Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 12:48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
48. my words ] Better, My sayings (see on Joh 12:47): ‘word’ in the next clause is right.
hath one that judgeth him ] Hath his judge already, without My sentencing him. Comp. Joh 3:18, Joh 5:45. The hearer may refuse the word, but he cannot refuse the responsibility of having heard it.
in the last day ] Peculiar to this Gospel: comp. Joh 6:39-40; Joh 6:44; Joh 6:54, Joh 11:24. This verse is conclusive as to the doctrine of the last judgment being contained in this Gospel.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He that rejecteth me – Luk 10:16. The word reject means to despise, or to refuse to receive him.
Hath one – That is, he needs not my voice to condemn him. He will carry his own condemnation with him, even should I be silent. His own conscience will condemn him. The words which I have spoken will be remembered and will condemn him, if there were nothing further. From this we learn:
1.That a guilty conscience needs no accuser.
2.That the words of Christ, and the messages of mercy which the sinner has rejected, will be remembered by him.
3.That this will be the source of his condemnation. This will make him miserable, and there will be no possibility of his being happy.
4.That the conscience of the sinner will concur with the sentence of Christ in the great day, and that he will go to eternity self-condemned. It is this which will make the pains of hell so intolerable to the sinner.
- The word that Christ has spoken, the doctrines of his gospel, and the messages of mercy, will be that by which the sinner will be judged in the last day. Every person will be judged by that message, and the sinner will be punished according to the frequency and clearness with which the rejected message has been presented to his mind, Mat 12:41.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 48. The word that I have spoken – shall judge him] Ye shall be judged according to my doctrine: the maxims which ye have heard from my mouth shall be those on which ye shall be tried in the great day; and ye shall be condemned or acquitted according as ye have believed or obeyed them, or according as ye have despised and violated them, See this proved, Mt 25:35, &c.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
These words, and receiveth not my words, expound the former: not to receive in heart, to believe, and embrace the words of Christ in the gospel, is to reject Christ. So Luk 10:16, He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me. And he that doth so, hath one that judgeth him, that is, my Father who hath sent me, and will vindicate mine honour. Nay, the word that I have spoken shall rise up in judgment against him at the last day, and prove that he hath judged himself unworthy of everlasting life.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
He that rejecteth me,…. As the Messiah, with abhorrence and contempt, as many among the Jews did, who would not have him to reign over them, but sought to put him to death:
and receiveth not my words; the doctrines of the Gospel, but disbelieves them, and denies them to be true, looking upon them as the doctrines of a mere man, and an impostor:
hath one that judgeth him; let not such an one think that he shall escape righteous judgment; though Christ does not judge him now, there is one that judges him, yea, even now; and declares, that he that believeth not shall be damned, and that he is condemned already:
the word that I have spoken unto you, the same shall judge him in the last day; according to the different dispensations wicked men are under in this world, will be the rule of their judgment hereafter: such who are only under the law of nature, will be judged according to that, that will accuse them, convict them, and condemn them: such who have been under the law of Moses, or the written law, will be arraigned, proved, and pronounced guilty, and punished by, and according to that law; and such who have been under the Gospel dispensation, and have been favoured with the revelation of the Gospel, but have condemned and denied it, that will judge them at the last day. The judge will act by its present declaration, and according to that proceed, as it stands in
Mr 16:16. It will rise up in judgment against such persons, and be an aggravation of their condemnation.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Rejecteth (). Present active participle of , late Koine verb (from , privative, and ), to render null and void, only here in John, but see Mark 6:26; Mark 7:9.
One that judgeth him ( ). Articular present active participle of . See same idea in John 5:45; John 9:50.
The same (). “That” very word of Christ which one rejects will confront him and accuse him to the Father “at the last day” ( , this phrase peculiar to John). There is no escaping it. And yet Jesus himself will bear witness for or against the one whose conduct has already revealed his attitude towards the message of God (Matt 10:32; Luke 12:8).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Rejecteth [] . See on Luk 7:30.
The word [ ] . Comprehending all the sayings [] .
The same [] . That. The pronoun of remote reference Westcott finely remarks : “The resumptive, isolating pronoun places in emphatic prominence the teaching which is regarded as past, and separated from those to whom it was addressed. It stands, as it were, in the distance, as a witness and an accuser.”
The last day. Peculiar to John. See Joh 6:39.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1 ) “He that rejecteth me,” (ho altheton eme) “The one who rejects me,” when I am offered to him, indicating the privilege that every responsible person has of personally receiving Him or rejecting Him, as Savior and Lord, Joh 7:17.
