John 12:23-26

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 12:20-26

Honour is here paid to Christ by certain Greeks that enquired or him with respect. We are not told what day of Christ's last week this was, probably not the same day he rode into Jerusalem (for that day was taken up in public work), but a day or two after. I. We are told who they were that paid this honour to our Lord Jesus: Certain Greeks among the people who came up to worship at the feast, John 12:20. Some think they were Jews of the dispersion, some of the twelve tribes that were scattered... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 12:23-26

12:23-26 Jesus answered them: "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. This is the truth I tell you--unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains all by itself alone; but, if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life is losing it; and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone will serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there will my servants also be." Hardly any passage in the New Testament would... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 12:23-26

What was this amazing paradox which Jesus was teaching? He was saying three things, which are all variations of one central truth and all at the heart of the Christian faith and life. (i) He was saying that only by death comes life. The grain of wheat was ineffective and unfruitful so long as it was preserved, as it were, in safety and security. It was when it was thrown into the cold ground, and buried there as if in a tomb, that it bore fruit. It was by the death of the martyrs that the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 12:23

And Jesus answered them ,.... Not directly and particularly; he did not in plain terms signify what was his will, whether these Greeks should be admitted or not; and yet expressed himself in such a manner as shows he was not averse to it, but was pleased with it, and takes notice of it, as an evidence of the near approach of his glorification: saying, the hour is come, that the son of man should be glorified ; by rising from the dead, ascending to heaven, sitting at the right hand of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 12:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you ,.... This is a certain truth in nature, Christ was about to assert; and what he signifies by it would be a certain fact, and which he mentions, that his death might not be a stumbling block to his disciples, or any objection to his glorification; but was rather to be considered as a means of it, and necessary in order to it: except a corn of wheat fall into the ground ; or is sown in the earth; for sowing with the Jews is expressed by the falling of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 12:25

He that loveth his life shall lose it ,.... The sense is, that whoever is so in love with this present temporal life, as to be anxiously careful of it, and takes all precautions to secure it; and rather than to expose it to any danger, chooses to deny the faith of Christ, and desert his cause and interest; as such an one shall not long enjoy this life, so he shall come short of an eternal one: and he that hateth his life in this world : on the other hand, whoever seems careless about it,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 12:26

If any man serve, me ,.... Or is willing to be a servant of Christ, and to be esteemed as such; let him follow me ; as in the exercise of the graces of love, humility, patience, self-denial, and resignation of will to the will of God, and in the discharge of every duty, walking as he walked, so in a way of suffering; for as the master, so the servants, as the head, so the members, through many tribulations, must enter the kingdom; to which he encourages by the following things: and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:23

The hour is come, that the Son of man, etc. - The time is just at hand in which the Gospel shall be preached to all nations, the middle wall of partition broken down, and Jews and Gentiles united in one fold. But this could not be till after his death and resurrection, as the succeeding verse teaches. The disciples were the first fruits of the Jews; these Greeks, the first fruits of the Gentiles. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:24

Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die - Our Lord compares himself to a grain of wheat; his death, to a grain sown and decomposed in the ground; his resurrection, to the blade which springs up from the dead grain; which grain, thus dying, brings forth an abundance of fruit. I must die to be glorified; and, unless I am glorified, I can not establish a glorious Church of Jews and Gentiles upon earth. In comparing himself thus to a grain of wheat, our Lord shows us: - The cause... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:25

He that loveth his life - See on Matthew 10:39 ; (note); Luke 14:26 ; (note). I am about to give up my life for the salvation of men; but I shall speedily receive it back with everlasting honor, by my resurrection from the dead. In this I should be imitated by my disciples, who should, when called to it, lay down their lives for the truth; and, if they do, they shall receive them again with everlasting honor. read more

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