Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 11:24
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
24. I know that he shall rise again ] This conviction was probably in advance of average Jewish belief on the subject. The O.T. declarations as to a resurrection are so scanty and obscure, that the Sadducees could deny the doctrine, and the Pharisees had to resort to oral tradition to maintain it (see on Mar 12:18; Act 23:8).
the last day ] See on Joh 6:39.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
At the last day – The day of judgment. Of this Martha was fully convinced; but this was not all which she desired. She in this manner delicately hinted what she did not presume expressly to declare her wish that Jesus might even now raise him up.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 24. I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection] The doctrine of the resurrection of the dead was then commonly received; and though it was our Lord who fully exemplified it by his own resurrection, yet the opinion was common, not only among God’s people, but among all those who believed in the God of Israel. The Jewish writings after the captivity are full of this doctrine. See 2 Macc. 7:9, 14, 23, 36; 12:43; 14:46; Wisd. 5:1, 7, 17; 6:6, 7. See also Josephus and the Targums, passim.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
From hence we learn, that the general resurrection of the dead is no novel doctrine. Job believed it, Job 19:26,27. Daniel published it, Dan 12:2. The Pharisees owned it, though the Sadducees denied it; and possibly the Pharisees had but a confused notion of it. Martha here makes it an article of her faith.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
24. Martha said, . . . I know thathe shall rise again . . . at the last day“But are wenever to see him in life till then?”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Martha saith unto him,…. Being desirous of knowing the sense and meaning of Christ, as well as to express her own faith;
I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection, at the last day. The Jews were divided about the doctrine of the resurrection, the Sadducees denied it, the Pharisees asserted it; and on this latter side was Martha; she believed there would be a resurrection of the dead; that this would be at the last day, or at the end of the world; and that her brother would rise at that general resurrection: wherefore, if Christ meant no more than that, this was what she always believed. The Syriac version renders it, “in the consolation at the last day”; and so the time of the resurrection is, by the Jews, called “the days of consolation” o. And good reason there is for it in those who shall have part in the first resurrection, or come forth to the resurrection of life; their bodies will rise glorious, powerful, spiritual, and incorruptible, fashioned like to the glorious body of Christ; they will no more be attended with infirmities, disorders, and diseases; they will feel no more pain, nor die any more; being reunited to their souls they will meet the Lord in the air, and in the judgment they will stand at his right hand; they will enter into his joy, and be for ever with him; with their bodily eyes they will behold Christ, and see him for themselves, and not another; they will meet their spiritual friends and acquaintance, and enjoy their company for ever; they will have uninterrupted communion with angels and saints, and with God, Father, Son, and Spirit; their consolation will be inconceivable and inexpressible.
o Targum Jon. in Gen i. 21. & in Hos. vi. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In the resurrection at the last day ( ). Did Jesus mean only that? She believed it, of course, and such comfort is often offered in case of death, but that idea did not console Martha and is not what she hinted at in verse 22.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
In the resurrection. Wyc., the again rising.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1 ) “Martha said unto him,” (legei auto he Martha) “Martha replied to him,” accepting the general premise of a certain future resurrection.
2) “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection,” (oida hoti anastesetai en te anastasei) “I realize that he will rise up in the hour of the resurrection,” in the distant future. She had perhaps been reminded of this many times by the devout, mourning Jewish women, during the last four days, as set forth, Job 19:23-27; Dan 12:2.
3) “At the last day.” (en te eschate hemera) “In the last or final day,” based on both the Old Testament Scriptures and what He had already taught her on previous occasions, Joh 5:28-29; Joh 6:39-40; Joh 6:51; Joh 12:48.
Martha was anxious and impulsive however, desiring to have him back from the cold form in the grave, alive, for a warm embrace from him, now, a desire of so many immediately after death of a loved one, for just a few more kind words and another dear embrace.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
24. I know that he shall rise again. We now see Martha’s excessive timidity in extenuating the meaning of Christ’s words. We have said that she went farther than she had a right to do, when she fabricated a hope for herself out of the feelings of her own mind. She now falls into an opposite fault; for when Christ stretches forth his hand, she stops short, as if she were alarmed. We ought, therefore to guard against both of these extremes. On the one hand, we must not, without the authority of God’s word, drink in empty hopes, which will prove to be nothing but wind; and, on the other hand, when God opens his mouth, it is not proper that he should find our hearts either blocked up, or too firmly closed. Again, by this reply, Martha intended to ascertain more than she ventured to expect from the words of Christ, as if she had said: “If you mean the last resurrection, I have no doubt that my brother will be raised again at the last day, and I comfort myself with this confident expectation, but I do not know if you direct my attention to something greater.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(24) I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection . . .Her answer expresses something of disappointment. Her whole heart had been fixed on one thought, and in all that had passed her hopes had found a support which seemed to warrant the hope for its accomplishment. She is now reminded of a general truth which she had rested in before, but this does not satisfy the expectation she had formed now. We have all felt something of her disappointment as we have stood beside the sepulchre. We have known, with a knowledge more full than hers, that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day; but this knowledge has often had little power to remove the deep sorrow of the heart. We conquer the pagan thought lost for ever; but we are often conquered by the thought lost for the present.