2) “And receiveth not my words,” (kai me lambanon ta hremata mou) “And receives not my words,” Deu 18:15,19; Act 22:23, testimony and appeals, through fulfilled prophecy, through miracles that He did to attest the validity of His word, Joh 1:11; Mat 23:37; Joh 5:43-44.
3) “Hath one that judgeth him:- (echei ton krinonta auton) “He has the one judging him,” one source of judgement, the embodied statement of truth, regarding right and wrong, as set forth in the Word of God, that renders men without excuse, Luk 16:25.
4) “The word that I have spoken,” (ho logos hon elalesa) “The word which I spoke,” or have spoken already, words of truth and inspiration, Joh 13:18; words accompanied repeatedly by miraculous signs, to validate my testimony as Divine, even as God validated words of Moses, Exo 4:4-5; Joh 20:30-31.
5) “The same shall judge him in the last day,” (ekeinos krinei auton en te eschate hemera) “That word will judge him in the last or final day,” the day of judgement. The Word of truth shall judge every man at His certain hour of Divine judgement, Heb 9:27; 1Co 3:8-15; Rev 20:12. Nothing personal, on the part of the judge, no prejudice, will enter into anyone’s judgement. Each will be judged on the basis of his personal response to what he has heard and his opportunities of light.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
48. He who rejecteth me. That wicked men may not flatter themselves as if their unbounded disobedience to Christ would pass unpunished, he, adds here a dreadful threatening, that though he were to do nothing in this matter, yet his doctrine alone would be sufficient to condemn them, as he says elsewhere, that there would be no need of any other judge than Moses, in whom they boasted, (Joh 5:45.) The meaning, therefore, is: “Burning with ardent desire to promote your salvation, I do indeed abstain from exercising my right to condemn you, and am entirely employed in saving what is lost; but do not think that you have escaped out of the hands of God; for though I should altogether hold my peace, the word alone, which you have despised, is sufficient to judge you.”
And receiveth not my words. This latter clause is an explanation of the former; for since hypocrisy is natural to men, nothing is easier for them than to boast in words that they are ready to receive Christ; and we see how common this boasting is even amongst the most wicked men. We must therefore attend to this definition, that Christ is rejected when we do not embrace the pure doctrine of the Gospel.
Loudly do the Papists, indeed, proclaim this word which Christ uttered; but as soon as his pure truth is brought forward, nothing is more hateful to them. Such persons kiss Christ in the same manner as Judas kissed him, (Mat 26:49.) Let us therefore learn to receive him along with his word, and to render to him that homage and obedience which he demands as his sole right.
The word which I speak shall judge you at the last day. It is impossible to give a nobler or more magnificent title to the Gospel than to, ascribe to it the power of judging; for, according to these words, the last judgment shall be nothing else than an approbation or ratification (36) of the doctrine of the Gospel. Christ himself will indeed ascend the tribunal, but he declares that he will pronounce the sentence according to the word which is now preached. This threatening ought to strike deep? terror into the ungodly, since they cannot escape the judgment of that doctrine which they now so haughtily disdain.
But when Christ mentions the last judgment, he means that they are now destitute of understanding; for he reminds them that the punishment which they now treat with mockery will then be openly displayed. On the other hand, it yields to the godly an invaluable consolation, that to whatever extent. they may be now condemned by the world, still they do not doubt that they are already acquitted in heaven; for, wherever the faith of the Gospel has its seat, the tribunal of God is erected to save. Relying on this right, we need not trouble ourselves about Papists or their absurd decisions; for our faith rises even above angels.
(36) “ Une approbation ou ratification.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(48) He that rejecteth me . . .The word rendered rejecteth (more exactly nullifieth) occurs only here in St. John. (Comp. Luk. 7:30, The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves; and Joh. 10:16, He that despiseth you despiseth Me.)
Hath one that judgeth him.Comp. Joh. 3:18; Joh. 5:45 et seq.; Joh. 8:50; and also Heb. 4:12.
The word that I have spoken.The very fact that He was so rejected was itself the judgment of those who rejected it.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
48. Hath one that judgeth him It is Christ in himself that is properly teacher and Saviour; it is God the Father in Christ who is properly the judge.
The word shall judge him The living judge pronounces the word, but it is the word itself, the law, which discriminates and judges.
