John Chrysostom

c. 347-407 · Patristic (Greek East)

Preacher at Antioch and then Archbishop of Constantinople, called Chrysostom, "golden-mouthed", for his sermons.

His eighty-eight homilies on John, preached at Antioch around 391, read the Gospel phrase by phrase and press each truth on his hearers' lives.

This biography is a draft awaiting review.

Works in Logia

Homilies on the Gospel of St. JohnThe Oxford Translation

What John Chrysostom says, verse by verse

John 1

John 1:1–2
And what we may mention besides as especially deserving our admiration is, that John, though he gave himself up to the higher doctrine, yet did not neglect the Dispensation; nor were the others, though…
John 1:1 · 4 passages
And he has not called Him simply “Word,” but with the addition of the article, distinguishing Him from the rest in this way also. Seest thou then that I said not without cause that…
John 1:3 · 2 passages
[1.] Moses in the beginning of the history and writings of the Old Testament speaks to us of the objects of sense, and enumerates them to us at length. For, “In the beginning,” he…
John 1:4 · 2 passages
Let us now attend to what follows. John having spoken of the work of creation, that “All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made,” goes on…
John 1:5
“And the light shineth in darkness.” ( ver. 5.) He calls death and error, “darkness.” For the light which is the object of our senses does not shine in darkness, but apart from it;…
John 1:6
[1.] Having in the introduction spoken to us things of urgent importance concerning God the Word, (the Evangelist) proceeding on his road, and in order, afterwards comes to the herald of the Word, his…
John 1:7–8
“That all men through Him might believe.” All but saying, Think not that the reason why John the Baptist came to bear witness, was that he might add aught to the trustworthiness of his…
John 1:7
Ver. 7. “The same came for a witness, to bear witness of that Light.”
John 1:9 · 2 passages
“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” For since above in speaking of John he said, that he came “to bear witness of that Light”; and that…
John 1:10 · 3 passages
Ver. 10. “He was in the world.”
John 1:11 · 2 passages
He (St. John) had said, speaking of the old times, that “the world knew him not” ( ver. 10 ); afterwards he comes down in his narrative to the times of the proclamation (of…
John 1:12 · 2 passages
Ver. 12. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God,” says the Evangelist. “Why then, O blessed one, dost thou not also tell us the punishment…
John 1:13
[3.] Having therefore everywhere excluded compulsion and pointing to (man’s) voluntary choice and free power, he has said the same now. For even in these mystical blessings, it is, on the one hand, God’s…
John 1:14 · 5 passages
“And the Word was made Flesh,” he saith, “and dwelt among us.”
John 1:15 · 2 passages
What then saith he? He “beareth witness concerning Him, and crieth, saying” What means that word “crieth”? Boldly, he means, and freely, without any reserve, he proclaims. What does he proclaim? to what does…
John 1:16 · 2 passages
And what means that, saith he, “Of His fullness have all we received”? for to this we must for a while direct our discourse. He possesseth not, says he, the gift by participation, but…
John 1:17
Ver. 17. “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
John 1:18 · 3 passages
“No man hath seen God at any time.” By what connection of thought does the Apostle come to say this? After showing the exceeding greatness of the gifts of Christ, and the infinite difference…
John 1:19
... When then John continually sent them from himself to Jesus, who seemed to them a meaner person, being ashamed and vexed at this, and wishing rather to have him for their teacher, they…
John 1:20
