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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - John 12:10 - 12:10
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10. οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς. see on Joh 7:32. Nothing is here said about the Pharisees (comp. Joh 11:47; Joh 11:57), who are, however, not necessarily excluded. Both would wish to put Lazarus out of the way for the reason given in Joh 12:11 : but the chief priests, who were mostly Sadducees, would have an additional reason, in that Lazarus was a living refutation of their doctrine that ‘there is no resurrection’ (Act 23:8).
ἵνα καὶ τ. Λάζ. Whatever may be true about Joh 11:53, we must not suppose that this verse implies a formal sentence of death: it does not even imply a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
S. Augustine comments on the folly of the priests—as if Christ could not raise Lazarus a second time! But this ignores the ‘also’: the hierarchy meant to put both to death. Their folly consisted in failing to see, not that He could raise Lazarus again, but that He could raise Himself (Joh 2:19). Note that it is the unscrupulous hierarchy, who attempt this crime. Comp. Joh 18:35, Joh 19:6; Joh 19:15; Joh 19:21.