don't steal,' 'Don't give false testimony,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"
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He said, "I have observed all these things from my youth up."
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When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me."
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But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich.
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Jesus, seeing that he became very sad, said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!
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For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."
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Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"
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But he said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
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Peter said, "Look, we have left everything, and followed you."
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He said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the Kingdom of God's sake,
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who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life."
31
He took the twelve aside, and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.
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For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.
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They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again."
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They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn't understand the things that were said.
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It happened, as he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
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Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
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They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
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He cried out, "Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!"
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Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "You son of David, have mercy on me!"
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Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,
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"What do you want me to do?" He said, "Lord, that I may see again."
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Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."
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Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.