[2.] Hear then how this blessed person answered to the intention with which they asked the question, not to the question itself. When they said, “Who art thou?” he did not at once give…
John 1:21
Ver. 21. “What then? art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not.”
John 1:22–23
Ver. 22. “Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?”
John 1:24–25
Seest thou not without reason I said that they wished to bring him to this? and the reason why they did not at first say so was, lest they should be detected by all…
John 1:26–27
“But there standeth One among you, whom ye know not.” Reasonable it was that Christ should mingle among the people as one of the many, because everywhere He taught men not to be puffed…
John 1:28
Such an one was John, who regarded not the multitude, nor opinion, nor anything else belonging to men, but trod all this beneath his feet, and proclaimed to all with becoming freedom the things…
John 1:29
... Wherefore then did He come to John? for He came not casually, but went expressly to him. “John,” saith the Evangelist, “seeth Jesus coming unto him.” Then wherefore cometh He? In order that…
John 1:30
Ver. 30. “This is He of whom I said, He that cometh after me is preferred before me.”
John 1:31
Ver. 31. “And I knew Him not,” he saith.
John 1:32–33
“How then didst thou know Him?” “By the descent of the Spirit,” he saith. But again, lest any one should suppose that he was in need of the Spirit as we are, hear how…
John 1:32
“But,” says one, “how then did not the Jews believe? for it was not John only that saw the Spirit in the likeness of a dove.” It was, because, even if they did see,…
John 1:34
“And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”
John 1:35–36 · 2 passages
“Again,” saith the Evangelist, “John stood, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God.” Christ utters no word, His messenger saith all. So it is with a bridegroom. He saith not for a while anything…
John 1:37
“And the two disciples heard him, and followed Jesus.”
John 1:38–39
Nor was it by their following only that they showed their earnest desire, but by their question also: for when they had not as yet learned or even heard anything from Him, they call…
John 1:38
Ver. 38. “Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye?”
John 1:39
How then saith He in another place, “But the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head” ( Luke ix. 58 ), while here He saith, “Come and see” ( v. 39…
John 1:40
Ver. 40. “One of the two who heard, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.”
John 1:41
Andrew, after having tarried with Jesus and learned what He did, kept not the treasure to himself, but hastens and runs quickly to his brother, to impart to him of the good things which…
John 1:42 · 2 passages
Ver. 42. “And when Jesus beheld him,” saith the Evangelist, “He said, Thou art Simon, the son of Jonas; thou shalt be called Cephas, which is, by interpretation, a stone.”
John 1:43–44
... “The day following Jesus went forth into Galilee.” Before any had joined Him, He called no one; and He acted thus not without cause, but according to his own wisdom and intelligence. For…
John 1:45
Ver. 45. “Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
John 1:46–47 · 2 passages
Ver. 46, 47. “And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and saith of him,…
John 1:48–49
And He did not merely show to him His foreknowledge, but instructed him also in another way. For He brought him to a recollection of what they then had said; as, “Can there any…
John 1:48
Ver. 48. “Whence knowest Thou me?” He replies, “Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee.”
John 1:49–50
Now what is the question arising from this passage? It is this. Peter, when after so many miracles and such high doctrine he confessed that, “Thou art the Son of God” ( Matt. xvi.…
John 1:51
Ver. 51. “Verily, verily I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

