Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 11:32
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
32. Then when Mary ] Mary therefore when.
she fell down at his feet ] Nothing of the kind is reported of Martha, Joh 11:21. Here again the difference of character between the two sisters appears.
Lord, if thou hadst been here ] The same words as those of Martha, Joh 11:21. No doubt the sisters had expressed this thought to one another often in the last few days. Mary’s emotion is too strong for her; she can say no more than this; contrast Joh 11:22. The Jews coming up prevent further conversation. For the construction comp. Joh 4:10, Joh 14:28.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Joh 11:32
When Mary was come she fell down at His feet, saying unto Him, Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died (see Joh 11:21)
Christs delay to interpose against death
1.
Mary fell at His feet; formerly she was willing to sit at them. The soul is never, as amid such desolation, constrained to cling to a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
2. There is continued confidence–it is still Lord, notwithstanding what had happened–seen in the conviction that an earlier arrival would have brought deliverance, and leading to a hope of help even in this extremity.
3. Mary uses the same words as Martha (Joh 11:21). Perhaps they had often said so. But Mary did not finish her appeal as Martha did (Joh 11:22); not that her faith was less strong: it was finished in her own heart. Tears break in and check utterance (Joh 11:33).
4. Yet with this faith there is wonder at Christs absence, which almost verges on reproach. Why so late? We shall look at the question in the light the narrative gives.
I. THE STRANGENESS OF CHRISTS DELAY TO INTERPOSE AGAINST DEATH.
1. Turn to the circumstances around us, as Martha and Mary may have done. Consider
(1) What death is to the sufferer. No happy translation. The end of all earthly sufferings but more dreaded than all. Mans heart recoils from its accompaniments. When we see a friend moving forward to his doom, what means do we not exhaust to save him? Yet Christ suffered Lazarus to die. And how many have been struck down since of the most lovely and loving; and yet death has no power without Christs permission.
(2) What a bereavement death is to the survivors! In a Christian it is not the dead who are to be mourned, but those whom they leave. What ages of agony are lived while the wavering balance is watched! And then the anguish of the parting, and the slow groping which follows to realize it! The childless mother, etc., have wrestled over the dying and moaned over the dead and none seemed to listen.
(3) What a ground of reproach death has furnished to the enemies of Christ. There was no lack of unbelieving Jews in Bethany to take advantage of Christs absence. Something like the feeling of the Psalmist must have been theirs, My tears have been my meat while they said unto me, where is thy God, and so now over closed graves we hear the reproach, Where is the promise of His coming? etc., and the Christian heart wearies for some interposition to vindicate its claim. Arise, O God, etc.
2. Turn from our circumstances to Christ as these sisters did. We believe
(1) That Christ is fully aware of our need. When a friend fails us through ignorance, we do not blame him. As soon as the sisters apprehended danger they sent to Jesus. Without this we know that Christ understands all our need. He can draw nearer than the nearest, and His foot does not step forward to the rescue. Is it not strange
(2) That Christ has full power to interpose (Joh 11:22; Joh 11:42). He has not only omnipotence, but the moral right and power, having paid the ransom price. The keys of death hang at His girdle, and that He should not use them occasions strange thoughts.
(3) That it is the desire of Christ to interpose (Joh 11:5; Joh 11:33). But if He felt so deeply why did He not come sooner? And if He meant not to interpose why should He weep? (Jer 14:8). Our very confidence in Christ becomes the occasion of bewildering doubts. Lord help Thou our unbelief.
II. THE REASON FOR CHRISTS DELAY WHICH MAY BE FOUND IN THIS HISTORY. Other reasons there are to be found in the Bible, and probably outside. But here we see that Christ delays
1. That His friends when dying may have confidence in Him, and have an opportunity for showing it. We have no account of Lazaruss death, but the period has its peculiar use in every spiritual history.
