John 17:17-20 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 17:17-19

The next thing he prayed for for them was that they might be sanctified; not only kept from evil, but made good. I. Here is the petition (John 17:17): Sanctify them through thy truth, through thy word, for thy word is truth; it is true?it is truth itself. He desires they may be sanctified, 1. As Christians. Father, make them holy, and this will be their preservation, 1 Thess. 5:23. Observe here, (1.) The grace desired?sanctification. The disciples were sanctified, for they were not of the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 17:20-23

Next to their purity he prays for their unity; for the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable; and amity is amiable indeed when it is like the ointment on Aaron's holy head, and the dew on Zion's holy hill. Observe, I. Who are included in this prayer (John 17:20): ?Not these only, not these only that are now my disciples? (the eleven, the seventy, with others, men and women that followed him when he was here on earth), ?but for those also who shall believe on me through their word,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 17:9-19

17:9-19 "It is for them that I pray. It is not for the world that I pray, but for those whom you have given me because they are yours. All that I have is yours, and all that you have is mine. And through them glory has been given to me. I am no longer in the world and they are no longer in the world, and I go to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you gave to me, that they may be one, as we are one. When I was with them I kept them in your name, which you gave to me. I guarded... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 17:9-19

The great interest of this passage is that it tells us of the things for which Jesus prayed for his disciples. (i) The first essential is to note that Jesus did not pray that his disciples should be taken out of this world. He never prayed that they might find escape; he prayed that they might find victory. The kind of Christianity which buries itself in a monastery or a convent would not have seemed Christianity to Jesus at all. The kind of Christianity which finds its essence in prayer and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 17:20-21

17:20-21 "It is not only for these that I pray, but also for those who are going to believe in their word of testimony to me. And my prayer is that they may all be one, even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, so that they may be in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me." Gradually in this section Jesus' prayer has been going out to the ends of the earth. First, he prayed for himself as the Cross faced him. Second, he prayed for his disciples, and for God's keeping... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:17

Sanctify them through thy truth ,.... The Syriac version introduces this petition, with the appellation אבא , "Abba, Father": and the sanctification prayed for regards the apostles, either as ministers of the word, and may intend their separation for their work and office; for which though they were sanctified or separated from their mother's womb, and by Christ when he sent them forth, yet were to have a fresh commission and unction after our Lord's resurrection, and upon his ascension to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:18

As thou hast sent me into the world ,.... Which does not suppose inequality of nature, nor change of place, nor any force upon him, nor disrespect unto him, or a state of separation from his Father; but that he was before he was sent; that he was a person, a divine distinct person from his Father; and designs the manifestation of him in human nature; and shows, that as Mediator, he had a divine warrant and authority, and was no impostor: what he was sent into the world to do, was in general... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:19

And for their sakes I sanctify myself ,.... Which is to be understood, not of his making himself holy; for he never was a sinner, and so stood in no need of sanctification: he was made like unto us, yet without sin; he looked like a sinner, but was not one; he was traduced, charged, and treated as such, but was perfectly holy, and free from all sin; he was essentially and infinitely holy as God; and as man, he was holy in his conception and birth; he was filled with the Holy Ghost, and was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:20

Neither pray I for these alone ,.... Meaning his immediate apostles and disciples, for whose preservation and sanctification he had been particularly praying in John 17:19 ; and now, that it might not be thought that these were his only favourites, and the only persons he had a regard for, and to whom his intercession and sacrifice were confined; he adds, but for them also which shall believe in me through their word : Christ is the object of true faith; which faith is not a mere... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 17:17

Sanctify them - Ἁγιασον , from α , negative, and γη , the earth. This word has two meanings: It signifies to consecrate, to separate from earth and common use, and to devote or dedicate to God and his service. It signifies to make holy or pure. The prayer of Christ may be understood in both these senses. He prayed - That they might be fully consecrated to the work of the ministry, and separated from all worldly concerns. That they might be holy, and patterns of all holiness... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 17:17-19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 17:20-23

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 17:9-19

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 17:9-19

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 17:20-21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 17:17

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