John 17:17-19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 17:17-19

The next thing he prayed for for them was that they might be sanctified; not only kept from evil, but made good. I. Here is the petition (John 17:17): Sanctify them through thy truth, through thy word, for thy word is truth; it is true?it is truth itself. He desires they may be sanctified, 1. As Christians. Father, make them holy, and this will be their preservation, 1 Thess. 5:23. Observe here, (1.) The grace desired?sanctification. The disciples were sanctified, for they were not of the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 17:9-19

17:9-19 "It is for them that I pray. It is not for the world that I pray, but for those whom you have given me because they are yours. All that I have is yours, and all that you have is mine. And through them glory has been given to me. I am no longer in the world and they are no longer in the world, and I go to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you gave to me, that they may be one, as we are one. When I was with them I kept them in your name, which you gave to me. I guarded... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 17:9-19

The great interest of this passage is that it tells us of the things for which Jesus prayed for his disciples. (i) The first essential is to note that Jesus did not pray that his disciples should be taken out of this world. He never prayed that they might find escape; he prayed that they might find victory. The kind of Christianity which buries itself in a monastery or a convent would not have seemed Christianity to Jesus at all. The kind of Christianity which finds its essence in prayer and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:17

Sanctify them through thy truth ,.... The Syriac version introduces this petition, with the appellation אבא , "Abba, Father": and the sanctification prayed for regards the apostles, either as ministers of the word, and may intend their separation for their work and office; for which though they were sanctified or separated from their mother's womb, and by Christ when he sent them forth, yet were to have a fresh commission and unction after our Lord's resurrection, and upon his ascension to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:18

As thou hast sent me into the world ,.... Which does not suppose inequality of nature, nor change of place, nor any force upon him, nor disrespect unto him, or a state of separation from his Father; but that he was before he was sent; that he was a person, a divine distinct person from his Father; and designs the manifestation of him in human nature; and shows, that as Mediator, he had a divine warrant and authority, and was no impostor: what he was sent into the world to do, was in general... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 17:19

And for their sakes I sanctify myself ,.... Which is to be understood, not of his making himself holy; for he never was a sinner, and so stood in no need of sanctification: he was made like unto us, yet without sin; he looked like a sinner, but was not one; he was traduced, charged, and treated as such, but was perfectly holy, and free from all sin; he was essentially and infinitely holy as God; and as man, he was holy in his conception and birth; he was filled with the Holy Ghost, and was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 17:17

Sanctify them - Ἁγιασον , from α , negative, and γη , the earth. This word has two meanings: It signifies to consecrate, to separate from earth and common use, and to devote or dedicate to God and his service. It signifies to make holy or pure. The prayer of Christ may be understood in both these senses. He prayed - That they might be fully consecrated to the work of the ministry, and separated from all worldly concerns. That they might be holy, and patterns of all holiness... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 17:18

As thou hast sent me - so have I also sent them - The apostles had the same commission which Christ had, considered as man - they were endued with the same Spirit, so that they could not err, and their word was accompanied with the same success. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 17:19

I sanctify myself - I consecrate and devote myself to death - that I may thereby purchase eternal salvation for them. There seems to be here an allusion to the entering of the high priest into the holy of holies, when, having offered the sacrifice, he sprinkled the blood before the ark of the covenant. So Jesus entered into the holiest of all by his own blood, in order to obtain everlasting redemption for men: see Hebrews 9:11-13 . The word, ἁγιαζω , to consecrate or sanctify, is used... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 17:17

Verse 17 17.Sanctify them by thy truth. This sanctification includes the kingdom of God and his righteousness; that is, when God renews us by his Spirit, and confirms in us the grace of renewal, and continues it to the end. He asks, first, therefore, that the Father would sanctify the disciples, or, in other words, that he would consecrate them entirely to himself, and defend them as his sacred inheritance. Next, he points out the means of sanctification, and not without reason; for there are... read more

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