John 11:1-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 11:1-16

We have in these verses, I. A particular account of the parties principally concerned in this story, John 11:1, 2. 1. They lived at Bethany, a village nor far from Jerusalem, where Christ usually lodged when he came up to the feasts. It is here called the town of Mary and Martha, that is, the town where they dwelt, as Bethsaida is called the city of Andrew and Peter, John 1:44. For I see no reason to think, as some do, that Martha and Mary were owners of the town, and the rest were their... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 11:1-5

11:1-5 There was a man Lazarus, who came from Bethany from the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived, and he was ill. It was Mary who had anointed the Lord with perfumed ointment, and who had wiped his feet with her hair, and it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus. "Lord," they said, "See! The one you love is ill." When Jesus heard the message, he said: "This illness is not going to prove fatal; rather it has happened for the sake of the glory... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 11:1-44

We have tried to expound the raising of Lazarus simply as the story stands written. But we can not evade the fact that of all the miracles of Jesus this presents the greatest problem. Let us honestly face the difficulties. (i) In the other three gospels there are accounts of people being raised from the dead. There is the story of the raising of Jairus' daughter ( Matthew 9:18-26 ; Mark 5:21-43 ; Luke 8:40-56 ). There is the story of the raising of the widow's son at Nain ( Luke... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 11:1

Now a certain man was sick ,.... Very likely of a fever; Nonnus calls it a morbid fire, a hot and burning disease: named Lazarus of Bethany ; for his name, which the Ethiopic version reads "Eleazar", and the Persic version "Gazarus", See Gill on Luke 16:24 ; and for the place Bethany; see Gill on Matthew 21:1 , See Gill on Matthew 21:17 . The town of Mary and her sister Martha ; where they were both born, as well as Lazarus, or at least where they dwelt; of the former, some... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 11:2

It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment ,.... Not the woman in Luke 7:37 , as some have thought, whose name is not mentioned, and which history is not related by John at all: but Mary in John 12:3 , who is both mentioned by name, and along with Lazarus her brother, and with whom all the circumstances of the affair suit; and though the fact was not yet done, yet John writing many years after it was done, and when it was well known, proleptically, and in a parenthesis,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 11:3

Therefore his sisters sent unto him ,.... Both the sisters of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, sent to Jesus; they did not go themselves, being women, and the place where Jesus was, was at some distance; and besides, it was necessary they should abide at home, to attend their brother in his sickness, and therefore they sent a messenger, or messengers to Christ, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick ; for it seems that Lazarus was in a very singular manner loved by Christ, as man, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 11:4

When Jesus heard that ,.... That his friend Lazarus was sick, he said ; either to his disciples, or to the messenger or messengers that brought the account to him, and that on purpose to yield some relief to the afflicted family when it should be reported to them: this sickness is not unto death ; it was to issue in death, but not in death which was to continue, or under which Lazarus was to continue till the general resurrection; for though he should die, yet he should be so quickly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 11:5

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. Not only with an everlasting love, a love of complacency and delight, an unchangeable one, and which never varies, nor will ever end, with which he loves all his people alike; but with a very great human affection, and which was very singular and peculiar to them: these were the intimate friends, and familiar acquaintance of Christ, whom he often visited, at whose house he frequently was when in those parts; they were very hospitable to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 11:1

Lazarus, of Bethany - St. John, who seldom relates any thing but what the other evangelists have omitted, does not tell us what gave rise to that familiar acquaintance and friendship that subsisted between our Lord and this family. It is surprising that the other evangelists have omitted so remarkable an account as this is, in which some of the finest traits in our Lord's character are exhibited. The conjecture of Grotius has a good deal of weight. He thinks that the other three evangelists... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 11:2

It was that Mary which anointed - There is much disagreement between learned men relative to the two anointings of our Lord, and the persons who performed these acts. The various conjectures concerning these points the reader will find in the notes on Matthew 26:7 , etc., but particularly at the end of that chapter. Dr. Lightfoot inquires, Why should Bethany be called the town of Martha and Mary, and not of Lazarus? And he thinks the reason is, that Martha and Mary had been well known by... read more

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