Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 2:25
And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
25. And needed not ] Better, and because He had no need.
for he knew ] Better, for He of Himself knew. We have instances of this supernatural knowledge in the cases of Peter, Joh 1:42; Nathanael, Joh 1:47-48; Nicodemus, Joh 3:3; the woman at the well, Joh 4:29; the disciples, Joh 6:61; Joh 6:64; Lazarus, Joh 11:4; Joh 11:15; Judas, Joh 13:11; Peter, Joh 21:17.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Should testify of man – Should give him the character of any man.
He knew what was in man – This he did because he had made all Joh 1:3, and because he was God, Joh 1:1. There can be no higher evidence than this that he was omniscient, and was therefore divine. To search the heart is the prerogative of God alone Jer 17:10; and as Jesus knew what was in these disciples, and as it is expressly said that he knew what was in man – that is, in all people – so it follows that he must be equal with God. As he knows all, he is acquainted with the false pretentions and professions of hypocrites. None can deceive him. He also knows the wants and desires of all his real friends. He hears their groans, he sees their sighs, he counts their tears, and in the day of need will come to their relief.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
And needed not any information concerning the principles and humours of all men; for he perfectly knew men, not only from their more external acts and behaviours, (as we know them), but he knew what was in them, searching the hearts, and trying the reins, which is the property of God alone, 1Ki 8:39; Psa 33:15. Here what we formerly observed is again observable, that oft times in holy writ, for the further confirmation of a proposition, to a universal affirmative is added a contrary negative. Here ariseth a question, agitated between the Lutherans and the Calvinists, Whether Christ as man knew all things, and what is in the heart of man. They affirm it, because of the personal union of the Divine and human natures in Christ. We say, that although there be such a personal union, yet the properties of each nature remain distinct; upon which account Christ denieth that he, as the Son of man, knew the day and hour of the end of the world. Besides, by the same reason that omniscience belongeth to the human nature of Christ, omnipotence, infiniteness, and omnipresence, also must; which last indeed they affirm, seeing that without it they were not able to defend their doctrine of consubstantiation, or the presence of the body and blood of Christ, wherever the sacrament of his supper is administered; but this being a matter polemical, we shall not here discourse it. Those who would be satisfied as to what is said on either side, may find enough in Gerard, Hunnius, and Farnovius, on the Lutherans side; and in Zanchius and others on the Calvinists side, Zanchius de Natura and Attributis Dei, lib. 3. cap. 2. qu. 16.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
25. knew what was in manIt isimpossible for language more clearly to assert of Christ what inJer 17:9; Jer 17:10,and elsewhere, is denied of all mere creatures.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And needed not that any should testify of man,…. Of this or the other man, that he was a good or a bad man; he needed no proofs to be made, or testimonies bore, or evidence given of men’s characters and actions; he was of quick understanding, and could distinguish at once between a wicked man and a good man; and so had the characteristic which the Jews require of the Messiah; for they rejected Bar Cozba from being the Messiah, and slew him, because he could not smell, referring to Isa 11:3, or discern a bad man from a good man n; but this Jesus could do, without any external evidence:
for he knew what was in man; which none but the spirit of a man can know; his inward thoughts, the secrets of the heart; thus Christ knew the thoughts of the Scribes and Pharisees, Mt 9:4, being a discerner of the thoughts, and intents of the heart, Heb 4:12. This Apollonius Tyaneus, the ape of Christ, ascribed to himself o; but is what is peculiar to God; and Christ being God, knows all that is in man; that there is no good in him naturally, nothing but what comes from his Father, is imparted by himself, or implanted by his Spirit; he knows the wickedness there is in man, that his heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, and full of all manner of iniquities; he knows in what condition all the and faculties of the souls of men are; what their affections are set upon, on earthly or heavenly things; whether there is any light in their understandings, or not; whether their wills are subdued and resigned to the will of God, or not; whether their minds and consciences are defiled, or their hearts are sprinkled from an evil conscience; in short, whether the internal good work of grace is begun upon their souls, or not; and he knows the secret springs of all actions, good and bad; all which prove his true and proper deity, and show him to be a suitable Saviour of sinners, and qualify him to be the Judge of the whole earth.
n T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 93. 2. o Philostrat. Vit. Apollonii, l. 1. c. 13.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And because he needed not ( ). Imperfect active, “and because he did not have need.”
That any one should bear witness concerning man ( ). Non-final use of with first aorist active subjunctive of and the generic article ( ) concerning mankind as in the next clause also.
For he himself knew ( ). Imperfect active, “for he himself kept on knowing” as he did from the start.
