Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 4:48
Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
48. signs and wonders ] Christ’s miracles are never mere ‘wonders’ to excite astonishment; they are ‘signs’ of heavenly truths as well, and this is their primary characteristic. Where these two words are joined together ‘signs’ always precedes, excepting four passages in the Acts, where we nave ‘wonders and signs.’ This is the only passage in which S. John uses ‘wonders’ at all. In Joh 2:11 the word translated ‘miracles’ is the same as the one here translated ‘signs.’ See below, Joh 4:54.
ye will not believe ] In marked contrast to the ready belief of the Samaritans. The form of negation in the Greek is of the strong kind; ye will in no wise believe. See note on 1Co 1:22. Faith based on miracles is of a low type comparatively, but Christ does not reject it. Comp. Joh 10:38, Joh 14:11, Joh 20:29. This man’s faith is strengthened by being put to test. The words are evidently addressed to him and those about him, and they imply that those addressed are Jews.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Except ye see signs … – This was spoken not to the nobleman only, but to the Galileans generally. The Samaritans had believed without any miracle. The Galileans, he said, were less disposed to believe him than even they were; and though he had performed miracles enough to convince them, yet, unless they continually saw them, they would not believe.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 48. Except ye see signs and wonders, c.] Our Lord does not tell this man that he had no faith, but that he had not enough. If he had had none, he would not have come from Capernaum to Cana, to beg him to heal his son. If he had had enough, he would have been contented with recommending his son to our Lord, without entreating him to go to Capernaum to heal him which intimates that he did not believe our Lord could do it at a distance. But the words are not addressed to the nobleman alone, but to all the Galilean Jews in general; for our Lord uses the plural number, which he never does when addressing an individual. These people differed widely from the people of Sychar: they had neither a love of the truth, nor simplicity of heart; and would not believe any thing from heaven, unless forced on their minds by the most striking miracles. They were favoured with the ministry of John Baptist; but, as that was not accompanied with miracles, it was not generally credited. They require the miracles of Christ, in order that they may credit the advent of the Messiah. There are many like these Galileans still in the world: they deny that God can have any influence among men; and as to the operations of the Holy Spirit, they, in the genuine Galilean spirit, boldly assert that they will not credit any man who professes to be made a partaker of them, unless he work a miracle in proof of his pretensions! These persons should know that the grace of working miracles was very different from that by which a man is saved; and that the former might exist, even in the most astonishing measure, where the latter did not. See 1Co 13:2.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
It may seem strange to such as do not well weigh all circumstances, that our Saviour, who at other times went without asking, showed himself so hard to be entreated by this courtier, and answereth him so roughly; but we must not take ourselves to be able to give a certain account of all Christs actions, and different dealings with persons, whose hearts he well enough knew. Thus much is certain, that our Saviour always preferred that faith which was given to his bare word, before that which waited for a miracle confirmative of that word, Joh 20:29. Our Saviour saw that this courtier came to him purely upon a natural account, for the recovery of his dying son, without a desire to be instructed in his heavenly doctrine; therefore (as it may be presumed) he checks this courtier; and not him alone, but the generality of the Jews, who were only struck with admiration of his works, and drawn from curiosity, or some temporal benefit, to follow him, without a due regard of his person, or the heavenly, saving truths preached by him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
48-54. Except ye see signs,c.He did believe, both as his coming and his urgententreaty show but how imperfectly we shall see; and our Lord woulddeepen his faith by such a blunt and seemingly rough answer as Hemade to Nicodemus.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then said Jesus unto him,…. With some degree of roughness in his speech, and severity in his countenance, in a way of reproof for his unbelief, as if he could not heal his son without going down to Capernaum along with him:
except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe. This was the cast of the Jews every where, both in Judea and Galilee; they required signs and miracles to be wrought, in confirmation of Christ’s being the Messiah, and which indeed was but right; and Christ did perform them for that purpose: but their sin of unbelief lay in this, that they wanted still more and more signs; they could not be contented with what they had seen, but required more, being sluggish and backward to believe. Our Lord seems to say this chiefly for the sake of the Galilaeans, that were about him; who, though they might be acquainted with his former miracles, when among them, of turning water into wine, and had seen his wondrous works at the feast at Jerusalem, yet were very desirous of seeing more, and perhaps very pressing for this cure.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Except ye see ( ). Condition of the third class ( , negative, with second aorist active subjunctive of ). Jesus is not discounting his “signs and wonders” ( , both words together here only in John, though common in N.T. as in Matt 24:24; Mark 13:22; Acts 2:19; Acts 2:22; Acts 2:43; 2Thess 2:9; Heb 2:4), though he does seem disappointed that he is in Galilee regarded as a mere miracle worker.
