John 3:21

doeth truth Or, as in 1 John 1:6, doeth the truth, the opposite of -doing" or -making a lie," Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:15. It is moral rather than intellectual truth that is meant. To -do the truth" is to do that which is true to the moral law (comp. John 8:32), that which has true moral worth, as opposed to -practising worthless things." In 1 Corinthians 13:6 we have a similar antithesis: -rejoicing with the truth" is opposed to -rejoicing in iniquity."

that his deeds may be made manifest -His" is emphatic, - hisdeeds" as opposed to those of him that doeth evil. -Be made manifest" balances -be reproved." The one fears to be convicted; the other courts the light, not for self-glorification, but as loving that to which he feels his works are akin. See on John 1:31.

wrought in God Better, have been wrought in God. This is his reason for wishing them to be made manifest; it is a manifestation of something divine. The Greek for - thatthey are" may mean - becausethey are."

These three verses (19 21) shew that beforethe Incarnation there were two classes of men in the world; a majority of evil-doers, whose antecedents led them to shun the Messiah; and a small minority of righteous, whose antecedents led them to welcome the Messiah. They had been given to Him by the Father (John 6:37; John 17:6); they recognised His teaching as of God, because they desired to do God's will (John 7:17). Such would be Simeon, Anna (Luke 2:25; Luke 2:36), Nathanael, the disciples, &c.

We have no means of knowing how Nicodemus was affected by this interview, beyond the incidental notices of him John 7:50-51; John 19:39, which being so incidental shew that he is no fiction.