THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER - See the notes at Matthew 26:2, Matthew 26:17. HIS HOUR WAS COME - The hour appointed in the purpose of God for him to die, John 12:27. HAVING LOVED HIS OWN - Having given to them decisive and constant proofs of his love. This was done by his calling them to follow him;... [ Continue Reading ]
SUPPER BEING ENDED - This translation expresses too much. The original means while they were at supper; and that this is the meaning is clear from the fact that we find them still eating after this. The Arabic and Persic translations give it this meaning. The Latin Vulgate renders it like the Englis... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS KNOWING ... - With the full understanding of his dignity and elevation of character, he yet condescended to wash their feet. The evangelist introduces his washing their feet by saying that he was fully conscious of his elevation above them, as being intrusted with all things, and this made his... [ Continue Reading ]
HE RISETH FROM SUPPER - Evidently while they were eating. See John 13:2. LAID ASIDE HIS GARMENTS - His outer garment. See the notes at Matthew 5:40. This was his mantle or robe, which is said to have been without seam. It was customary to lay this aside when they worked or ran, or in the heat of su... [ Continue Reading ]
BEGAN TO WASH ... - It was uniformly the office of a servant to wash the feet of guests, 1 Samuel 25:41. It became a matter of necessity where they traveled without shoes, and where they reclined on couches at meals. It should be remembered here that the disciples were not sitting at the table, as w... [ Continue Reading ]
DOST THOU WASH MY FEET? - Every word here is emphatic. Dost thou - the Son of God, the Messiah - perform the humble office of a servant - toward me, a sinner? This was an expression of Peter’s humility, of his reverence for Jesus, and also a refusal to allow him to do it. It is possible, though not... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU KNOWEST NOT NOW - Though he saw the action of Jesus, yet he did not fully understand the design of it. It was a symbolical action, inculcating a lesson of humility, and intended to teach it to them in such a manner that it would be impossible for them ever to forget it. Had he simply commanded... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NEVER WASH MY FEET - This was a decided and firm expression of his reverence for his Master, and yet it was improper. Jesus had just declared that it had a meaning, and that he ought to submit to it. We should yield to all the plain and positive requirements of God, even if we cannot now... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT MY FEET ONLY ... - Peter, with characteristic readiness and ardor, saw now that everything depended on this. His whole salvation, the entire question of his attachment to his Master, was involved. If to refuse to have his feet washed was to be regarded as evidence that he had no part with Jesus,... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS WASHED - This is a difficult passage, and interpreters have been divided about its meaning. Some have supposed that it was customary to bathe before eating the paschal supper, and that the apostles did it; Jesus having said, “he that hath bathed his body is clean except in regard to his f... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SHOULD BETRAY HIM - Greek: “He knew him who was about to betray him.”... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW YE WHAT ... - Do you know the meaning or design of what I have done unto you?... [ Continue Reading ]
YE CALL ME MASTER - Teacher. AND LORD - This word is applied to one who rules, and is often given to God as being the Proprietor and Ruler of all things. It is given to Christ many hundred times in the New Testament. YE SAY WELL ... - Matthew 23:8, Matthew 23:10. SO I AM - That is, he was their T... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ALSO OUGHT TO WASH ... - Some have understood this literally as instituting a religious rite which we ought to observe; but this was evidently not the design; because: * There is no evidence that Jesus intended it as a religious observance, like the Lord’s Supper or the ordinance of baptism.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SERVANT IS NOT ... - This was universally true, and this they were to remember always, that they were to manifest the same spirit that he did, and that they were to expect the same treatment from the world. See the notes at Matthew 10:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
I SPEAK NOT OF YOU ALL - That is, in addressing you as clean, I do not mean to say that you all possess this character. I KNOW WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN - He here means evidently to say that he had not chosen them all, implying that Judas had not been chosen. As, however, this word is applied to Judas in o... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW I TELL YOU BEFORE IT COME ... - They would see by that that he had a knowledge of the heart and the power of foretelling future events, and must therefore have been sent by God. This does not imply that they had no faith before this, but that their faith would be increased and strengthened by it... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT RECEIVETH ... - This sentiment is found in the instructions which Jesus gave to his disciples in Matthew 10:40. Why he repeats it at this time cannot now be known. It is certain that it is not closely connected with the subject of his conversation. Perhaps, however, it was to show how intima... [ Continue Reading ]
TROUBLED IN SPIRIT - See John 12:27. The reason of his trouble here was that Judas, a professed friend, was about to betray him. He doubtless foresaw the deep and dreadful sorrows of his approaching death, and was also deeply affected with the ingratitude and wickedness of a professed friend. Jesus... [ Continue Reading ]
DOUBTING OF WHOM ... - The word translated “doubting” denotes that kind of anxiety which a man feels when he is in perplexity, and knows not what to say or do. We should say they were at a loss. See the notes at Matthew 26:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
LEANING ON JESUS’ BOSOM - This does not mean that he was at that time actually lying on his bosom, but that he occupied a situation next to him at the table, so that his head naturally fell back on his bosom when he spoke to him. See the notes at Matthew 23:6. WHOM JESUS LOVED - This was doubtless J... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THEN LYING ON JESUS’ BREAST - This is a different word from the one rendered John 13:23 leaning. It means falling back or reclining on the bosom of Jesus. When Peter spake, John laid his head back on the bosom of Jesus, so that he could speak to him privately without being heard by others.... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED - That is, he answered John. It does not appear that either Judas or the other apostles heard him. SHALL GIVE A SOP - The word translated “sop” means a morsel, a piece of bread, or anything else eaten - as much as we are accustomed to take at a mouthful. Jesus was about to dip it in... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THE SOP - After he had taken and probably eaten it. By this Judas saw that Jesus knew his design, and that he could not conceal his plan. He saw, also, that the other disciples would be acquainted with it; and, aroused by sudden anger, or with the apprehension that he should lose his reward, o... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MAN AT THE TABLE KNEW - This shows that Jesus had signified to John only who it was that should betray him. THE BAG - The traveling-bag in which they put their common property. See the notes at John 12:6. HAVE NEED OF AGAINST THE FEAST - The feast of the Passover. This feast continued seven day... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS NIGHT - It was in the evening, or early part of the night. What is recorded in the following chapters took place the same night.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW IS THE SON OF MAN GLORIFIED - The last deed is done that was necessary to secure the death of the Son of man, the glory that shall result to him from that death, the wonderful success of the gospel, the exaltation of the Messiah, and the public and striking attestation of God to him in the view... [ Continue Reading ]
IF GOD BE GLORIFIED IN HIM - If God is honored by him. If the life and death of the Messiah be such as to lead to the honor of God, such as shall manifest its perfections, and show his goodness, truth, and justice, then he will show that he thus approves his work. GOD SHALL ALSO GLORIFY HIM - He wi... [ Continue Reading ]
LITTLE CHILDREN - An expression of great tenderness, denoting his deep interest in their welfare. As he was about to leave them, he endeavors to mitigate their grief by the most tender expressions of attachment, showing that he felt for them the deep interest in their welfare which a parent feels fo... [ Continue Reading ]
A NEW COMMANDMENT - This command he gave them as he was about to leave them, to be a badge of discipleship, by which they might be known as his friends and followers, and by which they might be distinguished from all others. It is called new, not because there was no command before which required pe... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN ... - That is, your love for each other shall be so decisive evidence that you are like the Saviour, that all people shall see and know it. It shall be the thing by which you shall be known among all men. You shall not be known by special rites or habits; not by a special form... [ Continue Reading ]