Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 3:35
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
35. loveth the Son ] Comp. Joh 5:20. This is the reason for His giving all things into His hand. Christ is thus made ‘Head over all things’ (Eph 1:22), and ‘Lord of all’ (Act 10:36).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Loveth the Son – Loves him eminently, above all the prophets and all the other messengers of God.
Hath given all things into his hand – See the notes at Mat 28:18.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 35. All things into his hand.] See Clarke on Mt 11:27. A principal design of John is, to show that Christ was infinitely above every teacher, prophet, and Divine messenger that had ever yet appeared. The prophets had various gifts: some had visions, others dreams; some had the gift of teaching, others of comforting, c. but none possessed all these gifts: Christ alone possessed their plenitude, and is all things in all.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The eternal Father loved the world, Joh 3:16, but he loved the Son with a more singular and peculiar love; so that all things were by the Father delivered to him, Mat 11:27, all power in heaven and earth, Mat 28:18; to give eternal life to as many as the Father had given him, Joh 17:2; the keys of hell and of death, Rev 1:18. So as every man hath reason to receive and embrace Christ and his testimony, and to believe in him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
35, 36. The Father loveth,&c.See on Mt 11:27, where wehave the “delivering over of all things into the hands ofthe Son,” while here we have the deep spring of that august actin the Father’s ineffable “love of the Son.“
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The Father loveth the Son,…. There is such a relation as that of Father and Son subsisting between the first and second persons in the Trinity; which is not by constitution and appointment: or arbitrary, arising from, and depending on the will of the first, but is natural and necessary; the second person being begotten by the first, and is of the same nature, and equally a divine person: and which relation is the foundation of the distinction of their persons; and which existed from all eternity, and co-existed with their being and essence; and is what no other stand in, angels or men, in such sense as the second person does; and is not to be conceived of, expressed and explained by us: and from this relation arises love; hence, the Son of the Father is his dear Son, the Son of his love; as he must needs be, since he is of the same nature, has the same perfections he has, and is the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person: and hence he continues to love him in every form and appearance of his; in every office he sustains; in every state and condition into which he comes: he delighted in him as his elect, as chosen and appointed by him to be the Saviour of his people; he took pleasure in him as the surety of them, and when he saw him engaging as such, and declaring it was his heart to do his will, and work out their salvation; he loved him when he appeared in human nature, the form of a servant; and in his state of humiliation, more than once he declared, by a voice from heaven, that he was his beloved Son, and particularly at his baptism: and indeed, as in that, so in every thing else, he always did the things that pleased him; he loved him when he laid down his life for the sheep: when he was bruised, and his soul made an offering for sin; he loved him when on the cross, and even when he hid his face from him; when lay in the grave he left him not, nor would he suffer him to see corruption; he raised him front the dead, and gave him glory; exalted him, and received him into heaven with a welcome, and placed him at his right hand; and now looks with pleasure upon him, upon his person, his sacrifice, blood, and righteousness: and this love is a love of complacency and delight, and is from everlasting to everlasting; the evidence of which lows,
and hath given all things into his hand; or “by his hand”; as the doctrines of the Gospel, the gifts of the Spirit, grace, and glory: or rather, “into his hand”; with which he, being the Son of God, a divine person, is fit to be entrusted, which otherwise he would not be: , “all”, includes “all persons”; all the angels, the good angels which are chosen in him, and he is the head of; and by whom they are confirmed in the state they are: and who are at his command and beck, and minister to him and his. The evil angels, though they have broke away from God, and rebelled against him, yet are, in some sense, in the hands of Christ, and under his power: as appears by his dispossessing them from the bodies of men on earth, his spoiling them on the cross, and triumphing over them in his ascension to heaven, and by his binding Satan a thousand years. All men are given to him; the elect in a special sense, as his bride and spouse, as his children, and as his sheep; hence, he died for them, and effectually calls them, and brings them to himself; and they shall never perish, or be plucked out of his hands, but shall have eternal life. And wicked men are, in a sense, given to him; their wrath he restrains, and makes it to praise him; he rules then with a rod of iron, and breaks them in pieces as a potter’s vessel. And “all things” also are given into his hands; all temporal things, the things of nature and providence; the light of nature, and all the gifts and attainments of it; all the good things of the world, and which are wisdom’s left hand blessings; and Christ disposes of them to his people in mercy, and as covenant ones: all spiritual things are in his hands; all the gifts of the Spirit, and the fulness of all grace, sanctifying, justifying, pardoning, adopting, and persevering grace; all the promises and blessings of the covenant; the government of the church, and the judgment of the world; all power, both in heaven and in earth; the salvation of the elect, and their eternal inheritance, happiness, and glory. For all which, creature, angels or men, are fit, only the Son of God.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Hath given all things into his hand ( ). John makes the same statement about Jesus in 13:3 (using instead of ). Jesus makes the same claim in John 5:19-30; Matt 11:27; Matt 28:18.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “The Father loveth the Son,” (ho pater agapa ton huion) “The Father loves the Son,” the heir redeemer, H is only begotten Son, as John the Baptist audibly heard, visibly saw, and learned when he baptized Jesus, Mat 3:16-17; Mar 1:9-11; Luk 3:21-22.
