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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWilliam Burkitt Notes and Observations - John 6:67 - 6:67
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Our Saviour finding many of his nominal disciples forsaking him, and departing from him, asks his apostles (the twelve) whether they would also go away? Intimating, that their departure would go nearer to him, than the departure of all the rest. The nearer they are from whom we receive unkindness, the nearer do these unkindnesses go to our hearts, Will you, the twelve, also go away? Peter as the mouth, and in the name, of the rest, answers, That they knew none besides to whom they could go, and expect that happiness which they did from him. They that go from Christ, can never hope to mend themselves, let them go whither they will: therefore 'tis as irrational as it is sinful to depart from Christ, who hath the words, that is, the promise of eternal life.
Observe lastly, St. Peter having made this profession for himself and the rest of the twelve, that they would not depart from Jesus, whom they believed to be the true Messias, the Son of God; Christ intimates to Peter, that his charity was something too large in promising so much from them all; for there was one traitor among them, whose heart was as open to Christ, as his face was to them; he meant it of Judas Iscariot, of whose perfidiousness he gave them warning at this time.
Learn hence, That the better any man is in himself, the more charitable is the opinion which he has of others. Charity inclines to believe others good till they discover themselves to be bad.
Learn, 2. That Christ doth approve of our charitable judgment of others sincerity, according to what we hope and believe, though we happen to be mistaken, and our judgment is not according to truth: Christ knew Judas to be an hypocrite at this time, but doth not reprove Peter for having a better opinion of him than he deserved. It is far better to err on the charitable, than on the censorious hand; it is less offensive to Christ, and less injurious to ourselves.