Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 12:43
For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
43. the praise of men &c.] Better, the glory ( that cometh) from men rather than the glory ( that cometh) from God (see on Joh 5:41; Joh 5:44). The word rendered ‘praise’ is the same as that rendered ‘glory’ in Joh 5:41. Moreover ‘more than’ is not strong enough; it should be rather than. Joseph and Nicodemus confessed their belief after the crisis of the Crucifixion. Gamaliel did not even get so far as to believe on Him.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The praise of men – The approval of human beings. It does not appear that they had a living, active faith, but that they were convinced in their understanding that he was the Messiah. They had that kind of faith which is so common among people – a speculative acknowledgment that religion is true, but an acknowledgment which leads to no self-denial, which shrinks from the active duties of piety, and fears man more than God. True faith is active. It overcomes the fear of man; it prompts to self-denying duties, Heb. 11. Nevertheless, it was no unimportant proof that Jesus was the Messiah, that any part of the great council of the Jews were even speculatively convinced of it: and it shows that the evidence could not have been slight when it overcame their prejudices and pride, and constrained them to admit that the lowly and poor man of Nazareth was the long expected Messiah of their nation.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 43. They loved the praise of men] , the glory or honour that cometh from men.
How common are these four obstacles of faith! says Quesnel:
1. Too great a regard to men.
2. Riches and temporal advantages.
3. The fear of disgrace.
4. The love of the praise of men.
Abundance of persons persuade themselves that they love God more than the world, till some trying occasion fully convinces them of their mistake. It is a very great misfortune for a person not to know himself but by his falls; but it is the greatest of all not to rise again after he has fallen. This is generally occasioned by the love of the praise of men, because in their account it is more shameful to rise again than it was to fall at first.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For they were not willing to part with their great places in the magistracy, which brought them respect, honour, and applause from men; they valued this more than Gods honouring and praising them. How hard it is for great men to enter into the kingdom of God!
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
43. they loved the praise of menmore than the praise of God“a severe remark, consideringthat several at least of these persons afterwards boldly confessedChrist. It indicates the displeasure with which God regarded theirconduct at this time, and with which He continues to regard similarconduct” [WEBSTER andWILKINSON].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For they loved the praise of men,…. To be in the esteem of men, to have their applause, and receive honour from them:
more than the praise of God; than either to receive honour from him, and be praised by him, or to praise and glorify him. By confessing Christ they knew they should run the risk of losing their places of honour and profit, and of falling under the disgrace and contempt of men; and therefore they chose rather not to confess Christ, than by so doing to glorify God, and please him, and be praised by him, as all the faithful professors of Christ will be at the last day; for then every such an one will have praise of God, and it will be said, well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Praise [] . Much better, Rev., glory, because suggesting a contrast with the vision of divine glory referred to in ver. 41. Compare Joh 5:44.
Than [] The word cannot be rendered by a corresponding word in English The force is, “more than the glory of God, though He is so much more glorious.” The word is found nowhere else in the New Testament. Some authorities read uper, above.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1 ) “For they loved the praise of men,” (egapesan gar ten doksan ton anthropon) “Because they loved (held prior affections for) the praise (plaudits) of men,” the glory one might receive from men, an error of Balaam, who pursued a course of reward in popularity and applause, or the praise of men, Jud 1:11. They, as obstinate rulers were law- keeping -job- holders, Joh 4:4.
2) “More than the praise of God.” (mallon eper ten doksan tou theou) “More than they loved or cared for the glory of God,” the sanction of an holy God, who judges men on the basis of their purposes and intents of their hearts, as well as by their deeds; Mat 5:20; Mat 6:1-8; Mat 23:1-7; Mat 23:12, Rom 2:29. For those who confess Him openly shall one day have His high praise personally, Pro 28:13; Mat 10:32; Luk 12:8.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
43. For they loved the glory of men. The Evangelist expressly states that those men were not guided by any superstition, but only endeavored to avoid disgrace among men; for if ambition had greater influence over them than the fear of God, it follows, that it was no vain scruple of conscience that gave them uneasiness. Now, let the reader observe how great ignominy is incurred before God, by the cowardice of those who, from the fear of being hated, dissemble their faith before men. Can any thing be more foolish, or rather, can any thing be more beastly, than to prefer the silly applause of men to the judgment of God? But he declares that all who shrink from the hatred of men, when the pure faith ought to be confessed, are seized with this kind of madness. And justly; for the apostle, in applauding the unshaken steadiness of Moses, says that
he remained firm, as if he had seen him who is invisible, (Heb 11:27.)
By these words he means that, when any person has fixed his eyes on God, his heart will be invincible, and utterly incapable of being moved.
Whence, therefore, comes the effeminacy (31), which causes us to give way to treacherous hypocrisy, but because, at the sight of the world, all our senses grow dull? For a true sight of God would instantly chase away all the mists of wealth and honors. Away with those who look upon an indirect denial of Christ as some trivial offense, or, as they call it, a venial sin! For, on the contrary, the Holy Spirit declares that it is more base and monstrous than if heaven and earth were mingled.
To love the glory of men means, in this passage, to desire to enjoy reputation among men. The Evangelist, therefore, means, that those men were so much devoted to the world, that they were more desirous to please men than to please God. Besides, when he accuses of this crime those who denied Christ, he, at the same time, shows that the excommunication, which the priests abused, contrary to all that was right and lawful, had no value or efficacy. Let us know, therefore, that all the excommunications which the Pope now mutters against us are mere bugbears to frighten children, (32) since we are fully convinced, in our own consciences, that he aims at nothing else than to lead us away from Christ.
