unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask | full.
the Father in my name, he will
give it you.

25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. the apostles, and which should be to them a perpetual testimony that their trust in God and in his Son Jesus Christ was well founded. Having such trust, founded upon such evidence, they could not be disturbed by doubts or fears, but would rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Pet. i. 8.

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be that it would be improper as well as impracticable to do so, after he should depart from them into heaven. They could no longer hold familiar intercourse with him, as formerly; and it was proper to address prayer to another, as he had frequently given them an example. Henceforward, they were to ask the Father, in the name of Jesus, or as 25. In proverbs. Rather, in figurahis disciples, for such blessings as they tive language. Even in this last dismight need. Jesus had always profess- course to his disciples, Jesus conveyed ed his dependence on the Father, and much instruction in figurative terms, invoked his aid and blessing. And he which they were not able then to comwould have his disciples do likewise,-prehend, though its meaning afterwards acknowledging him, at the same time, as the author of their faith and their spiritual deliverer and Master, by offering their prayers in his name. soever ye shall ask, &c. See note on John xiv. 13.

became obvious. "It is worthy of remark, that though his declarations in these chapters, about his death and reWhat-surrection, appear to us to be plain, yet to the apostles, filled with Jewish prejudices and unwilling to believe that he was about to die, they would appear exceedingly obscure and perplexed. The plainest declarations to them on this Je-subject would appear to be involved in mystery."-Barnes. We have an instance of this kind, in the fact that immediately after he had declared plainly, "The Son of man is delivered into the

24. Hitherto. From the commencement of his ministry; during the whole time that they had associated with him. Ye have asked, &c. sus taught his disciples to pray to God, Matt. vi. 9-13. But while he remained with them, he did not require them to pray in his name. He now assures them that, although he should be ab-hands of men, and they shall kill him, sent, they might expect from him the same ready attention to their wants and the same sympathy as before. They should ask blessings in his name, and feel just as sure of their bestowment, as if he were present, heard their requests, and offered them to God. By praying in his name, they would be perpetually reminded of his kindness and benevolence, would strengthen their own confidence in him, and would acknowledge before God their obligations to him. Ask, &c. That is, ask the Father in my name, and the blessings you need shall be bestowed. T That your joy may be full. See note on John xv. 11. Their joy should be completed by the enlightening and sustaining influence of the spirit which should be bestowed, and by the blessings granted by the Father in answer to their prayers. Some suppose particular reference is made to the miraculous powers which should be given to

and after that he is killed, he shall rise again the third day," his disciples commenced disputing which should be greatest in his kingdom; evidently not expecting he would die, but looking for his reign on the earth. Mark ix. 31-34. Compare Luke ix. 44-46; and see note on Matt. xviii. 1. Most of his language on this subject, however, was truly figurative, the exact import of which could not be distinctly perceived, until after the events occurred. Yet the language itself was remembered, perhaps with more vividness for that very reason; and, when understood, it served to confirm the faith of the disciples. See John ii. 22. ¶ The time cometh, &c. That is, after my ascension. Shew you plainly, &c. By the agency of the spirit, ver. 13, you shall be made to comprehend distinctly the Father's design in my mission, death, and resurrection.

26, 27. I say not that I will pray,

26 At that day ye shall ask in | Lo, now speakest thou plainly, my name and I say not unto you, and speakest no proverb. that I will pray the Father for you : 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

and shall leave me alone: and yet | tribulation, but be of good cheer: I am not alone, because the Father I have overcome the world.

is with me.

33 These things I have spoken

CHAPTER XVII. HESE words spake Jesus, and

all opposition from enemies, and shall soon get the better of their last effort, my death; and my thus overcoming the world is a motive for your being of good cheer under the tribulation which ye also will meet with."-Pearce.

This I have foretold you, that you may depend on me for all kind of prosperity; and, by consideration of my conquest of all that is formidable in the world, take courage, and hold out against all the terrors and threats of the world and the sufferings in it."-Hammond. To the same effect, Rosenmüller and others.