John 2

John 2:1–2
Chap. ii. ver. 1, 2. “On the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. And Jesus was called to the marriage. And the mother of Jesus was there, and His brethren.”
John 2:3
“How then,” asks some one, “came it into the mind of His mother to imagine anything great of Him?” He was now beginning to reveal Himself, and was plainly discovered by the witness of…
John 2:4–5
Why then after He had said, “Mine hour is not yet come,” and given her a denial, did He what His mother desired? Chiefly it was, that they who opposed Him, and thought that…
John 2:4 · 2 passages
[3.] It was then from this motive that He said in this place, “Woman, what have I to do with thee?” and also for another reason not less pressing. What was that? It was,…
John 2:6–7
Ver. 6, 7. “And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus said unto them, Fill the waterpots…
John 2:7–8
“But why,” says one, “did not He Himself produce the water which He afterwards showed to be wine, instead of bidding the servants bring it?” For the very same reason; and also, that He…
John 2:8–10
Ver. 8–10. “Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast; and they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not…
John 2:9–10
“And when the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants knew,) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom.” “And…
John 2:10
[3.] For such are the miraculous works of Christ, they are far more perfect and better than the operations of nature. This is seen also in other instances; when He restored any infirm member…
John 2:11 · 2 passages
And what is that? “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee.” I told you the other day, that there are some who say that this is not the beginning. “For what,”…
John 2:12
Ver. 12. “After this He went down to Capernaum, He, and His mother, and His brethren, and His disciples; and they continued there not many days.”
John 2:13–16
Ver. 13. “He went up to Jerusalem.”
John 2:14–16
At one time then He said, that the Temple was made by them “a den of thieves,” showing that what they sold was gotten by theft, and rapine, and covetousness, and that they were…
John 2:15–18
“And wherefore,” says one, “did Christ do this same, and use such severity against these men, a thing which He is nowhere else seen to do, even when insulted and reviled, and called by…
John 2:17–18
And what say they? “What sign showest Thou unto us, seeing that Thou doest these things?” Alas for their utter madness! Was there need of a sign before they could cease their evil doings,…
John 2:19–22
Ver. 19. “Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
John 2:21–22
[3.] Wherefore then did He not resolve the difficulty and say, “I speak not of that Temple, but of My flesh”? Why does the Evangelist, writing the Gospel at a later period, interpret the…
John 2:22
The question still remains, “How was it that the disciples did not know that He must rise from the dead?” It was, because they had not been vouchsafed the gift of the Spirit; and…
John 2:23–24
[1.] Of the men of that time some clung to their error, others laid hold on the truth, while of these last, some having retained it for a little while again fell off from…
John 2:24–25
“Because He knew all things,”