The last day The closing day of earth’s history; the day of final judgment; which is also the day of the resurrection. Joh 11:24; Joh 6:39-40; Joh 6:44; Joh 6:54.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
DISCOURSE: 1677
MEN JUDGED BY THE GOSPEL
Joh 12:48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
THE judgment of the last day is a period to which we must all look forward with the deepest interest, and for which we should be preparing from day to day: for then we shall receive at the Lords hands according to what we have done in the body, whether it be good or evil. True it is, our Lord says, in the verse before my text, If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. But we are not to understand this absolutely: for we are told expressly, that God has committed all judgment to the Son; and that he will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom he has ordained. The meaning is, that to save the world was the great and primary object of his mission; and that, though he will also judge the world, he will not do it arbitrarily, according to any secret will of his own, but according to his revealed will, even with that word which, from day to day, he declared unto them. Of their reception of this word they should give account; and in strict accordance with it should his judgment be passed upon them.
In confirmation of this truth, I will shew,
I.
The responsibility of those who hear the Gospel
[Man is responsible to God for every talent that has been committed to him, and for every advantage he enjoys. In proportion to the opportunities which men have of knowing their Lords will, must be their accountableness for the performance of it: and more or fewer stripes will be awarded to the negligent servant, according to the degree of information which had been given him, and the knowledge he possessed [Note: Luk 12:47-48.]. The times of mens ignorance God winked at; but, when his fuller revelation was made known to them, he called upon them more authoritatively to repent [Note: Act 17:30.]. The uninstructed heathen will be judged by the law written on their hearts [Note: Rom 2:14-15.]: the Jews, by the law of the Ten Commandments [Note: Rom 2:12.]; but Christians, by the Gospel [Note: 2Th 1:8.]. And a far more severe account will be required of us than of the others, on account of the superior light we have enjoyed. Our Lord told his hearers, that if he had not come and spoken unto them, they bad not (comparatively) had sin; but that now they had no cloak for their sin [Note: Joh 15:22.]. And he warned them, that not only Tyre and Sidon, but even Sodom and Gomorrha, with all their wickedness, would have a lighter condemnation in the day of judgment, than those who neglected to improve the advantages afforded them by his instructions [Note: Mat 10:14-15.]. This he plainly declared in the words of my text: He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.]
Here also we see,
II.
The rule by which they shall be judged
The word that Christ spoke, the same shall judge, both those who heard, and us who read it. We shall be judged by,
1.
Its declarations
[Nothing can be plainer than his declarations respecting the necessity of a new and heavenly birth [Note: Joh 3:3.], or the necessity of faith in him [Note: Joh 3:18; Joh 3:36.] Now, in the last day these will appear against us: we cannot plead ignorance: the terms, in which these requirements were made known, were clear, peremptory, decisive; and if we have not obeyed them, we must take the bitter consequences of our neglect ]
2.
Its invitations
[These have been as free as our hearts could wish. Do we need to obtain rest in Christ? he says, Come unto me, and I will give it you [Note: Mat 11:28.]. Do we need a new nature? he bids us to take from him the water of life freely [Note: Rev 22:17.]. Have we any apprehension that he will not vouchsafe to us these blessings on account of our own unworthiness? be bids us receive them at his hands, without money and without price [Note: Isa 55:1.]. Now these also will appear against us in judgment. And what excuse can we offer for not accepting them? Verily, we must confess, in that day, that our ruin was of ourselves alone [Note: Hos 13:9.]; and that we perished only because we would not come to Christ for life [Note: Joh 5:40.].]
3.
Its promises
[How exceeding great and precious are these! They are enlarged to the full extent of our necessities. What can we desire more than this, Whosoever cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast him out [Note: Joh 6:37.]? Here is no exception, either of character or condition. Whoever the person be, the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse him from all sin [Note: 1Jn 1:7.]: yea, though his sins have been red as crimson, they shall be made white as snow [Note: Isa 1:18.]. And what shall we say, when these appear in array against us on account of the contempt we poured upon them? Verily, our mouths will be shut, and not so much as a word of excuse can ever be offered by us.]
4.
Its threatenings
[These are no less plain than any of the former [Note: Mar 16:16. Psa 9:17.]: so that we can never plead ignorance, or a want of faithful admonition. And I appeal to you, whether all of these, the more awful as well as the more encouraging parts of Scripture, have not, in their season, been set before you with all fidelity? These, therefore, shall also be your judges in the last day. No arbitrary appointment of God shall determine your fate; but these very words, which you have so neglected and despised.]
And now, I pray you,
1.
Examine how you have treated all these portions of Holy Writ [Note: There is no medium between a rejecting of Christ, and a cordial reception of his words. See the text.]
2.
Bear in mind your responsibility for the warning now given you
END OF VOL. XIII.
