John 11:48

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 11:47-53

11:47-53 The chief priests and Pharisees assembled the Sanhedrin: "What are we going to do?" they said, "because this man does many signs. If we leave him alone like this, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and will take away our place and will destroy our nation." One of them, called Caiaphas, who was High Priest for that year, said to them: "You are witless creatures. You do not think it out that it is to our good that one man should die for the people, rather than that the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 11:48

If we let him thus alone ,.... Going about from place to place, teaching the people, and doing such miracles: all men will believe on him ; the whole nation will receive him as the Messiah, and proclaim him their king, and yield a cheerful obedience to all his commands: the Romans will come ; against us, with their powerful armies; interpreting the setting him up as Messiah, to be an instance of rebellion against Caesar, and his government: and take away both our place and nation ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 11:48

All men will believe on him - If we permit him to work but a few more miracles like these two last (the cure of the blind man, and the resurrection of Lazarus) he will be universally acknowledged for the Messiah; the people will proclaim him king; and the Romans, who can suffer no government here but their own, will be so irritated that they will send their armies against us, and destroy our temple, and utterly dissolve our civil and ecclesiastical existence. Thus, under the pretense of the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 11:48

Verse 48 48.If we let him alone thus. What if they do not let him alone ? In that case, as we have already said, they are fully convinced that it lies in their power to block up Christ’s path, so that he shall go no farther, provided that they earnestly strive against him. If Christ had been some impostor, their duty would have been to employ their exertions, that he might not lead away the sheep from the Lord’s flock; but by confessing his miracles, they make it sufficiently evident that they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 11:1-57

7. Christ the Antagonist of death—a victory of love and power . The narrative of this chapter is a further advance in the proof that the unbelief of the Jews was aggravated by the greatness of the revelation. The issue of his sublime and culminating act of power, of his supreme and self-revealing work of transcendent tenderness and beauty, was a deeper and wilder passion of hatred. The evangelist completes his series of seven great miracles with one that in true and believing minds,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 11:45-57

(4) The effect of the miracle (sign) upon the multitude and on the authorities . Their final resolve , and its bearing upon the great sacrifice of Calvary . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 11:46-53

Mistaken patriotism. I. THE FUNDAMENTAL MISAPPREHENSION . We must understand clearly the great and fundamental error that underlay all the animosity of the Pharisees and priests towards Jesus. To understand that error makes their relentless pursuit of Jesus more explicable. Jesus talked much of a kingdom, and what should the Pharisees take that to mean unless a visible kingdom—a kingdom the establishment of which must be contested and prevented by the Roman empire, tolerant, of no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 11:48

If we let him alone thus, as we have been doing hitherto—if we suffer him to do these things— all men will believe on him, and the Romans will come and take away from us, i . e . from the Sanhedrin, from the lawful rulers in all matters affecting religious order or privilege, our place —the city or temple— and the nation , which we rule through our subordinates and surrogates, but to accomplish which we shall prove our incompetence if we cannot keep down all insubordination and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 11:48

Selfishness blinds men to righteousness. It is sometimes brought, as an argument against man's intuitive perception of right, that there are always to be found those who act spontaneously and without remorse in defiance of the moral law. This argument would hold good were there no principles in man's nature which militate against righteousness. But the fact is that selfish and sinful passions, and considerations which become evil motives, come into play in the human breast. And just as it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 11:48-53

The decision of the Sanhedrin. The miracle at Bethany had still more momentous effects . I. THE MEETING OF THE SANHEDRIN . "Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What are we doing? for this Man doeth many miracles." 1. It was a conjunction of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, for the chief priests belonged to the Sadducean faction. A common danger engaged them in a common cause. 2. They frankly admitted, not only the Bethany... read more

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