NOW A CERTAIN MAN WAS SICK,.... Very likely of a fever; Nonnus calls it a morbid fire, a hot and burning disease: [NAMED] LAZARUS OF BETHANY; for his name, which the Ethiopic version reads "Eleazar", and the Persic version "Gazarus", Luke 16:24; and for the place Bethany, Matthew 21:1, Matthew 21... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS [THAT] MARY WHICH ANOINTED THE LORD WITH OINTMENT,.... Not the woman in Luke 7:37, as some have thought, whose name is not mentioned, and which history is not related by John at all: but Mary in John 12:3, who is both mentioned by name, and along with Lazarus her brother, and with whom all th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE HIS SISTERS SENT UNTO HIM,.... Both the sisters of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, sent to Jesus; they did not go themselves, being women, and the place where Jesus was, was at some distance; and besides, it was necessary they should abide at home, to attend their brother in his sickness, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN JESUS HEARD THAT,.... That his friend Lazarus was sick, HE SAID; either to his disciples, or to the messenger or messengers that brought the account to him, and that on purpose to yield some relief to the afflicted family when it should be reported to them: THIS SICKNESS IS NOT UNTO DEATH; it... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW JESUS LOVED MARTHA, AND HER SISTER, AND LAZARUS. Not only with an everlasting love, a love of complacency and delight, an unchangeable one, and which never varies, nor will ever end, with which he loves all his people alike; but with a very great human affection, and which was very singular and... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD HEARD THEREFORE THAT HE WAS SICK,.... Though Christ had heard that Lazarus was sick, and by such good hands, a message being sent him by his sisters, to acquaint him with it; and though he had such a very great love for him, and the whole family, yet he did not go directly to him, and to... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN AFTER THAT,.... The next day, the third day after he had heard of Lazarus's sickness: SAITH HE TO [HIS] DISCIPLES, LET US GO INTO JUDEA AGAIN; for the country beyond Jordan was distinguished from Judea; Matthew 4:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
[HIS] DISCIPLES SAID UNTO HIM, MASTER,.... Addressing him very reverently, and with great concern for his safety, as well as their own: THE JEWS OF LATE, or but now, SOUGHT TO STONE THEE; as they had attempted to do twice in a very little time; see John 8:59; AND GOEST THOU THITHER AGAIN? where t... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED, ARE THERE NOT TWELVE HOURS IN THE DAY?.... So the Jews reckoned, and so they commonly say a, שעות הוי היום שתים עשרה, "twelve hours are a day", or a day consists of twelve hours, which they divided into four parts, each part consisting of three hours this was a matter well known, an... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF A MAN WALK IN THE NIGHT,.... After the sun is set, and there is no light in the air and heavens to direct him: HE STUMBLETH; at everything that lies in the way, BECAUSE THERE IS NO LIGHT IN HIM; there being none from above communicated to him. So our Lord suggests, that when the time of his... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE THINGS SAID HE,.... In answer to his disciples, and made a pause. AND AFTER THAT HE SAITH UNTO THEM, OUR FRIEND LAZARUS SLEEPETH; meaning, that he was dead; in which sense the word is often used in the Old Testament, and in the common dialect of the Jews, and frequently in their writings; and... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID HIS DISCIPLES, LORD, IF HE SLEEP,.... Soundly, quietly, and comfortably, and takes rest in it: HE SHALL DO WELL; or "be saved" from the disease; he will be delivered from it; he will recover out of it; it is a sign the distemper is leaving him, and he is growing better, and will be restor... [ Continue Reading ]
HOWBEIT JESUS SPAKE OF HIS DEATH,.... Under the figurative phrase of sleeping: BUT THEY THOUGHT THAT HE HAD SPOKEN OF TAKING OF REST IN SLEEP; in a literal and natural sense.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID JESUS UNTO THEM PLAINLY,.... Without a figure, when he perceived they did not understand him, and yet it was a very easy and usual metaphor which he had made use of; but such was the present stupidity of their minds, that they did not take in his meaning: wherefore, without reproaching the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I AM GLAD FOR YOUR SAKES THAT I WAS NOT THERE,.... At Bethany, before he died, or when he died; because he might have been prevailed upon through the solicitations of his dear friends, Mary and Martha, and through tender affection to Lazarus, to have prevented his death, by rebuking the distempe... