John 5:3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 5:1-16

This miraculous cure is not recorded by any other of the evangelists, who confine themselves mostly to the miracles wrought in Galilee, but John relates those wrought at Jerusalem. Concerning this observe, I. The time when this cure was wrought: it was at a feast of the Jews, that is, the passover, for that was the most celebrated feast. Christ, though residing in Galilee, yet went up to Jerusalem at the feast, John 5:1. 1. Because it was an ordinance of God, which, as a subject, he would... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 5:1-9

5:1-9 After this there was a Feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, near the sheepgate, there is a bathing-pool with five porches, which was called in Hebrew, Bethzatha. In these porches there lay a crowd of people who were ill and blind and lame and whose limbs were withered [waiting expectantly for the moving of the water. For an angel of the Lord came down into the pool every now and then and disturbed the water; so the first person to go in after the disturbing... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 5:1-9

Certain scholars think this passage is an allegory. The man stands for the people of Israel. The five porches stand for the five books of the law. In the porches the people lay ill. The law could show a man his sin, but could never mend it; the law could uncover a man's weakness, but could never cure it. The law, like the porches, sheltered the sick soul but could never heal it. The thirty-eight years stand for the thirty-eight years in which the Jews wandered in the desert before they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 5:3

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk ,.... Sick and weak persons; who were an emblem of men under the law of works, and in a state of unregeneracy; who are enfeebled by sin, and are impotent and unable to do anything of themselves; as to keep the law of God, to which they have neither will nor power, and to atone for the transgressions of it; nor to redeem themselves from the curse of the law or to begin and carry on a work of grace upon their souls; or to do anything that is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 5:3

Blind, halt, withered - To these the Codex Bezae, three copies of the Itala, and both the Persic, add παραλυτικων , paralytic; but they are probably included among the withered. Waiting for the moving of the water - This clause, with the whole of the fourth verse, is wanting in some MSS. and versions; but I think there is no sufficient evidence against their authenticity. Griesbach seems to be of the same opinion; for though he has marked the whole passage with the notes of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 5:3

Verse 3 3.In these lay a great multitude. It is possible that diseased persons lay in the porches to ask alms when the people were passing there who were going into the temple to worship; and there, too, it was customary to purchase the beasts which were to be offered in sacrifice. Yet at each feast God cured a certain number, that, in this way, he might recommend the worship prescribed in the Law and the holiness of the temple. But might it not appear foolish to believe, while we read of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 5:1-9

(1) A sign on a paralyzed body and an unsusceptible soul. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 5:1-9

The cure of the impotent man. The scene changes once more to Jerusalem. There unbelief develops very rapidly, and. there is a foreshadowing of the dread reality: "It cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem." Jesus finds himself once more in the very focus of controversy. I. THE TIME OF THIS MIRACLE . "After these things there was a feast of the Jews." It is generally believed that this was the Feast of Purim. 1 . It was not one of the three great feasts. 2 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 5:1-9

The Help of the helpless. Here we have— I. JESUS ATTRACTED BY MISERY . Why was Jesus found at Bethesda? Because there were such misery and need. He was ever found where he was most wanted, and where he might do most good. He was not found in places of luxury, but in the haunts of misery. 1 . The misery was great. There was presented to the eye of Jesus there such pain, degradation, poverty, and misery, physical, mental, and moral, as could scarcely be described, and all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 5:1-47

1. Christ proved, by signs and wonders and testimonies, to be Source of life. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 5:1-16

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 5:1-9

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 5:1-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 5:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 5:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 5:3

The Pulpit Commentary - John 5:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - John 5:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - John 5:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - John 5:1-47

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