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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 3

In this chapter we have, I. Christ's discourse with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, concerning the great mysteries of the gospel, in which he here privately instructs him, John 3:1-21. II. John Baptist's discourse with his disciples concerning Christ, upon occasion of his coming into the neighbourhood where John was (John 3:22-36), in which he fairly and faithfully resigns all his honour and interest to him. read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 3:22-36

In these verses we have, I. Christ's removal into the land of Judea (John 3:22), and there he tarried with his disciples. Observe, 1. Our Lord Jesus, after he entered upon his public work, travelled much, and removed often, as the patriarchs in their sojournings. As it was a good part of his humiliation that he had no certain dwelling-place, but was, as Paul, in journeyings often, so it was an instance of his unwearied industry, in the work for which he came into the world, that he went about... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:1-6

3:1-6 There was a man who was one of the Pharisees who was called Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him: "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do the signs which you do unless God is with him." Jesus answered him: "This is the truth I tell you--unless a man is reborn from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him: "How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he cannot enter into his mother's womb... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:1-6

When John relates conversations that Jesus had with enquirers, he has a way of following a certain scheme. We see that scheme very clearly here. The enquirer says something ( John 3:2 ). Jesus answers in a saying that is hard to understand ( John 3:3 ). That saying is misunderstood by the enquirer ( John 3:4 ). Jesus answers with a saying that is even more difficult to understand ( John 3:5 ). And then there follows a discourse and an explanation. John uses this method in order that we... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:1-6

Let us start with the kingdom of heaven. What does it mean? We get our best definition of it from the Lord's Prayer. There are two petitions side by side: Thy Kingdom come: Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. It is characteristic of Jewish style to say things twice, the second way explaining and amplifying the first. Any verse of the Psalms will show us this Jewish habit of what is technically known as parallelism: The Lord of hosts is with us: The God of Jacob is... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:7-13

3:7-13 Do not be surprised that I said to you: "You must be reborn from above. The wind blows where it will, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes and whither it goes. So is every one that is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus answered: "How can these things happen?" Jesus answered: "Are you the man whom everyone regards as the teacher of Israel, and you do not understand these things? This is the truth I tell you--we speak what we know, and we bear witness to what we... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:14-15

3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who believes in him may have eternal life. John goes back to a strange Old Testament story which is told in Numbers 21:4-9 . On their journey through the wilderness the people of Israel murmured and complained and regretted that they had ever left Egypt. To punish them God sent a plague of deadly, fiery serpents; the people repented and cried for mercy. God instructed Moses... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:16

3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that every one who believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. All great men have had their favourite texts; but this has been called "Everybody's text." Herein for every simple heart is the very essence of the gospel. This text tells us certain great things. (i) It tells us that the initiative in all salvation lies with God. Sometimes Christianity is presented in such a way that it sounds as if God had to be... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:17-21

3:17-21 For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe already stands condemned. And this is the reason of this condemnation--the light came into the world and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil. Every one of whose deeds are depraved hates the light, and does not come to the light, but his deeds stand convicted. But he who... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:22-30

3:22-30 After these things Jesus and his disciples went to the district of Judaea. He spent some time there with them, and he was baptizing; and John was baptizing at Ainon, near Salem, because there was much water there. The people kept coming to him and being baptized, for John had not yet been thrown into prison. A discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew about the matter of cleansing. So they came to John and said to him: "Rabbi, look now! The man who was with you on... read more

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