Joh 12:36, Eph 5:8 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 36. While ye have light. This implied two things: 1st. That he was the light, or was the Messiah. 2nd. That he was soon to be taken away by death. In this manner he answered their question--not directly , but in a way to convey the truth to their minds, and at the same time to administer to them a useful admonition. Jesus never aroused the prejudices of men unnecessarily, yet he never shrank from declaring to them the truth in some way , however unpalatable it might be. Believe in the light . That is, in the Messiah, who is the light of the world. That ye may be the children , &c. That ye may the friends and followers of the Messiah. . Comp. : "Now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light." Did hide himself from them . . He went out to Bethany, where he commonly passed the night, . (p) "be the children of light"

John 12:36

Verse 36. While ye have light. This implied two things:

1st. That he was the light, or was the Messiah.

2nd. That he was soon to be taken away by death. In this manner he answered their question--not directly, but in a way to convey the truth to their minds, and at the same time to administer to them a useful admonition. Jesus never aroused the prejudices of men unnecessarily, yet he never shrank from declaring to them the truth in some way, however unpalatable it might be.

Believe in the light. That is, in the Messiah, who is the light of the world.

That ye may be the children, &c. That ye may the friends and followers of the Messiah. Mt 1:1. Comp. Jn 8:12 Eph 5:8: "Now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light."

Did hide himself from them. Jn 8:59. He went out to Bethany, where he commonly passed the night, Lk 21:37.

(p) "be the children of light" Eph 5:8

Ephesians 5:8

Verse 8. For ye were sometimes darkness. Eph 2:11, Eph 2:12; 1Cor 6:11. The meaning here is, that they were themselves formerly sunk in the same ignorance, and practised the same abominations.

But now are ye light in the Lord. Light is the emblem of happiness, knowledge, holiness. The meaning is, that they had been enlightened by the Lord to see the evil of these practices, and that they ought, therefore, to forsake them.

Walk as children of light. Mt 1:1, on the use of the word son or children. The meaning here is, that they should live as became those who had been enlightened to see the evil of sin, and the beauty of virtue and religion. Comp. Jn 12:36, where the same phrase occurs.

(d) "ye were sometimes" Eph 2:11,12 (e) "in the lord" 1Thes 5:5 (f) "of light" Jn 12:36