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID THOMAS, WHO IS CALLED DIDYMOUS,.... The former was his Hebrew name, and the latter his Greek name, and both signify a twin; and perhaps he may be so called because he was one: THE SAME SAID UNTO HIS FELLOW DISCIPLES; the other eleven; though the Ethiopic version reads, "to the next of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WHEN JESUS CAME,.... The Alexandrian copy, and all the Oriental versions add, "to Bethany"; though it seems by what follows, that he was not come to the town itself, but near it; and it looks as if it was not far from Lazarus's grave; and it was usual to bury without the city; and here he had i... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW BETHANY WAS NIGH UNTO JERUSALEM,.... Which was a reason why them were so many of the Jews come there to condole the two sisters upon the death of their brother; and by this means the following miracle became more known there: it was ABOUT FIFTEEN FURLONGS OFF; that is, about two miles, for seve... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MANY OF THE JEWS CAME TO MARTHA AND MARY,.... Or "to those that were about Martha and Mary"; in order to have access to them, they came to them, and to the rest of the family; though the phrase may design them only, as the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions read: these Jews, as appears... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN MARTHA, AS SOON AS SHE HEARD THAT JESUS WAS COMING,.... Which she might hear of, either by a messenger sent by Christ to her, to acquaint her of it; or rather by some of the people of the town, who knew him, and ran and told her of it; and she being an active person, and stirring about house, m... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN SAID MARTHA UNTO JESUS,.... When she was come to him, LORD, IF THOU HADST BEEN HERE MY BROTHER HAD NOT DIED: which expresses much faith, but with a mixture of weakness, as if the presence of Christ was necessary for the working a cure; whereas he could as well have restored her brother to heal... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I KNOW THAT EVEN NOW,.... At this distance of time, though her brother had been in the grave four days: WHATSOEVER THOU WILT ASK OF GOD, GOD WILL GIVE [IT] THEE; whether Martha had such a clear notion of the deity of Christ, as yet, as she afterwards had, is not so certain: however, she was per... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, THY BROTHER SHALL RISE AGAIN. Christ knew what she meant, and accordingly gave her an answer, and yet in such general terms, that she could not tell whether his meaning was, that he should rise now, or at the general resurrection.... [ Continue Reading ]
MARTHA SAITH UNTO HIM,.... Being desirous of knowing the sense and meaning of Christ, as well as to express her own faith; I KNOW THAT HE SHALL RISE AGAIN IN THE RESURRECTION, AT THE LAST DAY. The Jews were divided about the doctrine of the resurrection, the Sadducees denied it, the Pharisees asser... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS SAID UNTO HER, I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE,.... Signifying, that he was able of himself to raise men from death to life, without asking it of his Father; and that he could do it now, as well as at the general resurrection; at which time Christ will be the efficient cause of it; and whic... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHOSOEVER LIVETH AND BELIEVETH IN ME,..... Whoever will be found alive at Christ's second coming, and is a believer in him, SHALL NEVER DIE, but shall be changed, and shall be for ever with Christ; and such as shall be raised to life by him, shall never die any more, not even a bodily death, an... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE SAITH UNTO HIM, YEA, LORD,.... That is, she firmly believed all that he said concerning himself, and the happiness of those that believed in him: and for the confirmation of it adds, I BELIEVE: or "I have believed", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; that is, long ago, ever since she knew... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN SHE HAD SO SAID,.... Had expressed her faith in Christ in such terms, as the apostles themselves did, Matthew 16:16 John 1:49. SHE WENT HER WAY; from Christ, being ordered by him to go to her sister Mary, and fetch her to him: AND CALLED MARY HER SISTER SECRETLY; either beckoned her to co... [ Continue Reading ]
