Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
John Ch.12 / 21 Ch.s
JOH:12
* Christ anointed by Mary. (1-11) He enters Jerusalem. (12-19)
Greeks apply to see Jesus. (20-26) A voice from heaven bears
testimony to Christ. (27-33) His discourse with the people.
(34-36) Unbelief of the Jews. (37-43) Christ's address to them.
(44-50)
#1-11 Christ had formerly blamed Martha for being troubled with
much serving. But she did not leave off serving, as some, who
when found fault with for going too far in one way, peevishly
run too far another way; she still served, but within hearing of
Christ's gracious words. Mary gave a token of love to Christ,
who had given real tokens of his love to her and her family.
God's Anointed should be our Anointed. Has God poured on him the
oil of gladness above his fellows, let us pour on him the
ointment of our best affections. In Judas a foul sin is gilded
over with a plausible pretence. We must not think that those do
no acceptable service, who do it not in our way. The reigning
love of money is heart-theft. The grace of Christ puts kind
comments on pious words and actions, makes the best of what is
amiss, and the most of what is good. Opportunities are to be
improved; and those first and most vigorously, which are likely
to be the shortest. To consult to hinder the further effect of
the miracle, by putting Lazarus to death, is such wickedness,
malice, and folly, as cannot be explained, except by the
desperate enmity of the human heart against God. They resolved
that the man should die whom the Lord had raised to life. The
success of the gospel often makes wicked men so angry, that they
speak and act as if they hoped to obtain a victory over the
Almighty himself.
#12-19 Christ's riding in triumph to Jerusalem is recorded by
all the evangelists. Many excellent things, both in the word and
providence of God, disciples do not understand at their first
acquaintance with the things of God. The right understanding of
spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, prevents our misapplying
the Scriptures which speak of it.
#20-26 In attendance upon holy ordinances, particularly the
gospel passover, the great desire of our souls should be to see
Jesus; to see him as ours, to keep up communion with him, and
derive grace from him. The calling of the Gentiles magnified the
Redeemer. A corn of wheat yields no increase unless it is cast
into the ground. Thus Christ might have possessed his heavenly
glory alone, without becoming man. Or, after he had taken man's
nature, he might have entered heaven alone, by his own perfect
righteousness, without suffering or death; but then no sinner of
the human race could have been saved. The salvation of souls
hitherto, and henceforward to the end of time, is owing to the
dying of this Corn of wheat. Let us search whether Christ be in
us the hope of glory; let us beg him to make us indifferent to
the trifling concerns of this life, that we may serve the Lord
Jesus with a willing mind, and follow his holy example.
#27-33 The sin of our souls was the troubled of Christ's soul,
when he undertook to redeem and save us, and to make his soul an
offering for our sin. Christ was willing to suffer, yet prayed
to be saved from suffering. Prayer against trouble may well
agree with patience under it, and submission to the will of God
in it. Our Lord Jesus undertook to satisfy God's injured honour,
and he did it by humbling himself. The voice of the Father from
heaven, which had declared him to be his beloved Son, at his
baptism, and when he was transfigured, was heard proclaiming
that He had both glorified his name, and would glorify it.
Christ, reconciling the world to God by the merit of his death,
broke the power of death, and cast out Satan as a destroyer.
Christ, bringing the world to God by the doctrine of his cross,
broke the power of sin, and cast out Satan as a deceiver. The
soul that was at a distance from Christ, is brought to love him
and trust him. Jesus was now going to heaven, and he would draw
men's hearts to him thither. There is power in the death of
Christ to draw souls to him. We have heard from the gospel that
which exalts free grace, and we have heard also that which
enjoins duty; we must from the heart embrace both, and not
separate them.
#34-36 The people drew false notions from the Scriptures,
because they overlooked the prophecies that spoke of Christ's
sufferings and death. Our Lord warned them that the light would
not long continue with them, and exhorted them to walk in it,
before the darkness overtook them. Those who would walk in the
light must believe in it, and follow Christ's directions. But
those who have not faith, cannot behold what is set forth in
Jesus, lifted up on the cross, and must be strangers to its
influence as made known by the Holy Spirit; they find a thousand
objections to excuse their unbelief.
#37-43 Observe the method of conversion implied here. Sinners
are brought to see the reality of Divine things, and to have
some knowledge of them. To be converted, and truly turned from
sin to Christ, as their Happiness and Portion. God will heal
them, will justify and sanctify them; will pardon their sins,
which are as bleeding wounds, and mortify their corruptions,
which are as lurking diseases. See the power of the world in
smothering convictions, from regard to the applause or censure
of men. Love of the praise of men, as a by-end in that which is
good, will make a man a hypocrite when religion is in fashion,
and credit is to be got by it; and love of the praise of men, as
a base principle in that which is evil, will make a man an
apostate, when religion is in disgrace, and credit is to be lost
for it.
#44-50 Our Lord publicly proclaimed, that every one who believed
on him, as his true disciple, did not believe on him only, but
on the Father who sent him. Beholding in Jesus the glory of the
Father, we learn to obey, love, and trust in him. By daily
looking to Him, who came a Light into the world, we are more and
more freed from the darkness of ignorance, error, sin, and
misery; we learn that the command of God our Saviour is
everlasting life. But the same word will seal the condemnation
of all who despise it, or neglect it.