The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:1-50
III. CONSUMMATION OF THE PUBLIC MINISTRY . read more
III. CONSUMMATION OF THE PUBLIC MINISTRY . read more
The causes of Jewish unbelief. The evangelist now turns to the remarkable failure of the Messiah's work in Israel, and proceeds to account for it. I. THE UNBELIEF OF THE JEWS WAS INEXCUSABLE . "But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him." 1. It is implied that Jesus did many more miracles than the seven recorded in this Gospel . 2. The miracles were done "before them, " so as to leave them without this excuse of... read more
6. The reflections of the evangelist . read more
In order that the words of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who believed our report? or the message which the prophets have delivered—the prediction they made of a suffering and rejected Christ, of One who would "sprinkle many nations," and in the very "travail of his soul see his seed." To whom was the arm of the Lord revealed? It does not mean that no hearts responded to the appeal, that the voice from heaven fell on no susceptible ears; but that it is one of... read more
In these verses, however, a deeper difficulty still is involved. The διὰ τοῦτο ... ὅτι leave us no option (see John 7:21 , John 7:22 ) but to translate: For from this reason they were unable to believe (see other illustrations of the usage, John 5:18 ; John 8:47 ; John 10:17 ). There was a moral impossibility inherited by them through ages of rebellion and insensibility to Divine grace, and through their misuse of Divine revelation. The issue of it was, "'they could not... read more
There are several illustrations in this verse that the diction of the evangelist differs from that which he uses when recording the words of Christ. Thus ὅμως μέντοι is peculiar to John himself, and thus is an ἅπαξ λεγόμενον ; but μέντοι occurs five times in the style of John himself (see John 4:27 ; John 7:13 ; John 12:42 ; John 20:5 ; John 21:4 ), not once by our Lord. ὁμολογεῖν again is used four times by the evangelist, and seven times in the Epistles and... read more
The saying - The word of Isaiah, or that which Isaiah predicted. This occurs in Isaiah 53:1.Might be fulfilled - That the same effect should occur which occurred in the time of Isaiah. This does not mean that the Pharisees rejected Christ in order that the prophecy of Isaiah should be fulfilled, but that by their rejection of him the same thing had occurred which took place in the time of Isaiah. His message was despised by the nation, and he himself put to death. And it was also true - by the... read more
They could not believe - See Mark 6:5; “He could there do no mighty works,” etc. The works can and could are often used in the Bible to denote the existence of such obstacles as to make a result certain, or as affirming that while one thing exists another thing cannot follow. Thus, John 5:44; “How can ye believe which receive honor one of another.” That is, while this propensity to seek for honor exists, it will effectually prevent your believing. Thus Genesis 37:4 it is said of the brethren of... read more
He hath blinded their eyes - The expression in Isaiah is, “Go, make the heart of this people fat, and shut their eyes.” That is, go and proclaim truth to them truth that will result in blinding their eyes. Go and proclaim the law and the will of God, and the effect will be, owing to the hardness of their heart, that their eyes will be blinded and their hearts hardened. As God knew that this would be the result - as it was to be the effect of the message, his commanding Isaiah to go and proclaim... read more
John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:40
Verse 40 40.He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart. The passage is taken from Isaiah 6:9, where the Lord forewarns the prophet, that the labor which he spends in instructing will lead to no other result than to make the people worse. First then he says, Go, and tell this people, Hearing, hear and do not hear; as if he had said, “I send thee to speak to the deaf.” He afterwards adds, Harden the heart of this people, &c;. By these words he means, that he intends to make his word... read more