For the thought of the resurrection, comp. Notes on Joh. 5:29 and Luk. 14:14. The Pharisees expected the resurrection of the just to accompany the Messianic advent. (Comp. Dan. 12:2 and 2Ma. 7:9.) Still, the answer is in advance of that which we should expect, as compared with the dimness which rests upon even the fullest expression with regard to the resurrection in the Old Testament, and is to be traced to earlier lessons she had received from Him who is teaching her now.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
24. In the resurrection The words of Martha indicate the common faith of the Jews of her day in the resurrection of the body.
Last day The closing day of this world’s history, when the entire race shall stand before the Judge of quick and dead. Martha puts this unhoping construction upon the Lord’s words, as if to draw out a more explicit assurance of a present aid. Little did she anticipate in what a burst of grandeur the assurance would come forth.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Martha says to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day”.
Her reply was carefully worded. She knew what she was asking and dare not press it too far, but she would not just be satisfied with words of comfort, however glorious their content. ‘I know that he will rise again at the resurrection of the last day’. (The author wants us to see the background for what was about to happen). It is comforting, but not what she wanted. Note however her confidence even in this. Continual contact with Jesus had given her confidence in the certainty of their resurrection. Not all had the same certainty. Many Pharisees strove for it.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Ver. 24. In the resurrection ] The Syriac hath it Benuchama, in the consolation. So the resurrection was ever to the disconsolate believers of both Testaments, Dan 12:2 ; Heb 11:35 . In the primitive Church, when they repeated that article of the creed, “I believe the resurrection of the flesh,” they would point to their bodies, and say, etiam huius carnis, even of this very flesh.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
24. ] She understands the words rightly, but gently repels the insufficient comfort of his ultimate resurrection.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 11:24 . “I know,” she says, “that he will rise again, in the resurrection at the last day.” On the terms used see Joh 5:28 , Joh 6:39-40 ; Joh 6:54 . Belief in the resurrection had been promoted through Dan 12:2 , and, as Holtzmann remarks, Martha must have heard more than enough about it during the last four days, and fears perhaps that even Jesus is offering the merely conventional consolation. To one who yearns for immediate re-union the “last day” seems invisible. It was small consolation for Martha to know that her brother would lie for ages in the tomb, no more to exchange one word or look till the last day.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
resurrection. App-178.
at = in. Greek. en. App-104.
last day. See Joh 6:39, Joh 6:40, Joh 6:44, Joh 6:54; Joh 12:48; and compare Dan 12:2, Dan 12:13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
24.] She understands the words rightly, but gently repels the insufficient comfort of his ultimate resurrection.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 11:24. , in the resurrection) Therefore the Jews were believers in the resurrection.-, last) Martha supposes that to be more distant, which the connection, Joh 11:22-23, was showing to be close at hand, Whatsoever thou wilt ask, God will give. Thy brother shall rise again.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 11:24
Joh 11:24
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.-Martha, unable to fully believe the promise, evasively says, I know that he shall rise at the last day. [All the Jews, except the Sadducees, looked forward to, and believed in, a resurrection. Mary was not a skeptic.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
I know: Joh 5:28, Joh 5:29, Psa 17:15, Psa 49:14, Psa 49:15, Isa 25:8, Isa 26:19, Eze 37:1-10, Dan 12:2, Dan 12:3, Hos 6:2, Hos 13:14, Mat 22:23-32, Luk 14:14, Act 17:31, Act 17:32, Act 23:6-9, Act 24:15, Heb 11:35
Reciprocal: Joh 6:39 – but Joh 12:48 – judge Phi 3:11 – attain Phi 3:21 – the working 1Th 4:13 – ye sorrow Heb 6:2 – resurrection
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4
Martha thought Jesus had reference to the general resurrection at the last day. She spoke of that as if she had previously been informed of its truth and had fully believed it. Doubtless it was often the subject of conversation between Jesus and these dear personal friends as he was passing the time in their humble home.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 11:24. Martha said unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus has told her only what she knew, for every true Israelite believed that in the last day the just would rise. How vague the thought embodied in these words can hardly be understood by us, in whom the same words awaken memories of a Resurrection in the past which brings to us true knowledge of the resurrection at the last day. And if even with us, in the first hours of our sorrow, the clear doctrine avails so little, bow small must have been the comfort which the believing Israelite could attain in the presence of the dead! Marthas words have now lost the hope which the sight of Jesus had awakened: the present sorrow seems to admit of no relief. This moment of greatest need Jesus chooses for the greatest revelation of Himself. When all else has been seen to fail He will comfort.