2) “And hath given all things into his hand.” (kai panta dedoken en te cheiri autou) “And he has given all things to his hand,” to His administration, as certified repeatedly, Mat 11:27; Mat 28:18; Joh 5:22; Joh 5:27, 1Co 15:27; Rev 1:18 asserts that He has, holds, or possesses the “keys of hell and of death,” denoting His power and authority to set men free or liberate them from the powers of both.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
35. The Father loveth the Son. But what is the meaning of this reason? Does he regard all others with hatred? The answer is easy, that he does not speak of the common love with which God regards men whom he has created, or his other works, but of that peculiar love which, beginning with the Son, flows from him to all the creatures. For that love with which, embracing the Son, he embraces us also in him, leads him to communicate all his benefits to us by his hand.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(35) The Father loveth the Son.Comp. Note on Mat. 11:27, which is remarkable as an instance of what we call distinctly Johannine thought and diction in the earlier Gospels. We shall meet the words again in Joh. 5:20.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
35. Father loveth the Son From a messenger the Baptist now testifies to Jesus as the Son. His language, inspired by that Son himself, richly accords with many of the Lord’s own testimonies to himself.
All things into his hand His supremacy over all probationary things entitles him to the submission, faith, and obedience described in the next verse.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.’
Jesus receives the Spirit without measure because He is ‘the Son’ and ‘the Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands’. This is the first mention of Jesus as ‘the Son’ in this Gospel, but the first of many such mentions. It is a frequent title in John’s Gospel. The title stresses His total uniqueness. He is not one of many but the only One, with a unique relationship to ‘the Father’ above that of the angels. Indeed it is a ‘family’ relationship. He is of the same essence. Compare Mat 11:27; Luk 10:22; Mar 13:32. This is why all things without exception are given into His hand.
‘Has given all things into his hand.’ There is no restriction to what has been committed to Jesus. He has been set over all things and has power to do whatever He will. He is sovereign over all.
But why was Jesus called ‘the Son’? Did this indicate subordination to the Father? The answer is that it was only for the period during which He carried out His work of salvation that He was subordinate to the Father. In eternity there was no ‘father-son’ relationship (they are earthly terms based on earthly experience). Each member of the Godhead was co-equal and co-eternal. The application to Jesus of the term ‘Son’ is based on using as a picture the earthly relationship of father and son. Its stress is on the fact that both share the same nature, and that the latter performs the will of the former. Thus as the One Who has the same nature as the Father, and has been sent by the Father, Jesus is ‘the Son’.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Joh 3:35. The Father loveth the Son, The affection which the Father bears to his only-begotten Son, is altogether different from the regard which he shewed to his other messengers. They were servants, and were treated as such, being endued with scanty portions of the Spirit in comparison: whereas this is God’s Son, for which reason he hath anointed him with the oil of gladness above his fellows, and made him not the greatest Prophet and Priest only, but the greatest King also that ever was; even King and Judgeuniversal; by whose laws men must govern their lives, and at whose bar they shall all finally be tried.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Joh 3:35 . A further description of the dignity of Christ. The Father hath given unlimited power to His beloved Son.
.] the ground of the .
] neut. and without limitation. Falsely Kuinoel: omnes doctrinae suae partes (comp. Grotius: “omnia mysteria regni”)! Nothing is exempted from the Messianic , by virtue of which Christ is , Eph 1:22 , and , Act 10:36 ; comp. Joh 13:3 , Joh 17:2 ; Mat 11:27 ; 1Co 15:27 ; Heb 2:8 .
] Result of the directionio of the gift, a well-known constructio praegnans . Winer, p. 385 (E. T. p. 454).