John 3

John 3:1–2
Chap. iii. 1, 2. “And there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus. The same came to Jesus by night.”
John 3:2
“Rabbi, we know that Thou art a Teacher come from God: for no man can do the miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.”
John 3:3
Ver. 3. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
John 3:4
“Can a man,” he saith, “enter into his mother’s womb, and be born?”
John 3:5 · 2 passages
Let us now attend to the sequel of what has been before said. When Nicodemus fell into error and wrested the words of Christ to the earthly birth, and said that it was not…
John 3:6
When Nicodemus still hearing these things was troubled, see how Christ partly opens to him the secret of this mystery, and makes that clear which was for a while obscure to him. “That which…
John 3:7–8
Christ then having said, “He that is born of the Spirit is spirit,” when He saw him again confused, leads His discourse to an example from sense, saying,
John 3:8
[2.] “And thou hearest its voice,” (that is, its rustle, its noise,) “but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:9–10
Ver. 9, 10. “How can these things be?” Christ now speaks to him more chidingly; “Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things?”
John 3:11
[3.] And what is this that He saith, “We speak that We do know, and testify that We have seen”? Because with us the sight is the most trustworthy of the senses, and if…
John 3:12
The expression “earthly things,” some say is here used of the wind; that is, “If I have given you an example from earthly things, and ye did not even so believe, how shall ye…
John 3:13
But perhaps some may ask, “And if the hearers were not to believe these sayings, wherefore were they uttered?” Because though “they” believed not, those who came after would believe and profit by them.…
John 3:14
Ver. 14. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”
John 3:15
Ver. 15. “That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 · 2 passages
Ver. 16. “God,” He saith, “so loved the world that He gave His Only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:17
For there are two Advents of Christ, that which has been, and that which is to be; and the two are not for the same purpose; the first came to pass not that He…
John 3:18 · 2 passages
Ver. 18. “He that believeth on the Son, is not judged; but he that believeth not, is judged already.”
John 3:19–20
Ver. 19, 20. “Because,” He saith, “their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil, hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”
John 3:19–21
And observe how in another way He deprives them of all excuse, when He saith that, “the light came into the world.” “Did they seek it themselves,” He saith, “did they toil, did they…
John 3:19
Ver. 19. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light.”
John 3:22–24 · 2 passages
Yet the Evangelist farther on says, that “Jesus baptized not, but His disciples”; whence it is clear that this is his meaning here also. And why did Jesus not baptize? The Baptist had said…
John 3:25
Ver. 25. “There arose,” saith the Evangelist, “a question (between some) of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.”
John 3:26
Ver. 26. “They came,” saith he, “unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold the same baptizeth, and all men come to…
John 3:27
Ver. 27. “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from above.”
John 3:28
Ver. 28. “Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him.”
John 3:29 · 2 passages
Ver. 29. “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.”
John 3:30
Ver. 30. “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:31–32
Ver. 31, 32. “He that cometh from above is above all. And what He hath heard He speaketh, and what He hath seen He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony.”
John 3:31
And what means “above all,” what is the expression intended to show to us? That Christ hath need of nothing, but is Himself sufficient for Himself, and incomparably greater than all; of himself John…
John 3:32–33
“And no man receiveth His testimony.” Yet He had disciples, and many besides gave heed to His words. How then saith John, “No man”? He saith “no man,” instead of “few men,” for had…
John 3:33–34
“He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.” Here he terrifies them also by showing that he who believeth not on Him, disbelieveth not Him alone, but…
John 3:34
“For God giveth not the Spirit by measure.”
John 3:35–36
For instance, when commencing he spake thus: “A man cannot receive anything of himself” ( c. iii. 27 ): then after adding a high expression, and saying, “He that cometh from heaven is above…
John 3:36
... Since though he has said here, “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life,” and in the same place something even stronger, (for he weaves his discourse not of blessings only, but…

