this day's temptation. And when hypocrites are discovered, it should be no surprise or cause of
stumbling to us. Observe the lesson Christ here taught. Duties are mutual; we must both accept
help from our brethren, and afford help to our brethren. When we see our Master serving, we cannot
but see how ill it becomes us to domineer. And the same love which led Christ to ransom and
reconcile his disciples when enemies, still influences him.
Verses 18–30
Our Lord had often spoken of his own sufferings and death, without such trouble of spirit as
he now discovered when he spake of Judas. The sins of Christians are the grief of Christ. We are
not to confine our attention to Judas. The prophecy of his treachery may apply to all who partake
of God's mercies, and meet them with ingratitude. See the infidel, who only looks at the Scriptures
with a desire to do away their authority and destroy their influence; the hypocrite, who professes
to believe the Scriptures, but will not govern himself by them; and the apostate, who turns aside
from Christ for a thing of naught. Thus mankind, supported by God's providence, after eating bread
with Him, lift up the heel against Him! Judas went out as one weary of Jesus and his apostles. Those
whose deeds are evil, love darkness rather than light.
Verses 31–35
Christ had been glorified in many miracles he wrought, yet he speaks of his being glorified now
in his sufferings, as if that were more than all his other glories in his humbled state. Satisfaction
was thereby made for the wrong done to God by the sin of man. We cannot now follow our Lord
to his heavenly happiness, but if we truly believe in him, we shall follow him hereafter; meanwhile
we must wait his time, and do his work. Before Christ left the disciples, he would give them a new
commandment. They were to love each other for Christ's sake, and according to his example,
seeking what might benefit others, and promoting the cause of the gospel, as one body, animated
by one soul. But this commandment still appears new to many professors. Men in general notice
any of Christ's words rather than these. By this it appears, that if the followers of Christ do not
show love one to another, they give cause to suspect their sincerity.
Verses 36–38
What Christ had said concerning brotherly love, Peter overlooked, but spoke of that about which
Christ kept them ignorant. It is common to be more eager to know about secret things, which belong
to God only, than about things revealed, which belong to us and our children; to be more desirous
to have our curiosity gratified, than our consciences directed; to know what is done in heaven, than
what we may do to get thither. How soon discourse as to what is plain and edifying is dropped,
while a doubtful dispute runs on into endless strife of words! We are apt to take it amiss to be told
we cannot do this and the other, whereas, without Christ we can do nothing. Christ knows us better
than we know ourselves, and has many ways of discovering those to themselves, whom he loves,
and he will hide pride from them. May we endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace, to love one another with a pure heart fervently, and to walk humbly with our God.