AS SOON AS SHE HEARD THAT,.... That Christ was come, and inquired for her, and wanted to see her: SHE AROSE QUICKLY, AND CAME UNTO HIM; having an equal affection for him as her sister Martha; and which she showed, by leaving her comforters at once, and by making the haste she did, to another and be... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW JESUS WAS NOT YET COME INTO THE TOWN,.... Of Bethany, but stayed without, being nearer to Lazarus's grave, which he intended to go to, in order to raise him to life, it being usual to bury the without the towns and cities; Matthew 8:28, Luke 7:12. BUT WAS IN THAT PLACE WHERE MARTHA MET HIM; he... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JEWS THEN WHICH WERE WITH HER IN THE HOUSE,.... Who came from Jerusalem to visit this afflicted family, and continued in the house with them AND COMFORTED HER; which was the end of their coming, John 11:19. This they endeavoured to do, though they did not succeed: WHEN THEY SAW MARY, THAT SHE... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WHEN MARY WAS COME WHERE JESUS WAS,.... Where Martha met him, and where she left him. Travellers tell us, that close by a well, about a stone's cast out of the town of Bethany, is showed the place where Martha met our Lord when he came to raise Lazarus, and where Mary, being called also, met hi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN JESUS THEREFORE SAW HER WEEPING,.... At his feet, who, for sorrow and grief of heart, could say no more to him; but having expressed these words, burst out into floods of tears: AND THE JEWS ALSO WEEPING, WHICH CAME WITH HER; either through sympathy with her, or hypocritically: HE GROANED IN... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAID, WHERE HAVE YE LAID HIM?.... This he might say as man, though he, as the omniscient God, knew where he was laid; and that it might appear there was no juggle and contrivance between him, and the relations of the deceased; and to raise some expectation of what he intended to do; and to draw... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS WEPT. As he was going along to the grave, see John 11:28; as he was meditating upon the state of his friend Lazarus, the distress his two sisters were in, and the greater damnation that would befall the Jews then present, who, notwithstanding the miracle, would not believe in him. This shows... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID THE JEWS, BEHOLD, HOW HE LOVED HIM!] Lazarus; for they supposed that these tears were shed purely on his account; and by all circumstances they could not but judge, that they proceeded from an hearty and sincere affection to him; and it was amazing to them, that his love to him should be s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SOME OF THEM SAID,.... Who were averse to him, and bore him a secret grudge, and were willing to put the worst construction on every action of his: COULD NOT THIS MAN WHICH OPENED THE EYES OF THE BLIND; as it is said, at least pretended, that he did, John 9:6, for this must be understood as cal... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS THEREFORE GROANING IN HIMSELF,.... Not only through grief, just coming up to the grave, where his dear friend lay, but through an holy anger and indignation at the malice and wickedness of the Jews; COMETH TO THE GRAVE of Lazarus, IT WAS A CAVE; either a natural one, such as were in rocks an... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS SAID, TAKE YE AWAY THE STONE,.... This was said either to the Jews, or rather to the servants that came along with Martha and Mary; and this he ordered, not to facilitate the resurrection, or merely in order to make way for Lazarus: he that could command him to come forth, could have commanded... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, SAID I NOT UNTO THEE,.... Not in so many words, but what might be concluded from what he said; yea, the following express words might be delivered by Christ, in his conversation with Martha, though they are not before recorded by the evangelist: THAT IF THOU WOULDST BELIEVE TH... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY TOOK AWAY THE STONE,.... "From the door of the sepulchre", as the Arabic version adds; FROM THE PLACE WHERE THE DEAD WAS LAID: this clause is left out in the Alexandrian copy, and in the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions: AND JESUS LIFT UP HIS EYES; to heaven; this is a prayin... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I KNEW THAT THOU HEAREST ME ALWAYS,.... Which was not only a support to the faith of Christ, as man, but is also to his people, whose advocate, intercessor, and mediator he is. BUT BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHICH STAND BY, I SAID [IT]; that he was heard, and always heard by God; and, therefore must... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD THUS SPOKEN,.... To God his Father, in the presence and hearing of the people; HE CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE; not on account of the dead, but for the sake of those around him, that all might hear and observe; and chiefly to show his majesty, power and authority, and that what he did wa... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE THAT WAS DEAD CAME FORTH,.... That is, he who had been dead, being now made alive, and raised up, and set on his feet, came out of the cave: BOUND HAND AND FOOT WITH GRAVE CLOTHES; not that his hands were bound together, and much less his hands and feet together, with any bands or lists of c... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN MANY OF THE JEWS WHICH CAME TO MARY,.... To her house, to comfort her, and that came along with her to the grave: AND HAD SEEN THE THINGS WHICH JESUS DID; in raising the dead body of Lazarus, and causing him to walk, though bound in grave clothes: BELIEVED ON HIM; that he was the true Messiah... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT SOME OF THEM WENT THEIR WAY TO THE PHARISEES,.... At Jerusalem, who were members of the sanhedrim; so far were some of them from receiving any advantage by this miracle, that they were the more hardened, and filled with malice and envy to Christ, and made the best of their way to acquaint his mo... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN GATHERED THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE PHARISEES A COUNCIL,.... They convened the sanhedrim, the great council of the nation together, of which they were some of the principal members: AND SAID, WHAT DO WE? that is, why is nothing done? why are we so dilatory? why do we sit still, and do nothing?... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE LET HIM THUS ALONE,.... Going about from place to place, teaching the people, and doing such miracles: ALL MEN WILL BELIEVE ON HIM; the whole nation will receive him as the Messiah, and proclaim him their king, and yield a cheerful obedience to all his commands: THE ROMANS WILL COME; against... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ONE OF THEM, [NAMED] CAIAPHAS,.... Matthew 26:3, Luke 3:2, John 18:13. BEING THE HIGH PRIEST THAT SAME YEAR; the high priesthood originally was not annual, but for life; but towards the close of the second temple, it came into the hands of the king, to appoint who would to be high priest o;... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR CONSIDER THAT IT IS EXPEDIENT FOR US,.... Priests, Levites, Pharisees, the sanhedrim, and ecclesiastical rulers of the people; who, as Caiaphas apprehended, must suffer in their characters and revenues, must quit their honourable and gainful posts and places, if Jesus went on and succeeded at th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS SPAKE HE NOT OF HIMSELF,.... Not of his own devising and dictating, but by the Spirit of God; as a wicked man sometimes may, and as Balaam did; the Spirit of God dictated the words unto him, and put them into his mouth; nor did he use them in the sense, in which the Holy Ghost designed them... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOT FOR THAT NATION ONLY,.... For though Christ, as prophet, was sent to the Jews only, and was the minister of the circumcision, yet as a priest he did not die for them only, but for the Gentiles also; even for the whole mystical Israel of God all the world over, whether among Jews or Gentiles;... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN FROM THAT DAY FORTH,.... Caiaphas's reasoning appeared so good, and his advice so agreeable, that it was at once, and generally assented to, except by one or two, as Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea; that ever after this, THEY TOOK COUNSEL TOGETHER; at certain times, and that very often, and... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS THEREFORE,.... Knowing the resolution the sanhedrim had taken to put him to death, and the schemes they were forming to apprehend him: WALKED NO MORE OPENLY AMONG THE JEWS; at, or near Jerusalem; he did not teach in their streets, nor work miracles, nor appear in public company: BUT WENT THE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE JEWS' PASSOVER WAS NIGH AT HAND,.... Which was the fourth passover from Christ's entrance on his public ministry, and the last he ate with his disciples; when he, by being sacrificed for his people, put an end to that, and all other ceremonial observances: AND MANY WENT OUT OF THE COUNTRY U... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SOUGHT THEY FOR JESUS,.... That is, the country people; some on one account, and some on another; some out of curiosity to see his person, others to see his miracles, and others to hear his doctrine; and some, it may be, to take him, and deliver him up to the sanhedrim, who had issued out a pro... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW BOTH THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE PHARISEES,.... Who were of the sanhedrim: HAD GIVEN A COMMANDMENT; or published an edict, a decree of the senate: THAT IF ANY MAN KNEW WHERE HE WERE, HE SHOULD SHOW [IT], THAT THEY MIGHT TAKE HIM; and this made it a doubtful point with some, whether he would come... [ Continue Reading ]