John 4

John 4:1–3 · 2 passages
Chap. IV. Ver. 1, 2, 3. “When therefore Jesus knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (though Jesus Himself baptized not but His disciples,) He left…
John 4:4
Ver. 4. “And He must needs go through Samaria.”
John 4:5–6 · 2 passages
Ver. 5, 6. “He cometh to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there.”
John 4:6–8
Ver. 6, 7, 8. “Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus by the well; and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus saith…
John 4:6
“He therefore,” saith the Evangelist, “being wearied with His journey, sat thus at the well.”
John 4:7–8
Ver. 7. “There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water.”
John 4:9
Ver. 9. “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a Samaritan? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.”
John 4:10
Ver. 10. “If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living…
John 4:11
Ver. 11. “Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; from whence then hast thou that living water?”
John 4:12
Ver. 12. “Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?”
John 4:13–14 · 2 passages
[1.] Scripture calls the grace of the Spirit sometimes “Fire,” sometimes “Water,” showing that these names are not descriptive of its essence, but of its operation; for the Spirit, being Invisible and Simple, cannot…
John 4:15
Ver. 15. “Give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.”
John 4:16–19
Ver. 16–19. “Go, call thy husband, and come thither. The woman answered and said I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: for thou hast had…
John 4:16
“And what kind of connection,” saith some one, “is there in the saying, ‘Go, call thy husband’?” The discourse was concerning a gift and grace surpassing mortal nature: the woman was urgent in seeking…
John 4:19–20
Ver. 20. “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain,” (meaning Abraham and his family, for thither they say that he led up his son,) “and how say ye that in Jerusalem is the place where…
John 4:21–22
... That this be not our case, let us hold fast the sacred anchor by which Christ bringeth over the Samaritan woman now. For when she had said, “How say ye that Jerusalem is…
John 4:22
How then did the Samaritans “know not” what they worshiped? Because they thought that God was local and partial; so at least they served Him, and so they sent to the Persians, and reported…
John 4:23 · 2 passages
Ver. 23. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father.”
John 4:24
Ver. 24. “God is a Spirit” [God is spirit]. He declareth nothing else than His incorporeal Nature. Now the service of that which is incorporeal must needs be of the same character, and must…
John 4:25–26 · 2 passages
Ver. 25, 26. “I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I am that speak unto thee.”
John 4:27
Ver. 27. “And upon this came His disciples,” (very seasonably did they come when the teaching was finished,) “and marveled that He talked with the woman, yet no man said, What seekest Thou? or,…
John 4:28–29
Observe her zeal and wisdom. She came to draw water, and when she had lighted upon the true Well, she after that despised the material one; teaching us even by this trifling instance when…
John 4:29
“Is not this the Christ?” Observe again here the great wisdom of the woman; she neither declared the fact plainly, nor was she silent, for she desired not to bring them in by her…
John 4:31–33
Ver. 31. “In the mean time His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, eat.” “Asked,” here is “besought,” in their native language; for seeing Him wearied with the journey, and the oppressive heat, they entreated…
John 4:34
Ver. 34. “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.”
John 4:35 · 2 passages
Ver. 35. “Say ye not, that there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look upon the fields, for they are white already…
John 4:36
Ver. 36. “And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal.”
John 4:37
Ver. 37. “Herein,” He saith, “is that saying true, One soweth and another reapeth.”
John 4:38
Ver. 38. “I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labors; other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors.”
John 4:39–41
“So when the Samaritans were come unto Him, they besought Him that He would tarry with them: and He abode there two days. And many more believed because of His own Word; and said…
John 4:42 · 2 passages
... For, saith the Evangelist, “they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour…
John 4:43–44
“Now after two days He departed thence and went into Galilee.”
John 4:45
Ver. 45. “Then when He was come into Galilee, the Galilæans received Him, having seen all the things that He did at Jerusalem at the feast, for they also came unto the feast.”
John 4:46–47
“And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.”
John 4:46
Ver. 46. “So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where He made the water wine.”
John 4:47–48
“And he came and besought Him that He would heal his son: for he was at the point of death.” What saith Christ?
John 4:48–50
But what can be the reason why in the case of the centurion He by a free offer undertook to come, while here though invited, He goeth not? Because in the former case faith…
John 4:48
Seest thou that he believed when his servants, not when Christ spake? Therefore He rebuketh the state of mind with which he had come to Him, and spoken as he did, (thus too He…
John 4:49
Observe how the very words show the weakness of the man; when he ought, after Christ had rebuked his state of mind, to have imagined something great concerning Him, even if he did not…
John 4:51–53
Ver. 51–53. “And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they…
John 4:54
[1.] As in gold mines one skillful in what relates to them would not endure to overlook even the smallest vein as producing much wealth, so in the holy Scriptures it is impossible without…