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
Ver. 35. The Father loveth the Son ] Therefore faith may have firm footing. God hath laid help upon one that is mighty, Psa 89:19 , that our faith and hope may be in God,1Pe 1:211Pe 1:21 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
35. ] This, again, is the ground why the Father gives not the Spirit by measure ( to Him ): see Mat 11:27-29 , with which this verse forms a remarkable point of connexion, shewing that what is commonly known as John’s form of expression was not confined to him, but originated higher, having its traces in the synoptic narrative, which is confessedly, in its main features, independent of him.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 3:35 . . These absolute expressions, “the Father,” “the Son,” are more naturally referred to the evangelist than to the Baptist. This absolute use of “the Son” as a designation of Christ certainly suggests, if it does not prove, the proper Divinity of Christ. It is the favourite designation in this Gospel. The love of the Father for the Son is the reason for His giving to Him the Spirit: nay, it accounts for His committing all things to His hand; , that is, to possess and to rule. “Facit hic amor, quo Filium amplexus nos quoque in eo amplectitur, ut per illius manum nobis bona sua omnia communicet” Calvin. But Calvin does not make the mistake of supposing that the words signify “by means of His hand”; cf. Beza. God has made Christ His plenipotentiary for this world and has done so because of His love. It was a boon then to Christ to come into this world and win it to Himself. There is no history, movement, or life of God so glorious as the history of God incarnate.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
The Father. See note on Joh 1:14,
into. Greek en. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
35.] This, again, is the ground why the Father gives not the Spirit by measure (to Him): see Mat 11:27-29, with which this verse forms a remarkable point of connexion, shewing that what is commonly known as Johns form of expression was not confined to him, but originated higher, having its traces in the synoptic narrative, which is confessedly, in its main features, independent of him.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 3:35. , all things) Sec Joh 3:29; Joh 3:36. To Christ belongs both the Bride (Joh 3:29, He that hath the bride is the bridegroom), and the Life (Joh 3:36, He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life).- , into His hand) He, therefore, who does not come into the hand [does not bow under the authority] of the Son, does not either receive through faith from the hand of the Son; he does not experience the grace of the Son. The same expression occurs, ch. Joh 13:3, Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands. Subsequently [the expression is] under His feet: 1Co 15:27, He hath put all things under His feet.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 3:35
Joh 3:35
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.-God loved the Son and the Son sought only to do the will of God so he gave all things of this world into the hands of the Son. Jesus said, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. (Mat 28:18). And He that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. (Joh 13:20).
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Father: Joh 5:20, Joh 5:22, Joh 15:9, Joh 17:23, Joh 17:26, Pro 8:30, Isa 42:1, Mat 3:17, Mat 17:5
and: Joh 13:3, Joh 17:2, Gen 41:44, Gen 41:55, Psa 2:8, Isa 9:6, Isa 9:7, Mat 11:27, Mat 28:18, Luk 10:22, 1Co 15:27, Eph 1:22, Phi 2:9-11, Heb 1:2, Heb 2:8, Heb 2:9, 1Pe 3:22
Reciprocal: Gen 25:5 – General Gen 37:3 – loved 1Ch 17:13 – my son Job 1:12 – power Isa 49:5 – yet Dan 7:14 – given Mat 10:1 – he gave Mat 21:3 – The Lord Mat 21:37 – last Mar 1:11 – Thou Mar 12:6 – his Luk 1:32 – give Luk 9:35 – This Luk 20:13 – I will Joh 1:34 – this Joh 11:22 – God will give it thee Joh 16:15 – General Act 2:36 – that same Act 3:13 – hath Act 10:36 – he is Rom 1:3 – his Son 1Co 15:24 – the kingdom 2Co 1:19 – the Son Gal 2:20 – the Son Eph 1:6 – in Col 1:13 – his dear Son Col 1:18 – in all Heb 3:6 – as 2Pe 1:17 – God Rev 2:18 – the Son Rev 5:12 – to receive
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5
A part of this verse was prospective, for not until Jesus had risen from the dead did God give unto his Son this complete authority. (See Mat 28:18.) But the unmeasured possession of the Spirit was given to him at his baptism (chapter 1:33), and it abided with him throughout his work while on the earth.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 3:35. The Father loveth the Son. There is a continual heightening of the thought and expression. We read of Him that cometh from above, Him that cometh out of heaven, Him whom God sent,the Son, whom the Father loveth. In Joh 3:17 we read that the Father sent the Son to save the world, because He so loved the world (Joh 3:16): here we read of the love of the Father towards the Son who thus gave Himself for the accomplishment of the purpose of the Father. From chap. Joh 10:17 it seems probable that it is of this love that we must understand the verseof a love, therefore, referring to the work of redemption, not to the essential relation of the Son to the Father (comp. note on Joh 5:20).
And hath given all things into his hand. From perfect love follows perfect communication not of the words of God only (Joh 3:34), but of all things possessed. The Father has given all things into the Sons hand. Whatsoever the Son speaks or gives or does, is spoken, given, done, by the Father.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
The Father loved the Son from eternity, as he was his Son by eternal generation; and he loved by his Mediator by special constitution; he loves him as the brightness if his own glory, and the express image of his own person, with an essential, natural, and necessary love; and he loves him as Mediator, for undertaking our cause, and interposing for our peace.
