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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - John 12:36 - 12:43
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_12:36-43
36bThese things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. 37But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. 38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40"He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them." 41These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him. 42Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
Joh_12:37 What a sad comment. Spiritual blindness is terrible (cf. 2Co_4:4). This verse characterizes the unpardonable sin (see Special Topic at Joh_5:21).
Joh_12:38 "the word of Isaiah the prophet" This is a quote from the suffering servant passage of Isa_53:1.
Joh_12:39-40 These are difficult verses. Does God harden people so that they cannot respond? I have inserted my comments from Isa_6:9-10 and Rom_11:7 (see hyperlink).
Isa_6:9-10 As YHWH reveals His purpose for Isaiah's ministry, He also reveals to Isaiah the response his message will have on Judah.
1. go, Isa_6:9, BDB 229, KB , Qal imperative
2. tell, Isa_6:9, BDB 55, KB , Qal perfect
3. keep listening, Isa_6:9, Qal imperative and Qal infinitive absolute of BDB 1033, KB 1570
4. but do not perceive, Isa_6:9, BDB 106, KB 122, Qal imperfect used in a jussive sense, cf. Isa_1:3; Isa_5:21; Isa_10:13; Isa_29:14
5. keep looking, Qal imperative and Qal infinitive absolute of BDB 906, KB 1157
6. but do not understand, Isa_6:9, BDB 393, KB 380, Qal imperfect used in a jussive sense
7. render the hearts of this people insensitive (lit. "fat"), Isa_6:10, BDB 1031, KB 1566, Hiphil imperative
8. their ears dull, Isa_6:10, BDB 457, KB 455, Hiphil imperative
9. and their eyes dim, Isa_6:10, BDB 1044, KB 1612, Hiphil imperative
These imperatives are followed by the consequences (three imperfects of previously used verbs, "see," "hear," and "perceive"). God knows (either by His foreknowledge or His hardening of their already wayward hearts/minds) that they will not respond and be saved.
1. lest they repent, BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal perfect negated
2. lest they be healed, BDB 950, KB 1272, Qal perfect negated
Isaiah will preach and though some may respond, the vast majority of his people/his society will not (cf. Rom_1:24; Rom_1:26; Rom_1:28; Eph_4:19) or cannot respond (cf. Isa_29:9-10; Deu_29:4; Mat_13:13; Rom_11:8)! Isaiah is not an evangelist here, but a prophet of covenant disobedience/consequences (cf. Mat_13:13; Mar_4:12; Luk_8:10). His message of hope is for a future day, not his day!
Rom_11:7 "the rest were hardened" This is an aorist passive indicative (cf. 2Co_3:14). The implication is that God hardened them (cf. Rom_11:8-10). The agent of hardening is the evil one (cf. 2Co_4:4). "Hardened" (pôroô) is a medical term for callousness or blindness (cf. Rom_11:25; 2Co_3:14; Eph_4:18). This same term is used of the Apostles in Mar_6:52. It is a different Greek term from Rom_9:18 (sklçrunô) which is the opposite of mercy (cf. Heb_3:8; Heb_3:15; Heb_4:7).
This verse is very clear and is a summary of Rom_11:1-6. Some who were chosen believed, some who were not chosen were hardened. However, this verse was not written in isolation, as a theological slogan. It was part of a sustained theological argument. There is a tension between the truth stated so clearly in this verse and the universal invitations of Romans 10. There is mystery here. But the solution is not to negate or minimize either of the horns of the dilemma, the paradoxical poles.
Joh_12:39 "For this reason they could not believe" This is an imperfect middle (deponent) indicative and a present active imperative. They were unable to continue in a faith relationship with Jesus. His miracles attracted them, but did not lead them into saving faith/trust in Jesus as the Messiah. In John "belief" has levels. All do not attain salvation. See notes at Joh_8:31-59.
▣ "for Isaiah said again" Isa_6:10; Isa_43:8 refers to the hardness of the Jews' hearts concerning the message of God through Isaiah (cf. Jer_5:21; Eze_12:2; Deu_29:2-4).
Joh_12:40 "heart" See Special Topic following.
hyperlink
Joh_12:41 "These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory" This is an assertion that OT prophets were informed about the Messiah (cf. Luk_24:27). See note on "glory" at Joh_1:14.
Joh_12:42 "Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him" Jesus' message did bear fruit (cf. Joh_12:11; Act_6:7). See Special Topic at Joh_2:23.
▣ "they were not confessing Him" See hyperlink at Joh_9:22-23.
▣ "for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue" (cf. Joh_9:22; Joh_16:2).
Joh_12:43 This implies that true faith can be weak and fearful, even undeclared! John's Gospel uses believe (pisteuô) in several senses, from initial attraction to emotional response to true saving faith.