John:5

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* Verse 1-9 - We are all by nature impotent folk in spiritual things , blind , halt , and withered ; but full provision is made for our cure , if we attend to it . An angel went down , and troubled the water ; and what disease soever it was , this water cured it , but only he that first stepped in had benefit . This teaches us to be careful , that we let not a season slip which may never return . The man had lost the use of his limbs thirty-eight years . Shall we , who perhaps for many years have scarcely known what it has been to be a day sick , complain of one wearisome night , when many others , better than we , have scarcely known what it has been to be a day well ? Christ singled this one out from the rest . Those long in affliction , may comfort themselves that God keeps account how long . Observe , this man speaks of the unkindness of those about him , without any peevish reflections . As we should be thankful , so we should be patient . Our Lord Jesus cures him , though he neither asked nor thought of it . Arise , and walk . God 's command , Turn and live ; Make ye a new heart ; no more supposes power in us without the grace of God , his distinguishing grace , than this command supposed such power in the impotent man : it was by the power of Christ , and he must have all the glory . What a joyful surprise to the poor cripple , to find himself of a sudden so easy , so strong , so able to help himself ! The proof of spiritual cure , is our rising and walking . Has Christ healed our spiritual diseases , let us go wherever he sends us , and take up whatever he lays upon us ; and walk before him . * Verse 10-16 - Those eased of the punishment of sin , are in danger of returning to sin , when the terror and restraint are over , unless Divine grace dries up the fountain . The misery believers are made whole from , warns us to sin no more , having felt the smart of sin . This is the voice of every providence , Go , and sin no more . Christ saw it necessary to give this caution ; for it is common for people , when sick , to promise much ; when newly recovered , to perform only something ; but after awhile to forget all . Christ spoke of the wrath to come , which is beyond compare worse than the many hours , nay , weeks and years of pain , some wicked men have to suffer in consequence of their unlawful indulgences . And if such afflictions are severe , how dreadful will be the everlasting punishment of the wicked ! * Verse 17-23 - The Divine power of the miracle proved Jesus to be the Son of God , and he declared that he worked with , and like unto his Father , as he saw good . These ancient enemies of Christ understood him , and became more violent , charging him not only with sabbath-breaking , but blasphemy , in calling God his own Father , and making himself equal with God . But all things now , and at the final judgment , are committed to the Son , purposely that all men might honour the Son , as they honour the Father ; and every one who does not thus honour the Son , whatever he may think or pretend , does not honour the Father who sent him . * Verse 24-29 - Our Lord declared his authority and character , as the Messiah . The time was come when the dead should hear his voice , as the Son of God , and live . Our Lord first refers to his raising those who were dead in sin , to newness of life , by the power of the Spirit , and then to his raising the dead in their graves . The office of Judge of all men , can only be exercised by one who has all knowledge , and almighty power . May we believe His testimony ; thus our faith and hope will be in God , and we shall not come into condemnation . And may His voice reach the hearts of those dead in sin ; that they may do works meet for repentance , and prepare for the solemn day . * Verse 30-38 - Our Lord returns to his declaration of the entire agreement between the Father and the Son , and declared himself the Son of God . He had higher testimony than that of John ; his works bore witness to all he had said . But the Divine word had no abiding-place in their hearts , as they refused to believe in Him whom the Father had sent , according to his ancient promises . The voice of God , accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost , thus made effectual to the conversion of sinners , still proclaims that this is the beloved Son , in whom the Father is well pleased . But when the hearts of men are full of pride , ambition , and the love of the world , there is no room for the word of God to abide in them . * Verse 39-44 - The Jews considered that eternal life was revealed to them in their Scriptures , and that they had it , because they had the word of God in their hands . Jesus urged them to search those Scriptures with more diligence and attention . "Ye do search the Scriptures ," and ye do well to do so . They did indeed search the Scriptures , but it was with a view to their own glory . It is possible for men to be very studious in the letter of the Scriptures , yet to be strangers to its power . Or , "Search the Scriptures ," and so it was spoken to them in the nature of an appeal . Ye profess to receive and believe the Scripture , let that be the judge . It is spoken to us as advising or commanding all Christians to search the Scriptures . Not only read them , and hear them , but search them ; which denotes diligence in examining and studying them . We must search the Scriptures for heaven as our great end ; For in them ye think ye have eternal life . We must search the Scriptures for Christ , as the new and living Way , that leads to this end . To this testimony Christ adds reproofs of their unbelief and wickedness ; their neglect of him and his doctrine . Also he reproves their want of the love of God . But there is life with Jesus Christ for poor souls . Many who make a great profession of religion , yet show they want the love of God , by their neglect of Christ and contempt of his commandments . It is the love of God in us , the love that is a living , active principle in the heart , which God will accept . They slighted and undervalued Christ , because they admired and overvalued themselves . How can those believe , who make the praise and applause of men their idol ! When Christ and his followers are men wondered at , how can those believe , the utmost of whose ambition is to make a fair show in the flesh ! * Verse 45-47 - Many trust in some form of doctrines or some parties , who no more enter into the real meaning of those doctrines , or the views of the persons whose names they bear , than the Jews did into those of Moses . Let us search and pray over the Scriptures , as intent on finding eternal life ; let us observe how Christ is the great subject of them , and daily apply to him for the life he bestows . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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