Juan 21:22

If I will Christ died and rose again that He might become the Lord and Master both of the dead and the living (Romanos 14:9). He speaks here in full consciousness of this sovereignty. For the use of -I will" by Christ comp. Juan 17:24; Mateo 8:3 and parallels, Mateo 26:39. While the -I will" asserts the Divine authority, the -if" keeps the decision secret.

that he tarry Better, that he abide; it is S. John's favourite word which we have had so often (Juan 1:32-33; Juan 1:39-40; Juan 2:12; Juan 3:36; Juan 4:40, &c.

, and twelve times in chap. 15) [16]. S. Peter's lot was to suffer, S. John's to wait. For -abide" in the sense of remain in life comp. Juan 12:34; Php 1:25; 1 Corintios 15:6.

till I come Literally, while I am coming. The words express rather the intervalof waiting than the endof it. Comp. Juan 9:4; Marco 6:45. This at once seems to shew that it is unnecessary to enquire whether Pentecost, or the destruction of Jerusalem, or the apocalyptic visions recorded in the Revelation, or a natural death, or the Second Advent, is meant by Christ's -coming" in this verse.

He is not giving an answer but refusing one. The reply is purposely hypothetical and perhaps purposely indefinite. But inasmuch as the longer the interval covered by the words, the greater the indefiniteness, the Second Advent is to be preferred as an interpretation, if a distinct meaning is given to the -coming."

what is that to thee? The words are evidently a rebuke. There is a sense in which -Am I my brother's keeper?" is a safeguard against curiosity and presumption rather than a shirking of responsibility.

follow thou me -Thou" is emphatic, contrasting with the preceding -he," which is emphatic also.