Ye will in no wise believe ( ). Strong double negative with aorist active subjunctive of , picturing the stubborn refusal of people to believe in Christ without miracles.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) ” Then said Jesus unto him,” (eipen oun ho lesous pros auton) “Then said Jesus to him,” this noble ruler of Herod, in the area of Capernaum.
2) “Except ye see signs and wonders,” (ean me semeia kai terata idete) “Unless you all see signs and prodigies or special demonstrations,” miracles that He performed to attest His Deity, when men were too blind and ignorant to read and interpret the fulfilled prophecies before their eyes, Joh 2:11; Joh 3:2; 1Co 1:22-23; 2Co 4:3-4; Eph 4:18.
3) “Ye will not believe.” (ou me pisteusete) “You will not believe at all.” They were weak in faith, or ignorant of, and blind to the prophecies of His coming as the Messiah; As He had come of the Jews, of the tribe of Judah, of the family of David, of the city of Bethlehem, of His call out of Egypt, of His being brought up in Nazareth.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(48) Signs and wonders.See Note on Joh. 2:11. The words are here addressed to Jews, for there is no reason to think that the nobleman himself was not one. They are spoken to him, but the ye extends them to others standing near and to the class of persons whom he represents. It had been so with the Jews in Jerusalem (Joh. 2:18; Joh. 2:23), and it was so with the Jews in Galilee. (Comp. 1Co. 1:22.) How different from this faith, which demanded a miracle, and therefore was not faith, but sight, was the acceptance by the Samaritans without a miracle, who believed for the womans word, and more fully when they heard the word of Christ Himself.
Ye will not believe.The negative is in its strongest form, Ye will by no means believe.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
48. See signs How totally unlike the Samaritans, from whom our Lord had so freshly come; who embraced the divinity of his teachings without demanding wonders. This nobleman came, purely absorbed in his dying son, anxious for the bodily miracle, but thoughtless of the divine claims of the Saviour of sinners. It is this selfishness of spirit that Jesus now rebukes. The words of this verse are, as it were, an ejaculation, a thinking aloud of Jesus. He sees that to awaken this man he must more than heal his son; he must to that sign add an additional wonder. He must so heal him as to arouse the man to reflection, and then may come a true faith.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you (plural) see signs and wonders you will never believe”.’
It does not really matter whether Jesus saw the man as a Jew or a Galilean, or as a courtier and politician. What mattered was that He saw him as one of the wonder-seekers. Whereas the common people sought Him gladly, these rich city dwellers just wanted signs and wonders (Joh 2:23-25; Joh 3:2). Jesus was challenging the man’s faith. It is of interest that Jesus’ ministry was mainly carried on in the smaller towns and cities and that He avoided cities like Caesarea. He knew that His word would find no acceptance in the big cities which would be cosmopolitan and have little time for a Jewish prophet.
Jesus’ reply shows how disappointed He was at the attitude that had been revealed in Jerusalem (Joh 2:23-25). He did not want it repeated here. There they had followed Him only in order to see signs and wonders. They had only believed when signs were given, and it had not been a reliable faith. There had been nothing deep about it. It had meant that His work was being ineffective.
In Judea the common people had flocked to hear His words. In Samaria there had been a mini-revival and men and women had genuinely sought God. But these rich city dwellers, like those in Jerusalem, would only want signs and wonders.
