John 14:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 14:4-11

Christ, having set the happiness of heaven before them as the end, here shows them himself as the way to it, and tells them that they were better acquainted both with the end they were to aim at and with the way they were to walk in than they thought they were: You know, that is, 1. ?You may know; it is none of the secret things which belong not to you, but one of the things revealed; you need not ascend into heaven, nor go down into the deep, for the word is nigh you (Rom. 10:6-8), level to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 14:4-6

14:4-6 "And you know the way to where I go." Thomas said to him: "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How do we know the way?" Jesus said to him: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Again and again Jesus had told his disciples where he was going, but somehow they had never understood. "Yet a little while I am with you," he said, "and then I go to him that sent me" ( John 7:33 ). He had told them that he was going to the Father who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 14:5

Thomas saith unto him, Lord ,.... Who was one of his apostles, and here betrays his ignorance, as elsewhere his unbelief; and not only speaks for himself, but for the rest of the apostles, of whom he judged by himself; and who, it may be, might understand things better than himself, though their knowledge at present was but small: we know not whither thou goest ; though he had but just told them of his Father's house, and of his going to prepare a place for them: and how can we know... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 14:5

Lord, we know not - Thomas, perhaps, thought that our Lord only spoke of his going some distance from the place where he then was. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 14:5

Verse 5 5.Thomas saith to him. Though, at first sight, the reply of Thomas appears to contradict what Christ had said, yet he did not intend to give the lie to his Master. But it may be asked, In what sense does he deny what Christ asserted? I reply, the knowledge possessed by the saints is sometimes confused, because they do not understand the manner or the reason of those things which are certain, and which have been explained to them. For example, the Prophets foretold the calling of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 14:4-6

The way to God. The course of the conversation here is not hard to follow. First, there is the assertion of Jesus, following upon his revelation of the heavenly dwelling-places, that his disciples knew well the road he was about to travel. He had often of late spoken of his approaching departure from this world, and even of the manner of it. Secondly, there is the difficulty, started by Thomas, that they knew not the goal, and therefore could not know the path by which it should be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 14:5

Thomas —true to the character elsewhere attributed to him in this Gospel, of anxious, intellectual striving after truth and reality, with a certain despondency and morbid fear of issues which he could not grasp, and yet with a great love to his Master— saith to him, We know not whither thou goest ; i.e. we are still in vague perplexity. "Whither? oh, whither?" Art thou going to the dispersed among the Gentiles? Art thou going to restore the kingdom to Israel? Thou art to be "lifted up;"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 14:5-7

(4) The question of Thomas , eliciting from Christ that he was going to the Father , and that his death was their " way " as well as his own way thither . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 14:5-7

Thomas's questioning. It turned upon the ability of Christ to bring the disciples to the end of the way. I. THOMAS 'S OBSCURITIES . " Lord , we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way?" 1. He imagined that the Messiah ' s reign was to be on earth . Where, then, could be the royal home to which the Messiah was about to depart, and into which he was to gather his saints? 2. The question illustrates the peculiar temper of a disciple who is not... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 14:5

We know not whither thou goest - Though Jesus had so often told them of his approaching death and resurrection, yet it seems they did not understand him, nor did they fully comprehend him until after his resurrection. See Luke 24:21. They entertained the common notions of a temporal kingdom; they supposed still that he was to be an earthly prince and leader, and they did not comprehend the reason why he should die. Thomas confessed his ignorance, and the Saviour again patiently explained his... read more

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