john-1:20-25-nlt

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:19-23

The Jewish deputation and the Baptist. Notice— I. THE DEPUTATION 'S QUESTION . "Who art thou?" This implies: 1 . That a spirit of inquiry trod been awakened. Whether from curiosity, officialism, or jealousy, it was there. It is better to be questioned from any motive than not to be questioned at all. It is better for the questioners themselves. That is a very dull age or person that asks no questions. Asking is the condition of receiving. It is better for the one... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:19-28

The second testimony of John the Baptist. A deputation, consisting of the priests and Levites from Jerusalem, the ecclesiastical centre of Judaism, visited the Baptist as he was baptizing disciples at Bethany beyond Jordan, for the purpose of ascertaining whether he was the Messiah or the forerunner, of ancient prophecy. The scene is interesting as the place where the first disciples were made and the foundation of the Christian Church laid. The interview occurred after the baptism and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:19-28

A disclaimer and a claim. When our Lord Jesus came into this world, he did not come as one isolated from the race he designed to save. He condescended to take his place—the most honourable place—in a long and illustrious succession. He superseded the last prophet of the old dispensation; he commissioned the first prophets of the new. The herald and forerunner of our Lord perfectly comprehended his own relation to his Master, and felt it a dignity to occupy a position of Divine appointment,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:19-34

2. The testimony of the Baptist. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:20

And he confessed, and denied not . Perhaps the double form of statement, or rather the introduction of the clause, "he denied not," before the repetition of the confession with its contents, was adopted to, indicate that John might have been tempted to "deny" that he was not the Christ. If he had hesitated at all, he would have denied the real Christ, the Son of God, who had been revealed to him by special means. I for my part —very emphatic— am £ not the Christ. This implies, not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:20-21

(1) He deflates his own position, negatively. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:21

And they asked him, What then? What is the state of the case? The very repudiation of Messiahship in this form seems to imply some association with the Messianic period of which they had so many conflicting ideas. Malachi ( Malachi 4:5 ) had predicted the coming again from heaven of Elijah the prophet, and the LXX ., by translating the passage "Elijah the Tishbite," had strengthened the common mistake of a metempsychosis, or such an abnormal manifestation before the coming of Messiah.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:22

They said therefore (note the demonstrative force of οὖν ) to him (as a consequence of his repeated threefold negative), Who art thou? Explain yourself, that we may give an answer to those who sent us (see note, John 20:21 , on the two verbs ἀποστέλλω and πέμπω ); What sayest thou concerning thyself? Our suppositions about thee are all repudiated one by one, hast thou any information to render to the supreme court of judicature? read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:22-23

(2) He defines his position, positively. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:23

He said, I am a voice crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet. This great utterance had been by the synoptists distinctly applied to the Baptist; here we have the origin of such application. The Baptist quoted from Isaiah 40:3 two sentences; the synoptists cite the whole passage, as finding abundant realization in the mission of John. The prophet felt that the work he had to perform entirely concealed the importance of his own personality. He... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:19-23

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:19-28

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:19-28

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:19-34

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:20

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:20-21

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:21

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:22

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:22-23

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:23

Group of Brands