John 3:17

Verse 17. To condemn the world. Not to judge, or pronounce sentence on mankind. God might justly have sent him for this. Man deserved condemnation, and it would have been right to have pronounced it; but God was willing that there should be an offer of pardon, and the sentence of condemnation was delayed. But, although Jesus did not come then to condemn mankind, yet the time is coming when he will return to judge the living and the dead, Acts 17:31, 2Cor 5:10, Mt 25:31-46.

(o) "For God" Lk 9:56

John 5:45

Verses 45,46. Do not think that I will accuse you. Do not suppose that I intend to follow your example. They had accused Jesus of breaking the law of God, Jn 5:16. He says that he will not imitate their example, though he implies that he might accuse them.

To the Father. To God.

There is one that accuseth you. Moses might be said to accuse or reprove them. He wrote of the Messiah, clearly foretold his coming, and commanded them to hear him. As they did not do it, it might be said that they had disregarded his command; and as Moses was divinely commissioned and had a right to be obeyed, so his command reproved them: they were disobedient and rebellious.

He wrote of me. He wrote of the Messiah, and I am the Messiah, Gen 3:15, 12:3; comp. Jn 8:56, Gen 49:10, De 18:15

(u) "there is one" Rom 2:12.

John 12:47

Verse 47. I judge him not, &c. Jn 8:15. It was not his present purpose to condemn men. He would come to condemn the guilty at a future time. At present he came to save them. hence he did not now even pronounce decisively on the condition of those who rejected him, but still gave them an opportunity to be saved.

(x) "for I came not to judge the world" Jn 3:17
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