What was in man ( ). Indirect question with of the direct changed to the imperfect , a rare idiom in the Koine. This supernatural knowledge of man is a mark of deity. Some men of genius can read men better than others, but not in the sense meant here.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
He needed not [ ] . Literally, he had not need.
Testify [] . Rev., better, bear witness. The same word is in Joh 1:7, 8, 15, 32 (see on 1 7).
Of man [ ] . Better, as Rev., concerning man.
He knew [ ] . The pronoun is expressed, and with a view to emphasis, as Rev., “He himself knew.” The imperfect expresses continuance : He was all along cognizant as the successive cases presented themselves; thus falling in with the next words, “what was in the man,” i e., in each particular man with whom He had to do. No such characteristic as this was attributed to the gods of Paganism. “While, then, the gift of anything like general foreknowledge appears to be withheld from all the deities of invention, that of ‘the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, ‘ is nowhere found; nor was it believed of any member of the Olympian community, as it was said of One greater than they, ‘He knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man, for He knew what was in man, ‘” (Gladstone, “Homer and the Homeric Age,” 2, 366).
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And needed not,” (kai hoti ou chreian eichen) “And because he held no need,” negatively, had not a need at all, concerning testimony regarding anyone’s character.
2) “That any should testify of man:” (hina tis marturese peri tou anthropou) “In order that anyone should witness concerning man,” or divulge information to Him regarding human nature, and man’s weakness, Isa 53:4 -6.
3) “For he knew what was in man.” (autos gar eginosken ti en to anthropo) “For he knew what existed in humanity,” the carnal, depraved nature, the motives that governed the ways of man. His thoughts are above man’s thoughts, so sublime, as set forth, Isa 55:8-9; Jer 17:9-10. Our Lord’s cleansing the temple area, claiming it belonged to His Father, asserting His resurrection in three days after He was killed, and doing many miracles in Jerusalem demonstrated that He was the Messiah — exciting hatred of the Jews and many fickle-faith followers.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
25. For he knew what was in man. As it might be doubted whence Christ obtained this knowledge, the Evangelist anticipates this question, and replies that Christ perceived every thing in men that is concealed from our view, so that he could on his own authority make a distinction among men. Christ, therefore, who knows the hearts, had no need of any one to inform him what sort of men they were. He knew them to have such a disposition and such feelings, that he justly regarded them as persons who did not belong to him.
The question put by some — whether we too are authorized by the example of Christ to hold those persons as suspected who have not given us proof of their sincerity — has nothing to do with the present passage. There is a wide difference between him and us; for Christ knew the very roots of the trees, but, except from the fruits which appear outwardly, we cannot discover what is the nature of any one tree. Besides, as Paul tells us, that charity is not suspicious, (1Co 13:5,) we have no right to entertain unfavorable suspicions about men who are unknown to us. But, that we may not always be deceived by hypocrites, and that the Church may not be too much exposed to their wicked impostures, it belongs to Christ to impart to us the Spirit of discretion.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(25) And needed not.Better, and because He needed not.
For he knew.Better, for He of Himself knew. The verse is a wider statement of the general truth of which Joh. 2:24 is a particular instance. He did not in that instance need any testimony of spiritual state and character, because He then, as always, read what was in man.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25. Knew what was in man Some men are penetrating judges of human character. But this is not what John means of this the Word made flesh. In this chapter, indeed, we have repeated instances of John’s view, that the glory of the Divine nature was continually shedding its rays through the tenement of flesh. The first miracle (Joh 2:11) manifested forth his glory; he claims all power to rebuild the demolished temple; and now he is described as knowing the secrets of our nature.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
REFLECTIONS
How is it possible to behold my Lord, honoring the bridal feast with his presence and miracles without having the mind led to the consideration of that yet more astonishing miracle, when the Son of God first betrothed his Church to himself, in righteousness, in judgment, in loving kindness, and in mercies; and in faithfulness forever! Here I would say, as often as my soul reviews the vast mercy, here my Lord, my Ishi, my Husband, is indeed everlastingly blessing his Church with his presence; supplying every want, and turning all my water into wine. Lord! do thou daily manifest forth thy glory; and cause me by thy sweet influences, unceasingly to believe in thee.
Blessed Lord the Spirit! praised be thy name for this precious record of my Lord’s zeal in purging his Temple. Do thou, Lord, so cleanse my heart; for thou hast said, the bodies of thy people are the temple of the Holy Ghost, which dwelleth in them. And if my God will drive out all the vain thoughts which lodge there, which like the buyers and sellers in the Temple, so defile my poor heart; then, by my Lord’s indwelling presence, shall I be enabled to glorify God, in my body and in my spirit, which are his.
