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 19
1
He entered and was passing through Jericho.
2
There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.
3
He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn't because of the crowd, because he was short.
4
He ran on ahead, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way.
5
When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."
6
He hurried, came down, and received him joyfully.
7
When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, "He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner."
8
Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much."
9
Jesus said to him, "Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.
10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost."
11
As they heard these things, he went on and told a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the Kingdom of God would be revealed immediately.
12
He said therefore, "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13
He called ten servants of his, and gave them ten mina coins, and told them, 'Conduct business until I come.'
14
But his citizens hated him, and sent an envoy after him, saying, 'We don't want this man to reign over us.'
15
"It happened when he had come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by conducting business.
16
The first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.'
17
"He said to him, 'Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'
18
"The second came, saying, 'Your mina, Lord, has made five minas.'
19
"So he said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.'
20
Another came, saying, 'Lord, behold, your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief,
21
for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you didn't lay down, and reap that which you didn't sow.'
22
"He said to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn't lay down, and reaping that which I didn't sow.
23
Then why didn't you deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?'
24
He said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina away from him, and give it to him who has the ten minas.'
25
"They said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas!'
26
'For I tell you that to everyone who has, will more be given; but from him who doesn't have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.
27
But bring those enemies of mine who didn't want me to reign over them here, and kill them before me.'"
28
Having said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29
It happened, when he drew near to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the mountain that is called Olivet, he sent two of his disciples,
30
saying, "Go your way into the village on the other side, in which, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat. Untie it, and bring it.
31
If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say to him: 'The Lord needs it.'"
32
Those who were sent went away, and found things just as he had told them.
33
As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
34
They said, "The Lord needs it."
35
They brought it to Jesus. They threw their cloaks on the colt, and set Jesus on them.
36
As he went, they spread their cloaks in the way.
37
As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen,
38
saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!"
39
Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
40
He answered them, "I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out."
41
When he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it,
42
saying, "If you, even you, had known today the things which belong to your peace! But now, they are hidden from your eyes.
43
For the days will come on you, when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side,
44
and will dash you and your children within you to the ground. They will not leave in you one stone on another, because you didn't know the time of your visitation."
45
He entered into the temple, and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,
46
saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of robbers'!"
47
He was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people sought to destroy him.
48
They couldn't find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.