He linked this high official with Nicodemus (Joh 3:2) and with the authorities in Caesarea. ‘Unless you (plural) see signs and wonders you will not believe’. The inference is that the man has only come because he had heard of the sign at Cana. He is not a man of deep faith in God, he is another wonder-seeker, as are they all. Such people wanted to see signs and wonders, either because they were looking for someone who would do such things and by them bring about deliverance from the Romans, or because they were cynical, or because by them they hoped to win the people to join their particular group. Thus the generality of men wanted someone who could do spectacular things and who would back up their viewpoint. They were not seeking God. It was the signs and wonders that had brought Nicodemus to Him, and he had come by night. And now was this high official here for the same reason? Jesus had just come from a place where revival had broken out. He did not now want to pander to the signs and wonders brigade.
Jesus had not come to feed wonder-seekers. Nor had He come to build up a particular group. Nor indeed had He come to heal, although in His compassion He healed all who came to Him. He did not want simply to do another work which would pander to men’s ideas. He was seeking those with genuine faith, given to them by the Father. The last thing He wanted was to feed expectations of lots of miracles. (He had not as yet done any healing miracles in Galilee that we know of). He was challenging this man as to where his real interests lay. Was he just similar to the others?
Alternately Jesus might have been looking at him with his background as an Herodian official. They regularly wanted to observe a miracle being done (Luk 23:8). It was exciting and something to talk about when the wine flowed. He did not want to be seen as supporting such behaviour, or to pander to it. Or to be seen as a supporter of Herod. The question was, how deep was this man’s faith? What was he really here for? How great really was the need? How genuine was he? Once He knew that He met his need.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Joh 4:48. Except ye see signs, &c. Jesus said to him, and to them that were about him, “I perceive that though the Samaritans shewed so great a regard to my word, as to believe without the cogency of miracles, (see on Joh 4:41.) yet unless you see with your own eyes some remarkable and repeated miracles, you will not believe;)”therebyjustly reproving him and them for that mixture of suspicion and slowness of faith which he discerned in their minds. See the preceding note. It seems necessaryto suppose some such reference, to illustrate the justice of this reproof; for in the general it was very reasonable to expect that Christ would work miracles in proof of his divine mission, as he himself plainly intimates elsewhere. SeeCh. Joh 15:24. Possibly the person now applying to him, might have made a declaration, that he would neverbelieve such things till he saw them with his own eyes. Christ might mean, by this reflection, to humble him, to shew him a specimen of his extraordinary knowledge as well as power, and thus to give increase and strength to his faith
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
Ver. 48. Except ye see signs, &c. ] Our Saviour first chides him, and upon his well bearing of that, accommodates him. He saw the courtiers’ unbelief more dangerous to his soul than the disease could be to his son’s body.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Except = If not. Greek ean me. App-118and App-105.
signs. See note on Joh 2:11. signs and wonders. See App-176.
not = in no wise. Greek. ou me. App-105.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Joh 4:48. , unless) Jesus implies, that He can give life to the noblemans son, even though the patient be absent: and He requires the nobleman to believe it, and not to require that Jesus should set out with him, as being himself about to see at the bedside of the sufferer the cure wrought on him.-, ye see) ch. Joh 20:29, [Jesus to Thomas] Because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.- , ye will not believe) i.e. A disease has fallen upon thy son, that an opportunity might be afforded Me for rendering miraculous aid, which, as ye have not seen, ye do not believe: comp. ch. Joh 11:4, [Jesus as to Lazarus] This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby, wherein the address, ch. Joh 11:40, is given, somewhat in inverse order, as compared with that to the nobleman, [Jesus to Martha] Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? There was something of the Judaic feeling, which was eagerly intent on miracles, in the nobleman, who seems to have been a Jew. This is marked by the use of the second person plural. But at the same time a miracle is promised, and faith is also first required on the noblemans part; and whilst it is being required, it is awakened by Jesus: comp. ch. Joh 10:37, If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not. The reply, compounded of a kind of outward appearance of repulse, and a tacit promise of aid, is in consonance with the feeling of the suppliant, compounded as it was of faith and weakness.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 4:48
Joh 4:48
Jesus therefore said unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will in no wise believe.-The Jews generally sought signs and wonders. Jesus to call out a manifestation of the mans faith said, Except ye see these things ye will not believe.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Except: Joh 4:41, Joh 4:42, Joh 2:18, Joh 12:37, Joh 15:24, Joh 20:29, Num 14:11, Mat 16:1, Mat 27:42, Luk 10:18, Luk 16:31, Act 2:22, 1Co 1:22
Reciprocal: Exo 7:3 – multiply 1Ki 14:3 – he shall tell 2Ki 5:11 – Behold Mat 9:28 – Believe Mat 12:38 – Master Mar 5:36 – only Mar 8:11 – seeking Mar 9:23 – If Luk 4:23 – whatsoever
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
THE NOBLEMANS SON
Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto Him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth.