And praised be my Lord for the very precious sign he gave the Jews; and for the very precious confirmation of it which followed. Yes! thou glorious Lord; while both the power of God the Father, and God the Holy Ghost, were manifested in thy triumphs over death and the grave; thou wast most fully declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit o f holiness, by thy resurrection from the dead! And is it not by this same blessed testimony, the whole Church rests in hope for the sure accomplishment of the same in all thy mystical members! Hail! thou that art the resurrection and the life! Sure I am, that because thou livest, thy redeemed shall live also!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
Ver. 25. For he knew what was in man ] Artificers know the nature and properties of their works, and shall not Christ of the heart? He searcheth men’s hearts, and trieth the reins, which of all their inwards are the most inward; a besides that they are the seats and springs of all our thoughts and lusts. Deus intimior nobis intimo nostro, saith one, God is nearer to us than we are to ourselves, and knows our thoughts long before, as a gardener knows what flowers he shall have at spring, because he knows the roots.
a Nihil eorde ae renibus magis intimum; adeo ut per multos meatus atque incurvos anfractus deferri elaborati cibi debeant, antequam eo possint perduci.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
testify = bear witness. See note on Joh 1:7.
what was in man. This attribute elsewhere attributed only to Jehovah (Jer 17:10; Jer 20:12). Here this knowledge was universal (“all”, Joh 2:24), and individual (“man “).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Joh 2:25. ) because.- , of man: in man) This is said of the whole race of men: in the preceding verse, of the individuals contained under it.-) Himself, without any other testimony.-, what) to wit, treachery: every man is deceitful. The language of John has Euphemy.[48] In man [the natural man] there is what is human: in the new man there is what is divine, Christian, spiritual.
[48] He avoided the harsh expression of all that was implied.-E. and T.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 2:25
Joh 2:25
and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.-He had a divine insight into the hearts of men that enabled him to understand them without others telling of them. He gave an example of this in Nathanael. (Joh 1:43-47). Then he told where and what Nathanael had been doing, and understood the secret workings of his heart. He was brought to believe in Christ by this. He did the same to the woman of Samaria.