(1) The great end of Christs dealing with any soul is to convince it that in Him it has an all-sufficient life, and that with Him it can pass safely through every emergency. But this course of teaching would want its crown if it did not end in death. He invites the soul, and constrains it to put all its confidence into that last act of surrender knowing Him whom it believes, and feeling that underneath are the everlasting arms.
(2) Death is the last touch of that purifying fire which Christ employs to melt the fallen nature, free it from its dross, and fuse it into His likeness.
2. That the sorrowing friends may learn entire reliance on Him. It is a subject for study how Christ leads on these sisters from a dead brother to the Resurrection and the Life, and teaches them through their loss to gain what they could never lose any more. Christ separates our friends from us for a while that we may learn to find our all in Himself.
3. That in the midst of death the union of sympathy between Christ and His friends is perfected. Jesus had given them many tokens of His love while Lazarus lived, but none with that touching tenderness which came forth at his grave. The fellowship of suffering brings hearts and lives together more than all the fellowship of joy. When Jesus wept the mourners knew He was one with them. Gethsemane shows us the agony of Christs soul for mans sin–the grave at Bethany His agony of heart at mans suffering.
4. That God makes this a world of spiritual probation. By His delay Christ tried the character of all who knew the case, and Christs delays now are the touchstone of spiritual life. You who would have Him never suffer the tears of His people to fall would lead men to seek Him, not for the love they bore Him, but for outward benefits. But God defers the time for interposition in order that He may sift their characters and prepare them for the day of judgment.
5. That He brings in thereby a grander and final issue. (J. Ker, D. D.)
Trials should be borne cheerfully
In the days of King Solomon there lived among the Jews a wise man named Lokman. His master once gave him a very bitter kind of melon, called the coloquintida; he ate without making wry faces or speaking a word. How was it possible for you to swallow so nauseous a fruit? asked the master. Lokman answered: I have received so many sweets from you that it is not wonderful I should have swallowed the only bitter fruit you ever gave me. The master was so much charmed with this reply that he gave Lokman his liberty. The beautiful answer teaches us a lesson. We must take the gifts from our heavenly Father with a smiling face; but when He sees best for our good to send us something we do not like, our countenance falls, and even if we do not speak, our sullen discontent is apparent to all. Fretful impatience under bereavement:–The Duchess of Beaufort, on the death of the Duke, shut herself up in a room hung with black and refused all comfort. A Quaker, who found her thus disconsolate, in the deepest mourning, ejaculated, What! hast thou not forgiven God Almighty yet? The rebuke had such an effect that she immediately rose and went about her usual and necessary business. (Madame DArblay.)
Resignation taught by the sorrows of others
Peace, Mary, peace, said a godly woman, who had lost all her family, to a godless neighbour who was rebelling against the Providence that had taken one child of many; Peace, Mary; while I have six pairs of empty shoes to look on, you have but one. (T. Guthrie, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
28-32. The Master is come andcalleth for theeThe narrative does not give us thisinteresting detail, but Martha’s words do.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was,…. Where Martha met him, and where she left him. Travellers tell us, that close by a well, about a stone’s cast out of the town of Bethany, is showed the place where Martha met our Lord when he came to raise Lazarus, and where Mary, being called also, met him; but this is not to be depended on, nor is it of any moment to know it. It is blessed meeting Christ any where; and where he is preached, and his ordinances administered, let it be in what place it will, there may the presence of Christ be expected; and it is an encouragement to go there where others have met with him: Martha had been here before, and had had some conversation with Christ to her great satisfaction, and she goes and calls her sister, that she might enjoy the same: so souls that have met with Jesus under such a ministry, in such a place, invite others to go thither also; and often it is that this is a means, in providence, of finding Christ, and enjoying communion with him.
And saw him, she fell down at his feet; in great respect to him, and reverence of him, worshipping him as her Lord and God.
Saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died; which were the same words Martha uttered upon her first meeting Jesus, Joh 11:21; and it is very likely that they had often expressed themselves in such language one to another, saying to each other, if our Lord Jesus had been but here, our dear brother Lazarus would not have died.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Fell down at his feet ( ). Second aorist active of , to fall. Note unusual position of . This impulsive act like Mary. She said precisely what Martha had said to Jesus (verse 21). But she said no more, only wept (verse 33).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Then when Mary was come where Jesus was,” (he oun Mariam hos elthen hopou hen lesous) “Then Mary as she came where Jesus was,” outside the village still, Joh 11:30.
2) “And saw him, she fell down at his feet,” (idousa auton epesen autou pros tous podas) “Upon seeing him, she fell at his feet,” prostrate before Him, showing more intensive grief than Martha the counterpart sister of her, who was more like Peter.
3) “Saying unto him, Lord,” (legousa auto kurie) “Saying to him intimately, Lord,” or Master, supposing in grief that what she was saying was true, expressing her faith in the love of Jesus for Lazarus and his family, Joh 11:1-3. Her faith was affirmed by Martha, Joh 11:21 and the Jews Joh 11:37.
4) “If thou hadst been here,” (ei hes hode) “if you had been here,” supposing He would have healed him, not let him have died, a less forceful miracle than that He was about to perform. Often life’s greatest victories are snatched from life’s greatest trials and despair of hope.
5) “My brother had not died.” (ouk an mou apethanen ho adelphos) “My brother would not have died.-This was an expression of total faith, not a complaint, But He who is able often also purposes to do for men exceeding abundantly above that they are able to ask or think, Eph 3:20.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
32. She fell at his feet. From her falling down at his feet we learn that Christ was honored in that house beyond the ordinary custom of men. For, though it was customary to throw themselves down on the ground in the presence of kings and great men, yet as Christ had nothing about him, according to the flesh, that was royal or magnificent, it was for a different purpose that Mary fell down at his feet Indeed, she would not have done so, if she had not been convinced that he was the Son of God.
Lord, if thou hadst been here. Though she appears to speak of Christ respectfully, yet we have lately pointed out what is faulty in these words; for the power of Christ, which filled heaven and earth, ought not to have been limited to his bodily presence.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(32) Lord, if thou hadst been here.The words are precisely the same as those which Martha had uttered (Joh. 11:21). She adds no more. It may be that she was prevented doing so by the presence of the Jews; but the next verse suggests rather that her emotion was too powerful for words, and that the only possible language was that of a suppliant lying at His feet and weeping.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
32. Fell down at his feet Mary’s ardent soul appears in every motion. As soon, quickly, (Joh 11:29,) hastily, (Joh 11:31,) she fell down at his feet, (32.) She utters, like Martha, her double note of sorrow over what is, and what, alas! might have been; but, unlike Martha, she utters no saving clause of hope, (Joh 11:22.) Jesus answers her not as Martha, with a promise, but with the deed. He is here, and Lazarus is about to live.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Mary, therefore, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell down at his feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died”.,
Unlike practical Martha she flung herself at His feet. How typical of Mary. She was always to be found at Jesus’ feet (Luk 10:39; Joh 11:32; Joh 12:3) However, her first thought was similar. ‘Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died’. But, unlike the practical Martha, she was accepting of the situation. She did not blame Him. She sought only comfort in His presence. It was Martha who had hoped for, and believed in, the possibility of action.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Joh 11:32. She fell down at his feet, When Mary came to Jesus, she fell down at his feet, and expressed herself just as Martha had done, only she wept as she spake. Her affliction is described, though in few words, yet in those the most natural and pathetic; and her prostration performed without reserve before the Jews, is a remarkable instance of the high veneration that she had for Christ; and his receiving of divine worship without any correction or reserve, is a proof of his supreme Godhead.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Joh 11:32 . , etc.] Not so Martha, Joh 11:21 . Mary’s feelings were of an intenser and stronger kind.
. ] at His feet ( , Mar 5:22 ; Mar 7:25 ). So afterwards, . my brother had not died, as in Joh 13:6 , and very often in the New Testament and in Greek writers; see Khner, 627 A 4; Stallbaum, ad Plat. Rep . p. 518 C.