John 5

John 5:1–3
“After this there was a feast of the Jews.” What “feast”? Methinks that of Pentecost. “And Jesus went up to Jerusalem.” Continually at the feasts He frequenteth the City, partly that He might appear…
John 5:2–4
First then, as I before said, He causeth defilements of our bodies, and afterwards infirmities of different kinds, to be done away by water. Because God, desiring to bring us nearer to faith in…
John 5:5–6
But why did Jesus, leaving the rest, come to one who was of thirty-eight years standing? And why did He ask him, “Wilt thou be made whole?” Not that He might learn, that was…
John 5:7
... Since this man who had been paralytic for thirty and eight years, and who saw each year others delivered, and himself bound by his disease, not even so fell back and despaired, though…
John 5:8–9
Consider now, I pray you, the exceeding wisdom of God. He raised not up the man at once, but first maketh him familiar by questioning, making way for the coming faith; nor doth He…
John 5:8
Ver. 8. “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”
John 5:9
[2.] But why did not Jesus require faith of this man, as He did in the case of others, saying, “Believest thou that I am able to do this?” It was because the man…
John 5:10–11
Ver. 10. “It is the Sabbath day, it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed”; hear what he saith:
John 5:12–13
Ver. 12, 13. “What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed and walk? And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed Himself away, a…
John 5:14 · 3 passages
Now what do we learn from this? First, that his disease had been produced by his sins; secondly, that the accounts of hell fire are to be believed; thirdly, that the punishment is long,…
John 5:15
Ver. 15. “The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus that had made him whole.”
John 5:16–17
Ver. 16. “Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day.” What then saith Christ?
John 5:17
If any one say, “And how doth the Father ‘work,’ who ceased on the seventh day from all His works?” let him learn the manner in which He “worketh.” What then is the manner…
John 5:18
Ver. 18. “Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”
John 5:19 · 3 passages
Ver. 19. “‘The Son can do nothing of Himself.’”
John 5:20
Ver. 20. “The Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth; and He will show Him greater works than these.”
John 5:21
Ver. 21. “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.”
John 5:22–23
“Why then,” saith some one, “doth Christ so speak?” That His words may be readily received, and to clear the way for sublime sayings; therefore He mixeth these with those, and those with these.…
John 5:23
“He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent Him.” Seest thou how the honor of the Son is connected with that of the Father? “What of that?” saith one.…
John 5:24
Ver. 24. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life.”
John 5:25
Ver. 25. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that have heard shall live.”
John 5:26
Ver. 26. “For as the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself.”
John 5:27–28
“That He is the Son of Man ( v. 28 ), marvel not at this.”
John 5:27
Ver. 27. “Hath given Him authority to execute judgment also.”
John 5:28–29
Ver. 28, 29. “Marvel not [that He is the Son of Man,] for the hour is coming in the which they that are in the tombs shall hear His voice and shall go forth,…
John 5:30
Ver. 30. “I can of Mine own self do nothing; as I hear I judge, and My judgment is just, because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of Him which sent…
John 5:31–32
What then is the meaning? The Jews were about to object to Him, “If thou bearest witness concerning thyself, thy witness is not true” ( c. viii. 13 ): therefore He spake these words…
John 5:33
Ver. 33. “Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.”
John 5:34
Ver. 34. “But I receive not testimony from man.”
John 5:35 · 2 passages
Ver. 35. “He was a burning and a shining light, and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.”
John 5:36 · 3 passages
Ver. 36. “But I have greater witness than that of John.”
John 5:37
Ver. 37. “And the Father Himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me.”
John 5:38
Ver. 38. “And ye have not His word abiding in you.”
John 5:39–40
... Wherefore Christ when He referred the Jews to the Scriptures, sent them not to a mere reading, but a careful and considerate search; for He said not, “Read the Scriptures,” but, “Search the…
John 5:39
Ver. 39. “Search the Scriptures, for they are they which testify of Me.”
John 5:41
Ver. 41. “I receive not honor from men.”
John 5:42
Ver. 42. “But I know you that ye have not the love of God in you.”
John 5:43
Ver. 43. “I am come in My Father’s name, and ye receive Me not; if another shall come in his own name, him will ye receive.”
John 5:44
Christ then putteth also the cause of their unbelief, saying,
John 5:45–47 · 2 passages
Ver. 45–47. “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed…
John 5:46–47
“But whence doth it appear that they will believe another?” From their hating Christ, since they who turn aside from Him who cometh according to the will of God will, it is quite plain,…

