Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
John Ch.17 / 21 Ch.s
JOH:17
* Christ's prayer for himself. (1-5) His prayer for his
disciples. (6-10) His prayer. (11-26)
#1-5 Our Lord prayed as a man, and as the Mediator of his
people; yet he spoke with majesty and authority, as one with and
equal to the Father. Eternal life could not be given to
believers, unless Christ, their Surety, both glorified the
Father, and was glorified of him. This is the sinner's way to
eternal life, and when this knowledge shall be made perfect,
holiness and happiness will be fully enjoyed. The holiness and
happiness of the redeemed, are especially that glory of Christ,
and of his Father, which was the joy set before him, for which
he endured the cross and despised the shame; this glory was the
end of the sorrow of his soul, and in obtaining it he was fully
satisfied. Thus we are taught that our glorifying God is needed
as an evidence of our interest in Christ, through whom eternal
life is God's free gift.
#6-10. Christ prays for those that are his. Thou gavest them me,
as sheep to the shepherd, to be kept; as a patient to the
physician, to be cured; as children to a tutor, to be taught:
thus he will deliver up his charge. It is a great satisfaction
to us, in our reliance upon Christ, that he, all he is and has,
and all he said and did, all he is doing and will do, are of
God. Christ offered this prayer for his people alone as
believers; not for the world at large. Yet no one who desires to
come to the Father, and is conscious that he is unworthy to come
in his own name, need be discouraged by the Saviour's
declaration, for he is both able and willing to save to the
uttermost, all that come unto God by him. Earnest convictions
and desires, are hopeful tokens of a work already wrought in a
man; they begin to evidence that he has been chosen unto
salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of
the truth. They are thine; wilt thou not provide for thine own?
Wilt thou not secure them? Observe the foundation on which this
plea is grounded, All mine are thine, and thine are mine. This
speaks the Father and Son to be one. All mine are thine. The Son
owns none for his, that are not devoted to the service of the
Father.
#11-16 Christ does not pray that they might be rich and great in
the world, but that they might be kept from sin, strengthened
for their duty, and brought safe to heaven. The prosperity of
the soul is the best prosperity. He pleaded with his holy
Father, that he would keep them by his power and for his glory,
that they might be united in affection and labours, even
according to the union of the Father and the Son. He did not
pray that his disciples should be removed out of the world, that
they might escape the rage of men, for they had a great work to
do for the glory of God, and the benefit of mankind. But he
prayed that the Father would keep them from the evil, from being
corrupted by the world, the remains of sin in their hearts, and
from the power and craft of Satan. So that they might pass
through the world as through an enemy's country, as he had done.
They are not left here to pursue the same objects as the men
around them, but to glorify God, and to serve their generation.
The Spirit of God in true Christians is opposed to the spirit of
the world.
#17-19 Christ next prayed for the disciples, that they might not
only be kept from evil, but made good. It is the prayer of Jesus
for all that are his, that they may be made holy. Even disciples
must pray for sanctifying grace. The means of giving this grace
is, "through thy truth, thy word is truth." Sanctify them, set
them apart for thyself and thy service. Own them in the office;
let thy hand go with them. Jesus entirely devoted himself to his
undertaking, and all the parts of it, especially the offering up
himself without spot unto God, by the eternal Spirit. The real
holiness of all true Christians is the fruit of Christ's death,
by which the gift of the Holy Ghost was purchased; he gave
himself for his church, to sanctify it. If our views have not
this effect on us, they are not Divine truth, or we do not
receive them by a living and a working faith, but as mere
notions.
#20-23 Our Lord especially prayed, that all believers might be
as one body under one head, animated by one soul, by their union
with Christ and the Father in him, through the Holy Spirit
dwelling in them. The more they dispute about lesser things, the
more they throw doubts upon Christianity. Let us endeavour to
keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, praying that
all believers may be more and more united in one mind and one
judgment. Thus shall we convince the world of the truth and
excellence of our religion, and find more sweet communion with
God and his saints.
#24-26 Christ, as one with the Father, claimed on behalf of all
that had been given to him, and should in due time believe on
him, that they should be brought to heaven; and that there the
whole company of the redeemed might behold his glory as their
beloved Friend and Brother, and therein find happiness. He had
declared and would further declare the name or character of God,
by his doctrine and his Spirit, that, being one with him, the
love of the Father to him might abide with them also. Thus,
being joined to Him by one Spirit, they might be filled with all
the fulness of God, and enjoy a blessedness of which we can form
no right idea in our present state.