John 12:35-43

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 12:39

Therefore they could not believe ,.... God had determined to leave them to the blindness and hardness of their hearts, and to deny them his grace, which only could cure them of it, and enable them to believe: he had foretold this in prophecy, and they were manifestly the persons spoken of; and therefore considering the decrees of God, the predictions of the prophet, and the hardness of their hearts, they were left unto, it was morally impossible they should believe, because that Esaias... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 12:40

He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart ,.... It is of no great moment, whether the he, who is said to blind and harden, be God or Christ, or whether the words be rendered, "it hath blinded", &c.; that is, malice or wickedness; or whether they be read impersonally, "their eyes are blinded", &c.; since God or Christ blind and harden not by any positive act, but by leaving and giving men up to the blindness and hardness of their hearts, and denying them the grace which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 12:41

These things said Esaias ,.... Concerning the blinding and hardening of the Jews: when he saw his glory, and spake of him ; when he saw, in a visionary way, the glory of the Messiah in the temple, and the angels covering their faces with their wings at the sight of him; and when he spake of him as the King, the Lord of hosts, whom he had seen, Isaiah 6:1 , from whence it is clear that he had respect to the Jews in the times of the Messiah. The prophet says in Isaiah 6:1 that he "saw... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 12:42

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also ,.... These were the members of the Jewish sanhedrim, as Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and others: many believed on him ; that he was the Messiah, though they did not believe in him in a spiritual and saving manner, as their Redeemer and Saviour, only in their minds, being convicted by his miracles, gave an assent unto him, as the promised Messiah. The two persons just mentioned may be thought truly to have believed in Christ; but the many here... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 12:43

For they loved the praise of men ,.... To be in the esteem of men, to have their applause, and receive honour from them: more than the praise of God ; than either to receive honour from him, and be praised by him, or to praise and glorify him. By confessing Christ they knew they should run the risk of losing their places of honour and profit, and of falling under the disgrace and contempt of men; and therefore they chose rather not to confess Christ, than by so doing to glorify God, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:35

Yet a little while is the light with you - In answer to their objection, our Lord compares himself to a light, which was about to disappear for a short time, and afterwards to shine forth with more abundant lustre; but not to their comfort, if they continued to reject its present beamings. He exhorts them to follow this light while it was among them. The Christ shall abide for ever, it is true; but he will not always be visible. When he shall depart from you, ye shall be left in the thickest... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:36

Children of light - Let the light, the truth of Christ, so dwell in and work by you that ye may be all light in the Lord: that as truly as a child is the produce of his own parent, and partakes of his nature, so ye may be children of the light, having nothing in you but truth and righteousness. Did hide himself from them - Either by rendering himself invisible, or by suddenly mingling with the crowd, so that they could not perceive him. See John 8:59 . Probably it means no more than... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:37

Yet they believed not on him - Though the miracles were wrought for this very purpose, that they might believe in Christ, and escape the coming wrath, and every evidence given that Jesus was the Messiah, yet they did not believe; but they were blinded by their passions, and obstinately hardened their hearts against the truth. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:38

That the saying of Esaias - Or, Thus the word of Isaiah was fulfilled. So I think ἱνα (commonly rendered that) should be translated. For it certainly does not mean the end the Pharisees had in view by not believing; nor the end which the prophet had in view in predicting the incredulity of the Jews; but simply, such a thing was spoken by the prophet, concerning the Jews of his own time, and it had its literal fulfillment in those of our Lord's time. Our report - The testimony of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:39

Therefore they could not believe - Why? Because they did not believe the report of the prophets concerning Christ; therefore they credited not the miracles which he wrought as a proof that he was the person foretold by the prophets, and promised to their fathers. Having thus resisted the report of the prophets, and the evidence of Christ's own miracles, God gave them up to the darkness and hardness of their own hearts, so that they continued to reject every overture of Divine mercy; and God... read more

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