Exposition of John, Chapter 5 · Verse 20 – Verse 23
Verſe 31. If bear witneſſe of my ſelf, my witneſſe is not true.
Followeth to the end of the chapter the ſecond part of Chriſts Apology; wherein, having by many inſtances proven his unity and equality with the Father, he proceedeth to produce witneſſes teſtifying concerning him, which were ſo clear, as gave him juſt cauſe to ſeaſon them with chalenges for their wilfull unbelief and rejecting of him, and to threaten them with being judged and condemned before God. And, 1. Waving an ordinary exception which might be moved againſt his teſtimony of himſelf, verſe 31. be cleareth that the Father had by many witneſſes teſtified concerning him, verſe 32. Namely: By the teſtimony of John the Baptiſt, verſe 33. (a witneſſe, whom though he produced, not becauſe he needed it, but for their good, verſe 34. yet one who was truely eminent, and whoſe eminencie might condemne their inconſtancie, verſe 35.) By the works he did, verſe 36. By his immediate teſtimony from heaven, of whom they were ignorant, and looked nothing like his manifeſtations to them, verſe 37, 38. By the teſtimony of the Scriptures, verſe 39. 2. Unto theſe he ſubjoynes chalenges for ſeveral faults; Namely, for their wilful unbelief in not coming to him, verſe 40, (though he ſought them not for any need he had of them, verſe 41.) for want of the love of God, verſe 42. for not embracing him, whereas they would receive a ſeducer, verſe 43. and, for their pride and vain-glory, which cauſes their unbelief, verſe 44. 3. Becauſe of theſe evils; he warneth them of being accuſed and judged before the tribunal of God; aſſuring them that even Moſes would be againſt them, verſe 45. Seeing they could not beleeve Moſes who wrote of him, ſince they beleeved not him, verſe 46. and it was no wonder they ſleighted him, ſince they beleeved not Moſes, verſe 47.
In this verſe we have a tranſition, wherein Chriſt obviates an ordinary objection againſt the former part of this Apology; to wit, that his teſtimony of himſelf could not be authentick, of which alſo, John 8.13. Chriſt, by this ſentence, doth not grant this as true, for the contra…y is aſſerted, John 8.14. but onelyonly by way of preterition, paſſeth it, to make way for the following teſtimonies confirming his teſtimony of himſelf, that hee might let them ſee he had witneſſes beſide to convince them, though he were ſilent. Whence learn, 1. In reading of holy Scripture great care is to be had for finding out the true ſenſe thereof, and that we be not drawn away by what it ſeemes to ſay at firſt view, to take up a ſenſe contrary to truth, and other clear Scriptures: And particularly, words ſpoken by way of objection, or, preterition and giving and not granting, are to be diſtinguiſhed from affirmations; for, ſo is this to be underſtood, if I beare witneſſe of my ſelf, my witneſſe is not true; to expound it otherwiſe, were to contradict truth. 2. Albeit that men may lawfully ſpeak that which is true of themſelves, when they have Gods call unto it; Yet ordinarily ſuch is the frailty of any who is a meere man, that he is but a bad witneſſe in his own cauſe, being but a liar, and ſo ſubject to erre, being readily poiſoned with ſelf-love, in what concerneth himſelf; and, being ready, in what is true, to ſeek himſelf; for, upon this truth is this objection grounded, which had ſome colour if Chriſt had been only a man. 3. Albeit Chriſt be of himſelf the Amen, the faithful and true witneſſe, Rev. 3.14. to all that know him; yet for further confirmation of his people, and for conviction of wilful oppoſers, he is content to deny himſelf, and produce witneſſes to teſtifie for him; So much doth this preterition, and proceeding to the teſtimonies, teach us.
Verſe 32. There is another that beareth witneſſe of me, and I know that the witneſſe which he witneſſeth of me is true.
Albeit this verſe may be underſtood of John, (of whom, verſe 33.) who as he teſtified of Chriſt, ſo Chriſt commends and alloweth of his teſtimony; Yet it ſeemes rather to be underſtood of the Father, who is the other witneſſe with himſelf, John 8.18. And it doth point, not ſo much at any particular teſtimony, of which verſe 37. As in general, ſheweth that all theſe enſuing teſtimonies had authority from him, Concerning this teſtimony, Chriſt declareth his perſwaſion of the truth, and certainty thereof. Whence learn, 1. Albeit that Chriſt, the true and faithful witneſſe, be oft-times accounted ſo infamous in the world, as not to be beleeved; yet, as he is above all proofe to his own, ſo he wants not witneſſes to teſtifie for him; So much doth his producing them in this Apology, teach. 2. As Chriſt came into the world in obedience to the Father, and to bear witneſſe of him, ſo was he aſſured to be avowed and owned of him, and accordingly found ſo; and as he honoured the Father, ſo did the Father honour and beare witneſſe of him; for, there is another that beareth witneſſe of me. 3. Chriſt, as he is one in nature and eſſence with the Father, ſo is he a diſtinct perſon from him; for, he is another that beareth witneſſe. 4. Gods teſtimony concerning Chriſt is undoubtedly true, and to be reſted on, and all other teſtimonies are therefore true, becauſe Gods authority is interpoſed in them; for, the witneſſe which he witneſſeth of me, is true, and the reſt of the teſtimonies have weight, becauſe they are his teſtimonies. 5. It is not enough for our comfort, that we have Gods teſtimony approving us, but we ſhould know that it is ſo, and ought to ſtudy the certainty and ſure ground that is in ſuch a teſtimony, that it may bear us up againſt all oppoſition, and enable us to avow it, and having beleeved, to ſpeak, as we ſtand in need; Therefore Chriſt having aſſerted, that the Father beareth witneſſe of him, doth ſubjoyne, and I know that the witneſſe which he witneſseth of me, is true, as reſting upon the truth and reality that is in ſuch a teſtimony.