, etc.] like Martha in Joh 11:21 , but without adding anything beyond her tears. This thought had unquestionably been the oft-repeated refrain of their mutual communications on the subject of their sorrow.
No further conversation takes place, because the by coming with her disturbed them, Joh 11:31 ; Joh 11:33 ; according to Luthardt, because Jesus wished a deed to take the place of words ; but of this there is no hint in the text.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Ver. 32. She fell down at his feet ] Giving him divine honour, before all the Jews that were present. So did not Martha, that we read of. Mary had been more diligent in hearing and meditation of the word; hence her greater love and respect to Christ.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
32. ] The words of Mary are fewer, and her action more impassioned, than those of her sister: she was perhaps interrupted by the arrival of the Jews: cf. Joh 11:33 .
Khner, Gram. 627, Anm. 4, remarks that when the genitive of the enclitic personal pronoun is prefixed to its substantive, a slight sense of the dativus commodi is given: “non mihi frater mortuus esset.”
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 11:32 . Consequently when she reaches Jesus she has only time to fall at His feet and exclaim, in Martha’s words, . The sight of Jesus, , produced a more vehement demonstration of grief than in Martha. Cf. Cicero, in Verrem , Joh 11:39 . “Mihi obviam venit et mihi ad pedes misera jacuit, quasi ego excitare filium ejus ab inferis possem.” Wetstein.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
fell down. Others who fell down before Him or at His feet were the wise men (Mat 2:11), Jairus (Mar 5:22), the woman (Mar 5:33), the Syrophenician (Mar 7:25), Peter (Luk 5:8), the leper (Luk 5:12), the Gadarene (Luk 8:28), and the Samaritan (Luk 17:16). This makes nine in all. See App-10.
at. Greek. eis. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
32.] The words of Mary are fewer, and her action more impassioned, than those of her sister: she was perhaps interrupted by the arrival of the Jews: cf. Joh 11:33.
Khner, Gram. 627, Anm. 4, remarks that when the genitive of the enclitic personal pronoun is prefixed to its substantive, a slight sense of the dativus commodi is given: non mihi frater mortuus esset.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 11:32. , she fell at His feet) This Martha had not done. Mary thus makes amends for her slowness in going to meet Him. [Herein she gives a specimen of the most profound reverence arising out of faith.-V. g.]
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 11:32
Joh 11:32
Mary therefore, when she came where Jesus was, and saw him, fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.-Concentrating her feelings on the object of her grief when she saw Jesus, she fell on her face before him to worship him. Like Martha, the thought occurred to her that if Jesus had been there before the death of her brother, he had not died. She showed her reverence for him by falling at his feet upon her knees and saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. She knew of his kindly feeling toward her brother and sister, of his power and willingness to heal sickness and relieve from suffering, and believed his love would have led him to heal her brother, so she said, if thou had been here, you could and would have healed him, that he had not died. This was the language of Martha when she met him. Mary gives no expression to a thought that he could raise him as Martha did, so he did not speak of the resurrection to Mary as he did to Martha.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
she fell: Luk 5:8, Luk 8:41, Luk 17:16, Rev 5:8, Rev 5:14, Rev 22:8
if: Joh 11:21, Joh 11:37, Joh 4:49
Reciprocal: Mat 9:18 – come Mar 5:35 – why Joh 4:47 – that he Joh 6:9 – but Joh 12:3 – took
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2
Mary expressed the same faith in the power of Jesus to control disease as did Martha. See the comments on the subject at verse 21.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 11:32. Mary, therefore, when she came where Jesus was, seeing him fell at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. Her first words are nearly the same as her sisters: there is only in the Greek a slight difference in the place of my which gives a touching emphasis to the expression of personal loss. Often may the sisters have repeated such words during their hours of anguish, when their brother was sinking before their eyes. Marys absorbing grief makes other words impossible: she falls at the feet of Jesus weeping.