THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN - Chapter 12 - Verse 34

Verse 34. We have heard out of the law. Out of the Old Testament; or rather we have been so taught by those who have interpreted the law to us.

That Christ. That the Messiah.

Abideth for ever. Will remain for ever, or will live for ever. The doctrine of many of them certainly was that the Messiah would not die; that he would reign as a prince for ever over the people. This opinion was founded on such passages of Scripture as these: Ps 110:4, "Thou art a priest for ever;" Da 2:44; 8:13,14.

In the interpretation of these passages they had overlooked such places as Isa 53:1-12; nor did they understand how the fact that he would reign for ever could be reconciled with the idea of his death. To us, who understand that his reign does not refer to a temporal, an earthly kingdom, it is easy.

How sayest thou, &c. We have understood by the title "the Son of man" the same as the Messiah, and that he is to reign for ever. How can he be put to death?

Who is this Son of man? "The Son of man we understand to be the Messiah spoken of by Daniel, who is to reign for ever. To him, therefore, you cannot refer when you say that he must be lifted up, or must die. Who is it—what other Son of man is referred to but the Messiah? Either ignorantly or wilfully, they supposed he referred to some one else than the Messiah.

{k} "We have heard" Ps 89:36,37; 110:4; Isa 9:7

{l} "out of the law" Ro 5:18; Ps 72:17-19