Verſe 33. Ye ſent unto John, and he bare witneſſe unto the truth.
The firſt particular witneſſe produced here, whereby the Father teſtifieth concerning him, is John the Baptiſt, who without any partial reſpect to Chriſt, did ſimply bear witneſſe to the truth concerning him; And this teſtimony he preſſeth from their own practice, who ſeemed ſo much to reſpect him, as to ſend honourable Commiſſioners to him, chap. 1.19. And to be willing to ſtand to his teſtimony concerning the Meſſiah, yea, and to offer that honour to him, if he would have accepted it; And therefore they were bound to eſteem of his teſtimony, eſpecially, when they ſound him ſo ſelf-denied, as not to ſeek his own honour. Whence learn, 1. It is the duty and commendation of Chriſts Meſſengers, to be witneſſe-bearers for him, and with zeale and fidelity to publiſh his excellency upon any hazard; And they ought to aſſume no more to themſelves, but to be Heraulds of his praiſe, that ſinners may be drawn to him; for, John bare witneſſe unto the truth, concerning Chriſt. See chap. 1.7. 2. Faithfulneſſe is the great ornament and duty of Chriſts witneſſes, that, without any by reſpect, they publiſh onelyonly what is truth, and that nothing which is truth, (be it of leſſe or more importance) want a teſtimony from them, as they are called to it; for, he bare witneſſe unto the truth, was his commendation in this teſtimony, and it is a pattern to all others; And Chriſt thus deſcribes his teſtimony concerning himſelf, that none might except that there is ſuch a difference betwixt the matter of Johns teſtimony, and what may be their trial, as to make them ſhrink, if there be a divine truth in it. 3. The doctrine and faithful teſtimonies of Chriſts ſervants, will live to their commendation, and be of uſe, when themſelves are gone; for, Chriſt repeats Johns teſtimony; to his commendation, and for the uſe of the Jewes, when now, John was in appearance, dead; for he ſpeaks of him, as one that was, verſe 35. 4. The reſpect that men have ſeemed (at leaſt) to carry to faithful Miniſters, and the excellent graces of God that they might have obſerved in them, will be a witneſſe againſt them, if they do not reſpect and credit their doctrine; for, ſo doth Chriſt urge from their practice, and Johns fidelity and ſelf-denial; ye ſent unto John, and he bare witneſſe unto the truth, and renounced that honour which they would have conferred on him.
Verſe 34. But I receive not teſtimony from man: but theſe things I ſay that ye might be ſaved.
Unto this teſtimonie of John, Chriſt ſubjoines two things. 1. By way of correction, that he needed not mans teſtimonie, nor did produce it for any thing it could adde to him, but only for their good and ſalvation, if ſo be that teſtimony of John, whom they ſeemed to reſpect, might draw them to come to him, and be ſaved. Whence learn. 1. Chriſt doth ſo condeſcend and ſtoop for the good of his people, as yet he will not have his greatneſſe, and Majeſty forgotten or ſleighted; Therefore doth he adde this correction, leſt they ſhould miſtake his condeſcendence. 2. Chriſt doth then get his own roome in mens eſtimation, when he is ſeene to be ſuch a one, as needs nothing without himſelf, and needs nothing to commend him, but himſelf; And when they are brought to ſee and acknowledge; That he is nothing the greater, or better, when all are for him, nor the worſe, though all were againſt him; That his truth and doctrine needs no mans teſtimony for confirmation of it, being ſufficiently confirmed by his own authority; And, That mens commending of him, addes nothing to him, though it be their own and others advantage, that they do ſo, Therefore, ſaith he, I receive not teſtimony from man. 3. Albeit Chriſt need nothing of himſelf, but is alſufficient and infinitely glorious; yet he condeſcends much to mans weakneſſe, and for his good; for, albeit, he receive not teſtimony from man, yet ſaith he, theſe things I ſay, I borrow a teſtimony from John, for your cauſe, that ye might be ſaved. 4. The nature of Chriſts Miniſtry tends to the ſalvation of ſinners, how croſſe-like ſoever it ſeeme to work, to ſuch an end; And in his Miniſtry, he intends the ſalvation of his own, whom his love doth follow when they are among the croud of enemies; for, theſe things I ſay, not onelyonly in producing this teſtimony, but even in the harſheſt of this Apology, that ye might be ſaved, not that he intended the ſalvation of all theſe, but that the nature of his work tended to that end, and he intended the ſalvation of his own among them, 5. Albeit the ſalvation of men be their great and eternal happineſſe, yet they are ready to lay manie obſtructions in the way thereof, which it is Chriſts great love and condeſcendence to paſſe over; for, ſo much alſo is imported, in his ſaying theſe things, that they might be ſaved; They obſtructed the way of their own ſalvation, and Chriſt condeſcended to take the ſtumbling blocks out of the way.