CHAPTER XVII.

unto you, that in me ye might have lifted up his eyes to heaven, peace. In the world ye shall have ceeding day. Ye shall be scattered, &c. Accordingly we read that "all the disciples forsook him and fled." Matt. xxvi. 56. See the note. ¶ Leave me alone. Leave me to endure that trial which has always caused me to shudder, without your sympathy. Not one of the apostles, except John, seems to have had sufficient fortitude and courage to witness the crucifixion. To the bodily anguish of that terrible death was added the painful conviction that all his instructions were so imperfectly understood by his most intimate associates, that their faith in him was crushed, and they had forsaken him in his hour of utmost need. He was left to the cruelty of his enemies, no friend lifting a hand on his behalf, and none but the wretched Judas even making a protestation of his innocence. Yet I am not alone, &c. Jesus knew he had one Friend who would never leave nor forsake him. He knew that the Father had sent him into the world to perform his will; and that he had faithfully executed his mission. He knew that the Father loved him. And though his return to the Father's presence must be through the grave, and though the passage to the grave was painful and dreadful, yet he knew the Father would sustain him, and grant his presence during his most bitter agony. And when the hour came, he prayed to the Father on behalf of others, and commended to him his own spirit. Luke xxiii. 34, 46.

33. These things, &c. Jesus closed his address by again reminding his disciples that it was designed to console them and give them peace; to confirm their faith in him, when the events foretold should have been accomplished; and to give them a spirit of confidence in him as their guide to truth, and holiness, and glory. T Ye shall have tribulation. You will not only suffer when I die, but be.exposed to opposition and persecution during life. Be of good cheer. Be not disheartened; confide in me; be faithful; and you shall triumph. I have overcome the world. "That is, I have gotten the better hitherto of

1. These words. Namely, the words which are recorded in the preceding chapters. Our Lord knew that the time of his departure was at hand; and he prepared his disciples to meet both this trial and all which should succeed it, by assuring them that God would approve their faithfulness, grant them the aid of his spirit to guide and sustain them, and finally receive them to himself in heaven. Having thus consoled and encouraged them, and directed their attention to his own struggle with the power of evil and triumph over it, as a fit example for imitation, he closed the interview by commending them to their heavenly Father. It is to be observed, however, that his prayer was not on behalf of these disciples alone; he prayed first for himself, ver. 1-5; then for his disciples, ver. 619; then for those who should become disciples through their word, or by believing their testimony, ver. 20-23; and then, his benevolent affections bursting over all limits, in ver. 23, he embraced the world in his petition, in anticipation of that blessed period when the good pleasure of the Father which he purposed in himself should be fully accomplished in the gathering together in Christ of all things in heaven and on earth. Eph. i. 9, 10. Such is the comprehensive character of this prayer; and it is consistent with the spirit of him who came to seek and save the lost, to

and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast

man

be the Saviour of the world, and to be benefit of the Messiah's reign; it is exthe representative, the visible manifes- pressly asserted by Jesus himself, that tation, of Him who is good unto all he was sent by the Father to save the and whose tender mercies are over all world; and the apostles declared, that his works. Ps. cxlv. 9; Luke xix. 10, he was sent to be the Saviour of the Heb. i. 3; 1 John iv. 14. ¶ Lifted world, and that he gave himself a ranup his eyes. See note on John xi. 41. som for all and tasted death for every The hour is come. Namely, the hour man. Moreover, when Paul described when my earthly ministry is to close, this subjection of all flesh to the power and when I shall depart from my disci- of Jesus, he used very strong and comples and return to thee. John xvi. 28. prehensive terms; and lest he should be Glorify thy Son. Honor thy Son. So misunderstood, he added that God himsustain me by thy grace, in the ap- self was not to be understood as includproaching trial, that I may complete the ed among those who were thus subdemonstration of my Sonship by a faith- jected. I Cor. xv. 27. When he thus ful adherence to duty; and, by raising made an exception which was me from the dead and publicly receiv- ifest, most certainly he would have also ing me up from the earth, give to the excepted a portion of mankind, which world undeniable and irresistible evi- was not manifest, if he believed such dence that I am truly thy Son. That exception should be made, and intended thy Son also may glorify thee. The to state the matter of fact truly. That import of this petition seems to be, that he should give, &c. That is, this power the Messiahship of Jesus might be was bestowed, in order that he night so fully demonstrated that his gospel give, or to enable him to give, the blessshould be permanently established and ing designed and here mentioned. He universally promulgated, to the honor was fully qualified and empowered for of God among men. The gospel so re- the work assigned him. Hence its veals the divine character, as to con- completion might be expected. And strain believers to honor God, to rever- Jesus prayed that as he had faithfully ence, love, and adore him. The honor used this power, thus far, ver. 4, he of both Father and Son therefore was might be sustained to the last, ver. 1. concerned in the granting of this peti-¶ Eternal life. This phrase often indition. By being convinced that Jesus was the true Messiah, the world would honor him; and, honoring him, would believe his testimony, and thus be led to honor the Father.

