John Bengel Commentary - John 13:31 - 13:31

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John Bengel Commentary - John 13:31 - 13:31


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Joh 13:31. Λέγει) Jesus saith on the following day, namely, early in the morning of the fifth day of the week (Thursday), with which comp. Joh 13:1; Joh 13:38, “Before the feast of the Passover:” whereas the words spoken, Joh 13:38, were during the Passover, “The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied Me thrice.” A discourse also beginning abruptly is thus marked: so ch. Joh 18:26, “One of the servants saith, Did not I see thee,” etc.; with which comp. Luk 22:59.[338] The Lord begins to give utterance to the greatest things which had been revolved in His own heart; and at this place the scene, as it were, is thrown open for the conference, which is continued in the foil. chapters.-νῦν, now) The exact point of time is precisely marked as being in the present. Comp. ch. Joh 12:27; Joh 12:31, notes, “Now is My soul troubled.” “Now is the judgment of this world.” This now fixes its own limits: now, saith He, namely, whilst I am speaking these things; although the very time of His speaking is not expressed by the Evangelist, but is left to be gathered from the context. So the word to-morrow is used [the day of speaking being left to be inferred from the context], Exo 8:10; Exo 8:20; Exo 8:29; Exo 9:5; whereby a reply is given to D. Hauber, Harm. Anm., p. 207. The end of Judas has in itself no connection with this particle. [Although it is an opinion which may with good reason be held, that Judas at that very moment did that which Jesus at Joh 13:27 had desired him to do quickly, and that the chief priests also then made all their arrangements for seizing on Him.-Harm., p. 497.]-ἐδοξάσθη, is glorified) Jesus regards His passion as a short journey, and rather looks forward to the goal.-ἐν αὐτῷ, in Him) There was passing at the time in the heart of the Lord the thought of something most solid; nor was He merely having regard to the things immediately about to be, but He was having a most inward and vivid realisation and foretaste of them, whilst He was devoting [betaking] Himself wholly to suffering. What Christ gave utterance to at the commencement of the day, is something prior in point of time to that which He afterwards, in the evening, sought from the Father. Joh 17:1-2, “Glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: as Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him.” Let the emphasis of the now be considered, and the difference of the words in [Him], in [Him, in Himself], Joh 13:31-32, and on [earth], with [Thine own self: with Thee], ch. Joh 17:4-5.

[338] “About the space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with Him.” The speech therefore was an abrupt one.-E. and T.