John 6

John 6:1
[1.] Beloved, let us not contend with violent men, but learn when the doing so brings no hurt to our virtue to give place to their evil counsels; for so all their hardihood is…
John 6:2–3
Ver. 2. “A great multitude followed Him beholding the miracles that He did.” What is here told marks not a very wise state of mind; for when they had enjoyed such teaching, they still…
John 6:4–5
Ver. 4. “And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.”
John 6:5–6
Wherefore then doth He ask “Philip”? He knew which of His disciples needed most instruction; for this is he who afterwards said, “Show us the Father, and it sufficeth us” ( c. xiv. 8…
John 6:6–7
Ver. 7, 6. “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. And this He said to prove him: for He Himself knew what…
John 6:6
Moreover we must observe this, that when there is any wrong suspicion, the writer straightway very carefully corrects it. As then in this place that the hearers might not form any such suspicion, he…
John 6:8–9
Ver. 8, 9. “Andrew, Simon’s brother, said, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?”
John 6:10–11
When both the disciples had owned themselves at a loss, then He wrought the miracle; for thus they profited the more, having first confessed the difficulty of the matter, that when it should come…
John 6:11
[3.] But why when He was about to restore the paralytic did He not pray, nor when He was raising the dead, or bridling the sea, while He doth so here over the loaves?…
John 6:12–13
Ver. 12. “And He said unto His disciples, Gather up the fragments which remain; —and they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets.”
John 6:14–15
“And the multitudes said, that this is of a truth The Prophet.”
John 6:16–17
[1.] Christ provideth for the good of his disciples not only when He is present in the body, but also when far away; for having abundance of means and of skill, He effecteth one…
John 6:18–20
“And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.” What did they? They were troubled, for there were many and various causes which forced them to be so. They were afraid…
John 6:19–21
The Jews under the guidance of Moses passed over the Red Sea, but that case is widely different from this. He did all with prayer and as a servant, but Christ with absolute power.…
John 6:20
“It is I, be not afraid.” As He spake the word, He cast out fear from their souls. But at another time not so; wherefore Peter said, “Lord, if it be Thou, bid me…
John 6:21
Ver. 21. “They were willing to receive Him, and immediately the ship was near the land.”
John 6:22–23
Ver. 22. “And the people that were there saw that there was none other boat there save the one into which the disciples had entered, and that Jesus went not into the boat, but…
John 6:24–25
Ver. 24. And embarking in boats from Tiberias, they “came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.”
John 6:26
[1.] The mild and gentle is not always useful, but there are times when the teacher needs sharper language. For if the disciple be dull and gross, then, in order to touch his dullness…
John 6:27 · 2 passages
“Which the Son of Man giveth unto you; for Him hath God the Father sealed.”
John 6:28–29
[1.] There is nothing worse, nothing more shameful, than gluttony; it makes the mind gross, and the soul carnal; it blinds, and permits not to see clearly. Observe, for instance, how this is the…
John 6:30–31 · 2 passages
Ver. 31. “Our fathers did eat manna in the wilderness.”
John 6:32 · 2 passages
Ver. 32. “Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.”
John 6:33–34
Ver. 33. “The bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.”
John 6:35–36
Ver. 35, 36. “I am the bread of life; he that cometh to Me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, that ye also…
John 6:35
“I am the bread of life.” Now He proceedeth to commit unto them mysteries. And first He discourseth of His Godhead, saying, “I am the bread of life.” For this is not spoken of…
John 6:37 · 2 passages
Ver. 37. “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me, and him that cometh to Me I will in nowise cast out.”
John 6:38–40
Ver. 38. “I came down from heaven not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.”
John 6:39–40
“And I will raise him up at the last day.” Why doth He continually dwell upon the Resurrection? Is it that men may not judge of God’s providence by present things alone; that if…
John 6:41–42
[1.] “Whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame” ( Philip. iii. 19 ), said Paul of certain persons, writing to the Philippians. Now that the Jews were of this…
John 6:44 · 2 passages
Ver. 44. “No man can come unto Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw Him.”
John 6:45–46
“But what of those,” saith some one, “who were before His time? Were not they taught of God? why then the special application of the words here?” Because of old they learned the things…
John 6:45
“How then,” saith some one, “doth the Father draw?” This the Prophet explained of old, when he proclaimed beforehand, and said,
John 6:48
He calleth Himself, ( ver. 48 ,) “the bread of life,” because He maintaineth our life both which is and which is to be, and saith, “Whosoever shall eat of this bread shall live…
John 6:49–50
Ver. 49. “Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.”
John 6:51 · 2 passages
“And the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
John 6:52
Ver. 52. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
John 6:53
[1.] When we converse of spiritual things, let there be nothing secular in our souls, nothing earthy, let all such thoughts retire, and be banished, and let us be entirely given up to the…
John 6:54
“And I will raise him up at the last day.” For since He had said, “He that eateth of this bread shall not die for ever” ( ver. 50 , not verbally quoted), and…
John 6:55–56
Ver. 55. “For My flesh is true meat, and My blood is true drink.”
John 6:57
Ver. 57. “As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father”?
John 6:58
Ver. 58. “This is that bread which came down from heaven; not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead; he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.”
John 6:59
Ver. 59. “These things said He in the synagogue, as He taught in Capernaum.”
John 6:60
Ver. 60. “But many of the disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is a hard saying.”
John 6:61–62
Ver. 61, 62. “When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it,” (for this is an attribute of His Godhead to bring secret things to light,) “He said unto them, Doth this…
John 6:63
Ver. 63. “It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing.”
John 6:64
Ver. 64. “But there are some of you that believe not.”
John 6:65
Ver. 65. “And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me except it were given unto Him from above from My Father.”
John 6:66–67
Ver. 66. “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.”
John 6:68–69
Ver. 68, 69. “To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
John 6:68
“Thou hast the words of eternal life.” These men already admitted the Resurrection, and all the apportionment which shall be there. And observe the brotherly and affectionate man, how he maketh answer for all…
John 6:70–71
[4.] And remark His wisdom. He made not the traitor manifest, yet allowed him not to be hidden; that on the one hand he might not lose all shame, and become more contentious; and…
John 6:70 · 2 passages
Ver. 70. “Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”