Questions on John Chapter Two
E.M. Zerr
1. From what was this the “third day”?
2. What was taking place?
3. Who was present besides Jesus and his disciples?
4. Of what did she inform Jesus?
5. What did he say had not come?
6. Tell what indicates her confidence in him.
7. What vessels were available?
8. State their customary use.
9. Repeat the orders Jesus first gave to them.
10. What Next?
11. How was the ruler impressed?
12. What did he not know?
13. To whom did he give the credit?
14. When was “good” wine usually served ?
15. What effect would this “good” wine have?
16. Then what might be served ?
17. How was the present case different?
18. Of what was this the beginning?
19. What did it manifest?
20. How did it affect his disciples?
21. After this where did he go?
22. Where is this located?
23. What woman went along?
24. Were his “brethren” and his disciples the same ?
25. What about their stay here?
26. Tell what feast was about due.
27. Where did Jesus go?
28. Why to this city?
29. Tell what he found in the temple.
30. What occasioned these things?
31. State the need for money changers.
32. Tell what Jesus did.
33. Of what did he accuse them?
34. What writing did the disciples then apply?
35. For what evidence did the Jews ask?
36. State his answer.
37. To what did they refer his answer?
38. Why did it seem impossible to them?
39. Of what was he speaking?
40. State his meaning of three days.
41. When did the disciples recall this prediction?
42. What two authorities did they then believe?
43. Why believe the two?
44. Did any others believe?
45. Where did they meet him?
46. What caused them to believe?
47. Tell what Jesus knew.
48. Because of this what did he not do?
49. What testimony did he not need?
50. Tell what he knew without seeing it.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Reciprocal: Gen 18:13 – Wherefore Gen 18:15 – Nay Deu 8:2 – to know Deu 31:21 – I know Jos 22:22 – he knoweth 2Sa 7:20 – knowest 1Ki 8:39 – for thou 1Ch 28:9 – the Lord 2Ch 6:30 – thou only Job 10:6 – General Job 11:11 – he knoweth Job 42:2 – no Psa 139:2 – understandest Pro 15:11 – the hearts Pro 21:2 – the Lord Jer 17:10 – the Lord Eze 11:5 – for Amo 4:13 – and declareth Mat 9:2 – seeing Mat 9:4 – knowing Mat 12:25 – Jesus Mat 16:8 – when Mat 22:18 – perceived Mar 2:5 – saw Mar 2:8 – when Mar 8:17 – knew Mar 9:33 – What Mar 12:15 – knowing Mar 14:15 – he will Luk 5:20 – he saw Luk 6:8 – But Luk 9:47 – perceiving Luk 11:17 – knowing Luk 16:15 – God Luk 20:23 – he Luk 22:12 – he Joh 1:42 – Thou art Joh 1:48 – when Joh 4:16 – Go Joh 5:42 – I know Joh 6:15 – perceived Joh 6:61 – General Joh 6:64 – For Joh 13:11 – General Joh 16:19 – Jesus Joh 21:17 – Lord Act 1:24 – Lord Act 15:8 – which 2Co 11:11 – God 1Th 2:4 – but God 1Jo 3:20 – and Rev 2:23 – I am
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
CHRISTS KNOWLEDGE OF MAN
He knew what was in man.
Joh 2:25
No greater proof could be given of our Lords Divine nature than His marvellous knowledge of mens hearts and ways. To know the secrets of mens hearts is the prerogative of God alone, as it is written, I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways (Jer 17:10). But the Lord Jesus had this power: He knew all men. Every one of those who lived in Juda or Galilee, yea, even to the uttermost parts of the earth, were known to Him. He knew what was in man. The most secret aim or imagination cherished in the recess of the soul, unknown and unsuspected even by the most intimate relative or friend, stands out before Christ plainly and distinctly without the least veil or covering.
I. What a help and encouragement to the sinner is the thought on which we are dwelling? Christ knows every secret of my heart. He knows every failing, every temptation, every root of mischief that is working in me. He knows each wrong desire which it is so hard to check. He knows the cause of that depression of spirit which sometimes overwhelms me. He knows those tendencies to anger, murmuring, envy, unbelief, which cause me so much distress. Moreover, He knows those longings for a higher and nobler life, those sighs over the sin that cleaves to me, those prayer-thoughts that arise to Him continually even when beset with temptations to evil which I abhor. The whole case lies open before Him. The evil that has been, that evil that is now, the evil that might yet arise, and whatever better thing His grace has given, all is perfectly known to Him. Is this no ground of confidence to the soul that would be saved, or to him who would rise to a much higher level than he has yet reached? The Saviour has come, and come close to you. He comes to give life, and to give it more abundantly. He comes to break down every barrier, to heal every disease, and to save even to the uttermost. And His perfect knowledge of you is one great element of hope. If He knows all that is amiss, you may be sure in His power and love He will heal and save you.
II. But Christ is coming again as the Judge of quick and dead. As King He shall sit upon the great white throne, and before Him shall be gathered all nations, and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. And it is in this aspect that we see the solemn importance of Christs perfect knowledge of man. For, as He knows all, so will He reveal all. We must all be made manifest before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (2Co 5:10, R.V.). In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel (Rom 2:6). Imagine the man whose whole life has been given to accumulate wealth, and who has practised unnumbered acts of deceit and secret fraud in doing this. There has been an utter disregard of the claims of the workman, or the need of the widow, or the vast responsibility of his position. To get rich, to add thousands to thousands, has been the one aim, and all else has been sacrificed to this. How will such a man stand the test and answer for the utter neglect and abuse of the talent committed to him? Imagine the man who has borne a fair character in the world, and perchance has been regular in church and passed for a Christian, but yet all the time has been the slave of some hateful vice, and perhaps has drawn many others into the vortex of evil. Hidden now beneath the veil of a respectable exterior are multitudes of such as are but the grossest hypocrites in Gods sight. Like the Pharisees of old, they are as whited sepulchres. Outwardly they appear righteous before man, but within are full of corruption and iniquity.
Rev. George Everard.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
5
Jesus knew all about the innermost thoughts of men, and regarded them as unreliable; he knew they were not to be trusted.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
St. John’s design in writing of this gospel being to assert the divinity of Christ, he scatters evidences of it in almost every chapter. Here he declares his omniscience, He knew what was in man; that is, being God blessed for ever, he had an exact knowledge of the hearts of men, not by any revelation of men’s hearts from God, but by immediate intuition from himself. He knows all men, and all that is in men. See here an ample testimony of the divinity of Christ, his knowledge of the secrets of the hearts of all men, which is declared to be the undoubted property of God alone, Thou only knowest the hearts of all the children of men. 1Ki 8:39
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
2:25 {7} And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
(7) Christ is the searcher of hearts, and therefore truly God.