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Ver. 48. The word that I have spoken ] If the word shall judge us, then ought it much more to be a judge of our doings now, said Mr Philpot, martyr. Therefore let it be president in all assemblies and judgments, saith Beza: as in the Nicene Council, Constantine caused the Bible to be set on a desk, as judge of all controversies.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
48. ] See ch. Joh 3:18 , also Joh 5:45 f., and Heb 4:12 .
On and . see reff.: and on the emphatic , referring to the primary subject, cf. note on ch. Joh 7:29 , also on ch. Joh 3:28 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 12:48 . Not on that account, however, is the unbeliever scatheless: , “he that rejecteth me”; here only in John but used in a similar connection and in the same sense in Luk 10:16 ; cf. 1Th 4:8 . For the sense cf. Joh 1:11 . The rejecter of Christ “has one to judge him; the word which I spake, it will judge him in the last day”. Nothing personal enters into the judgment: the man will be judged by what he has heard, by his opportunities and light.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
rejecteth. Greek. atheteo. Occurs sixteen times in twelve passages. The others are: Mar 6:26; Mar 7:9. Luk 7:30; Luk 10:16. 1Co 1:19. Gal 1:2, Gal 1:21; Gal 3:15. 1Th 4:8. 1Ti 5:12. Heb 10:28. Jud 1:8. Often translated despise. It means to count as nothing. See 1Co 1:19.
word. Greek. logos. Same word as “saying” in Joh 12:38. See note on Mar 9:32.
the last day. The sixth and last occurance of this expression in John. See Joh 6:39, Joh 6:40, Joh 6:44, Joh 6:54; Joh 11:24.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
48.] See ch. Joh 3:18, also Joh 5:45 f., and Heb 4:12.
On and . see reff.: and on the emphatic , referring to the primary subject, cf. note on ch. Joh 7:29, also on ch. Joh 3:28.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 12:48. , , Me, My words) Inasmuch as the Jews were rejecting Christ Himself, for this reason they received not His words; ch. Joh 8:43, Why do ye not understand My speech? Even because ye cannot hear My word.-) hath already.-, that word) This pronoun looks a long way forward.- , in the last day) ch. Joh 6:39, This is the Fathers will-that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. Both the resurrection and the judgment shall be on the one day. The mention of the last day has great force both as regards believers and as regards unbelievers.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 12:48
Joh 12:48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.-One who was not saved by the word of God, made known through Christ, would be condemned by that word. These words will be the standard by which in the last day all shall be judged. The great trouble with most religious people is that they desire to be religious, they desire to honor God, but they desire to do it in their own way. They have confidence in their ability to invent ways that will please God. This is a fatal mistake.
[Christ and his doctrine are inseparable; to receive his doctrine is to receive him; and to reject his doctrine is to reject him. Such rejecters of Christ and the doctrine of the gospel shall not escape the judgment of Christ in the last day. The word is now the rule of living, and it shall be hereafter the rule of judging.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
rejecteth: Deu 18:19, 1Sa 8:7, 1Sa 10:19, Isa 53:3, Mat 21:42, Mar 8:31, Mar 12:10, Luk 7:30, Luk 9:22, Luk 9:26, Luk 10:16, Luk 17:25, Luk 20:17, Act 3:23, Heb 2:3, Heb 10:29-31, Heb 12:25
the word: Joh 3:17-20, Mar 16:16, 2Co 2:15, 2Co 2:16, 2Co 4:3, 2Th 1:8
judge: Joh 11:24, Mat 25:31, Rom 2:16, Heb 9:27, Heb 9:28
Reciprocal: Deu 17:12 – the priest Deu 31:19 – a witness Pro 2:1 – if Isa 5:24 – cast away Isa 28:9 – shall he teach Jer 6:19 – nor to Luk 12:47 – knew Joh 6:39 – but Joh 8:50 – there Joh 12:47 – I judge Joh 15:22 – they Joh 16:9 – General Act 8:14 – received 1Co 15:1 – which also 1Th 4:8 – despiseth 1Pe 1:5 – in
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8
If a man rejects the plan offered by Jesus for his salvation, then God will judge him in the last day. When that day arrives, God will bring condemnation upon the disobedient man, finding him guilty under the words that were spoken by his Son, and using him as the acting judge (Act 17:31).
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 12:48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day. From the forgetful hearer whose carelessness or indifference has let slip the words he should have guarded, Jesus passes to the man who sets at nought both His word and Himself. Even to him that word shall come, but as a judge. As Moses was the accuser of the people (Joh 5:45) because his word, though honoured in profession, was disregarded in its spirit and design, so the very word of Jesus which they have rejected shall declare their doom. The word bore with it evidence that it was Gods word: they heard not because they were not of God (chap. Joh 8:14; Joh 8:47).