cates that spiritual life, and peace, and joy, which men attain on the earth, through faith in Jesus Christ. John v. 24. In this place seems to have a wider signification, and to denote that state of life which results from an entire deliverance from the power of sin. This was the great and crowning work committed to Jesus; to save his people from their sins, to redeem men from all iniquity, and to take away the sin of the world, Matt. i. 21; John i. 29; Tit. ii. 14. In this manner, should all opposition to God and to holiness be overcome; the power of evil be utterly demolished; and the whole human family brought to the home of their Father, confessing his authority, extolling his mercy, and rejoicing in his presence. 1 Cor. xv. 24-28; Eph. i. 9, 10; Phil. ii. 9-11. Such was the most valuable blessing he was commissioned to bestow; and to this he seems here to refer. Other blessings were incidental

true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

4 I have glorified thee on the

this manner that it is to be obtained. The knowledge of God and of his Son Jesus Christ is itself a source of unspeakable and eternal joy.”—Barnes. The enjoyment of spiritual life and salvation from sin, either here or hereafter, the sacred writers often represent as closely connected with a knowledge of God, and his Son, and his truth. John v. 44; 1 Tim. ii. 4; Heb. viii. 10-12. If the faint conceptions here attained by men of the divine character and purposes be productive of life, much more that full knowledge which God will impart, when he shall have freed us from the imperfections and impediments of the flesh, and clothed us in spiritual bodies in his kingdom. T That they might know thee, &c. Of course, more than a mere theoretical, speculative knowledge is here intended. It is a faith or knowledge which works by love and purifies the heart, that alone can yield spiritual life. It is implied that God be reverenced, obeyed, and loved. The sense in which the evangelist uses the word know, when describing men's knowledge of God, may be seen in 1 John ii. 3, 4; iv. 6-8. T The only true God. In opposition to heathen deities, idols, and all that is called God. The divine unity was taught in the Old Testament; and was fully recognized and enforced by our Lord. Isa. xlv. 5-7, 21-25; Mark xii. 29, 30. ¶ Jesus Christ. See notes on Matt. i. 1, 21. Some have supposed these words were interpolated, inasmuch as our Lord nowhere else gives himself this appellation; but there seems to be no sufficient authority to reject them. It is observable, that our Lord here, as elsewhere, acknowledges the superiority of the Father, and instead of claiming to be himself the true God, confesses another as such, and himself as a messenger sent by the only true God.

to his ministry; faith in him admits us to a foretaste of the heavenly life and blessedness; but the full fruition of the good designed by the Father, in sending the Son to be the Saviour of the world, can only be realized, when the creation shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God, through the power of the resurrection. Luke xx. 36; John iii. 17; xii. 47; Rom. viii. 21. Or, if it be supposed that the primary reference here is to the life which believers enjoy in this world, it must nevertheless be remembered, that this is similar in nature, though inferior in degree, to that which shall be the portion of saints made perfect in heaven. And whether bestowed here or hereafter, it results from faith or knowledge of the divine character. And as power was given to Jesus to bestow it, we need not have the slightest doubt that he will do so; for he has given the most convincing evidence of his love to mankind and desire for their welfare, by giving his life for us while we were yet sinners. John xv. 13; Rom. v. 68. To as many as thou hast given him. Namely, to all flesh, over whom he has power; in other words, to mankind without exception. See note on Matt. i. 21. In ver. 6-12, Jesus speaks of them who were given him for a particular purpose, or in a peculiar sense. But here he manifestly speaks of all; else why refer to his power over all? Surely, power over the whole human race was not necessary, to enable him to give eternal life to the few who had at that time believed on him. If we limit the meaning of the phrase here by its import in ver. 6-12, we must understand Jesus to speak only of them who were then his disciples; for he speaks of none other there. If we do not thus strictly limit it, no good reason can be assigned for any limitation 4. I have glorified thee, &c. Namely, whatever; on the contrary, the charac- by revealing the divine character and ter of God and of his Son, the object for illustrating it by a perfect example; by which the Son was sent into the world, proclaiming the gospel, in which the beand his own language in this verse, all nevolent purposes of God are made require us to understand him to refer to known to men; by a life of obedience, all men, in the most unlimited sense. thus leading men to purity and godli3. This is life eternal, &c. "Thisness, by the force of example, as well as is the source of eternal life; or it is in by precept; by giving his life for the