Learn hence, That God the Father had a special love and affection to Christ, not only in regard of his eternal Sonship, but with respect to his office and Mediatorship; The Father loveth the Son. It follows, He hath given all things into his hand; that is, he hath intrusted him with all things necessary to our salvation.
Lord! what a privilege this, that our happiness is in Christ’s hand, not in our own without his. O wonderful goodness, to put our concerns into the sure hands of his Son, which were lost by the weak hands of Adam!
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Joh 3:35-36. The Father loveth the Son Incomparably, beyond the most faithful of his servants, and with an affection very different from the regard which he hath manifested, does, or ever will manifest to any of his other messengers. They were servants, and were treated as such, being endued with scanty portions of the Spirit, compared to those of which he is possessed; whereas this is the Son, for which reason God has anointed him with the oil of gladness above his fellows. And hath given all things into his hand Hath not only made him the greatest prophet and priest, but the greatest king also, that ever was; even king and judge universal, by whose laws men must govern their lives, and at whose bar they shall all be finally tried. He, therefore, that believeth on the Son With a living faith, a faith of the operation of God, Col 2:12; he that receiveth him in all his offices and characters; hath everlasting life Hath a title to it, being a child of God, is an heir of it, has an increasing meetness for it, and an earnest of it by the Holy Spirit in his heart. And he that believeth not the Son That does not receive his doctrine in faith and love, and with an obedient mind; or, who is disobedient to the Son, as the original expression seems more properly to signify; and continues in unbelief and disobedience, shall not see, or enjoy life Either spiritual or eternal; but the wrath of God abideth on him Being unpardoned and unrenewed, he remains under the guilt of all his sins, and is continually exposed to that wrath of God which, if his repentance, faith, and new obedience do not prevent, will quickly sink him into final condemnation and ruin. It is justly observed here, by Dr. Doddridge, that it is of great importance to preserve a difference in the translation between , he that believeth on the Son, and , he that is disobedient to the Son; because the latter phrase explains the former, and shows that the faith, to which the promise of life is annexed, is an effectual principle of sincere and reserved obedience; and it is impossible to make one part of Scripture consistent with another, unless this be taken into our idea of saving faith. It must be observed, also, that in Scripture the word abide has frequently a particular signification, denoting the adhesion and permanency of the thing that is said to abide. Of this signification we have an example here, for the Baptist does not speak of that momentary wrath, or displeasure of God, whereby he often chastises his people for their offences, or even cuts them off by a premature death, but of that abiding wrath which torments and does not kill, and being once inflicted never comes to an end. Thus the Baptist bare testimony to Jesus anew, setting forth his dignity, in the plenitude of his commission, the excellence of his gifts, the nearness of his relation to his heavenly Father, as his only Son, and the greatness of his power, as universal judge: and thus he concluded those of his testimonies to Christ, which are recorded in the gospel; and was quickly after imprisoned by Herod.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ver. 35. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand.
The asyndeton between this verse and the preceding may be rendered by this emphatic form: Because also the Father loveth… This absolute communication of the Spirit results from the incomparable love which the Father has for the Son. These words are, as it were, the echo of that divine declaration which John had heard at the baptism: This is my beloved Son. The term , loves, is taken in the absolute sense, like the expressions: sent and the words. Jesus had used the term Son, when speaking with Nicodemus, Joh 3:16-18; the second Psalm already applied it to the Messiah in Joh 3:7; Joh 3:12 (where every other explanation seems to us untenable); Isaiah and Micah had expressed themselves in a similar way (Isa 9:5; Mic 5:2-3). John himself had heard it at the baptism. It is not surprising, therefore, that he uses it here. From this love of the Father flows the gift of all things. Some interpreters, starting from Joh 3:34, have applied this expression solely to spiritual gifts, to the powers of the Holy Spirit. But the expression into His handdoes not accord with this sense. There is rather an advance upon the idea of Joh 3:34 : Not only the Spirit, but all things. By the Spirit, the Son reigns in the heart of believers; this is not enough; the Father has, moreover, given Him universal sovereignty, that He may be able to make all things serve the good of His own. This is exactly the thought which Paul expresses in Eph 1:22 by that untranslatable phrase: . The hand is the symbol of free disposal. Thereby John meant to say: I complain of being despoiled by Him! But He has a right to everything and can take everything without encroachment. And from this follows the striking application which he makes to his disciples, in closing, of the truth which he has just proclaimed:
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath {b} given all things into his hand.
(b) Committed them to his power and will.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
God not only gave Jesus His Spirit without measure, but He has placed everything in His hands. The Father has been gracious to the Son because He loves Him even as He has been gracious to human beings in providing salvation because He loves us. Everything that the Father has done, revealing and redeeming, flows from His love for people through the Son. This statement also points out the dependence of the human Jesus on the Father, one of John’s major themes.