John 11:19-27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 11:24

Martha saith unto him ,.... Being desirous of knowing the sense and meaning of Christ, as well as to express her own faith; I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection, at the last day . The Jews were divided about the doctrine of the resurrection, the Sadducees denied it, the Pharisees asserted it; and on this latter side was Martha; she believed there would be a resurrection of the dead; that this would be at the last day, or at the end of the world; and that her brother would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 11:25

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life ,.... Signifying, that he was able of himself to raise men from death to life, without asking it of his Father; and that he could do it now, as well as at the general resurrection; at which time Christ will be the efficient cause of it; and which will display both his omniscience and his omnipotence; as his resurrection is the earnest and pledge, and will be the model and exemplar of it. This is true of Christ, with regard to a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 11:26

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me ,..... Whoever will be found alive at Christ's second coming, and is a believer in him, shall never die , but shall be changed, and shall be for ever with Christ; and such as shall be raised to life by him, shall never die any more, not even a bodily death, and much less an eternal one, or the second death: and though believers die a corporeal death as others do, yet their souls live, and live in happiness, whilst their bodies are under the power... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 11:27

She saith unto him, yea, Lord ,.... That is, she firmly believed all that he said concerning himself, and the happiness of those that believed in him: and for the confirmation of it adds, I believe : or "I have believed", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; that is, long ago, ever since she knew him: that thou art the Christ the Son of God, which should come into the world ; that he was the true Messiah, and the proper and natural Son of God, of the same nature with God, equal... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 11:19

Many of the Jews came - Bethany being so nigh to Jerusalem, many of the relatives and friends of the family came, according to the Jewish custom, to mourn with the afflicted sisters. Mourning, among the Jews, lasted about thirty days: the three first days were termed days of weeping: then followed seven of lamentation. During the three days, the mourner did no servile work; and, if any one saluted him, he did not return the salutation. During the seven days, he did no servile work, except in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 11:20

Martha - went and met him - Some suppose she was the eldest of the two sisters - she seems to have had the management of the house. See Luke 10:40 . Mary sat still in the house - It is likely that by this circumstance the evangelist intended to convey the idea of her sorrow and distress; because anciently afflicted persons were accustomed to put themselves in this posture, as expressive of their distress; their grief having rendered them as it were immovable. See Ezra 9:3 , Ezra 9:4... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 11:21

If thou hadst been here, my brother had not died - Mary said the same words to him a little after, John 11:32 , which proves that these sisters had not a complete knowledge of the omnipotence of Christ: they thought he could cure at hand, but not at a distance; or they thought that it was because he did not know of their brother's indisposition that he permitted him to die. In either of these cases it plainly appears they had not a proper notion of his divinity; and indeed the following... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 11:22

I know, that even now - She durst not ask so great a favor in direct terms; she only intimated modestly that she knew he could do it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 11:23

Thy brother shall rise again - That is, directly; for it was by raising him immediately from the dead that he intended to comfort her. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 11:24

I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection - The doctrine of the resurrection of the dead was then commonly received; and though it was our Lord who fully exemplified it by his own resurrection, yet the opinion was common, not only among God's people, but among all those who believed in the God of Israel. The Jewish writings after the captivity are full of this doctrine. See 2 Maccabees 7:9, 14, 23, 36; 12:43; 14:46; Wis. 5:1, 7, 17; 6:6, 7. See also Josephus and the Targums,... read more

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