(31) “ D’ou vient done la delicatesse ?”
(32) “ Ne sont qu’espouvantemens de petits enfants.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(43) For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.For praise read in both instances glory. The glory which comes from men more than the glory which came from God. Comp. Note on Joh. 5:44, where the truth is put in the form of a question by our Lord. Here it explains the fact that there were men who believed, and yet did not publicly confess their faith. There our Lords question goes deeper, and asserts that the seeking of the glory which comes from men is inconsistent with the existence of any true belief in God.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
43. Loved the praise of men And hence, according to Joh 5:44, while this love filled their hearts, they could not believe. This was, properly speaking, no so-called “moral inability.” It was simply an incompatibility between the two things. Whilst they retained that worldly love, which they could and ought to have cast out from their hearts, belief in Christ was in itself impossible. The two opposites could not unite in the same mind. Thus does our Evangelist, in the spirit of sober sadness, account for the final unbelief of his race and nation. For that unbelief he had seen their downfall and their rejection of God. He had accepted those awful facts in pensive calmness, yet was cheered by the glorious future opened before his view in the Lord’s discourse before the Greeks, describing the overthrow of the prince of darkness in the heathen world, and the opening of an age of Christian triumph. He now proceeds to give a recapitulation of the great mission of Jesus by the Jews rejected.
Closing summary of Jesus’s public testimony to the Jews, Joh 12:44-50. This final summary consists mainly of memoranda collected from the various teachings of Jesus. We have, Joh 12:44-46, Christ identified with God as Testifier and Light; Joh 12:47-50, the rejection of him, being a rejection of the Father, shall be judged not by him now personally, but by his uttered word reproduced at the last day, being authenticated by the Father himself, by whose command and upon whose divine authority it is spoken.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Ver. 43. They loved the praise of men ] Which what is it else but a little stinking breath? These have their reward, Mercedem suam, non Dei, you have your reward not of God, saith Jerome. How much better Luther! Haud velim, Erasmi, gloria aut nomine vehi: Maior est mihi timor in laudibus, gaudium veto in maledictis et blasphemiis. Let me not wish by any means, Erasmus, to bear the fame or the reputation: To me, greater is the fear in praises, I do not have joy in insults or slanders. (Epist. ad Nic. Hansm.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
loved. Greek. agapao. App-135.
praise = glory. Same word as in Joh 12:41.
men. Greek anthropos. App-123.
God. App-98.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Joh 12:43. , they loved) the Gospel demands, and produces[works] in men, a renunciation of human things.- , the glory [praise] of men) such as is communion in the synagogue. [And of what worth is this, when it is compared with the right of fellow-citizenship with saints and the household of GOD?-V. g.] He who shrinks from ignominy [incurred for Christs sake] already loves the glory [praise] of men.- , the glory [praise] of God) Glory from God falls to the portion of those, who believe and speak out: Joh 12:26, If any man serve Me, him will My Father honour; ch. Joh 1:12, As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 12:43
Joh 12:43
for they loved the glory that is of men more than the glory that is of God.-This class here mentioned must have been of that class of which Jesus spoke when he said: He that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God. (Luk 12:9). [The fact that these rulers did not confess Christ openly for fear shows their cowardly spirit and only added to their sin. They were dishonest and the worst hypocrites. There is no hope for such characters.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
they: Joh 5:41, Joh 5:44, Mat 6:2, Mat 23:5-7, Luk 16:15, Psa 22:29, 1Th 2:6
the praise of God: Joh 12:26, Joh 8:54, 1Sa 2:30, Luk 19:17, Rom 2:7, 1Co 4:5, 2Co 10:18, 1Pe 1:7, 1Pe 1:8, 1Pe 3:4
Reciprocal: 1Sa 15:30 – honour me now 2Sa 3:18 – for the Lord Psa 91:15 – honour Psa 111:10 – his praise Dan 1:10 – I fear Mat 6:1 – to be Luk 8:13 – which Luk 9:26 – whosoever Joh 2:23 – many Joh 3:2 – came Joh 3:19 – because Joh 7:13 – spake Joh 9:22 – because Act 12:3 – he saw Rom 2:29 – whose Rom 10:9 – That if 1Co 13:3 – though I bestow 2Ti 3:7 – learning Rev 21:8 – the fearful
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3
This verse states the motive of the conduct mentioned in the preceding one. It is hard to understand, but perhaps it is because the favor of God is connected with requirement that one shall sacrifice some of his selfish practices.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 12:43. Because they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God. It may seem at first sight as if these words were inconsistent with those of chap. Joh 5:44, and the apparent inconsistency is not to be removed either by giving to the word translated glory its etymological signification opinion, or by supposing that the faith of these rulers was not true. The solution of the difficulty is to be found in observing (1) that the glory here referred to is that of Joh 12:23; Joh 12:41, a glory involving the unity of Jesus and His people. Let the latter identify themselves with the former, take up His cross, have part in His sufferings and death, confess Him, and they shall also be partakers of His glory. This is not exactly the same glory as that of chap. Joh 5:44.(2) That the form of expression is not the same, here of God, of menthere from God, the preposition used in the latter case leading more directly to the thought of glory offered by God, and deliberately rejected. The reflections of the Evangelist are at an end, and once more Jesus is introduced to us.