Joh 4:48-50
There are just three points into which the narrative seems to divide itself:
I. The nobleman applying to Jesus.There was much to keep him away. The worldly pleasures of Herods court (2Ti 4:10; Luk 8:14). Like most of the Jews, he would be satisfied with his own religion (Mat 3:9). Our Lord was despised as a Galilan (Joh 1:46; Joh 7:41; Joh 7:52). Why, then, should this great man come to Jesus? It was outward need. One he loved was illnay, dying (Psa 107:17-20). No doubt he had heard of the exercise of His power in many ways, and thought He might be able to cure his son. Troubles bring many to Jesus who do not believe in Him as the Son of God or the Saviour from sin (Isa 26:16).
II. The nobleman accepting the word of Jesus.Our Lord knew, by his request, that he wished Him to display His power in curing his son. To this our Lord does not accede. He wishes the nobleman to trust in His word. He says, Go thy way; thy son liveth. Mark what these words convey. Thy way is perfectly plain (Psa 37:5; Zec 4:6-7). I am the giver of present salvation. He does not say, Thy son shall live; nor does He pray that He may live. He simply gives life (Joh 11:25-26). What does the nobleman do? He accepted the word of Jesus, and went home leisurely. (The distance was only twenty miles, and he was on his way the next day [Joh 4:52].) He that believeth shall not make haste (Isa 28:16). He has peace in believing the word (Psa 112:7).
III. The nobleman believing in Jesus.As he was on his way home, his servants met him and told of his sons recovery. What then? Three things are told us. He inquired. He knew. He believed. So it is. On receiving the Word, we must search and inquire. This is the first step (Act 17:11; Joh 5:39). Then we come to have knowledge (Hos 9:7; 1Jn 5:13). So we come to believe. The nobleman saw the power of the Word. His son had received life at the very time (Joh 6:63). He saw Jesus to be the Imparter of lifethe Son of Godand himself believed and his whole house (Joh 4:53).
This narrative shows us the steps of faith. The nobleman believed in the power of Jesus from the first (Joh 2:23-25). At last he believed savingly in the person of Jesus (Joh 3:36). Oh, to know this difference!
Bishop Rowley Hill.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
8
As a test of the nobleman’s faith, Jesus intimated that he would first perform some miracle, as evidence that he was able to accomplish healing the boy.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 4:48. Jesus therefore said unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
The charge against the father is that his apparent faith is only thinly-veiled unbelief.The words seem most suitably addressed to a Jew (comp. Mat 12:39; Mat 16:1; 1Co 1:22): on the other hand, the officers connection with the court leads rather to belief that he was a Gentile. As to signs, see the notes on chap. Joh 2:11; Joh 2:23. As a sign is the highest, so a wonder is the least noble name for a miracle. In so far as the miracle is a prodigy and excites amazement, it is a wonder.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Ver. 48. Jesus therefore said to him: Unless ye see signs and wonders ye will in no wise believe.
This reply of Jesus is perplexing; for it seems to suppose that this man asked for the miracle to the end of believing, which is certainly not the case. But the difficulty is explained by the plurals, ye see, ye will believe, which prove that this expression is not the reply to the father’s request, but a reflection which He makes on occasion of that request. It is true, He addresses the remark to the man who is the occasion of it ( ), but He speaks thus, with reference to all the Galilean people, whose moral tendency this man represents, to His view, at this moment. Indeed, the disposition which Jesus thus meets at the moment when He sets foot again on Israelitish soil, is the tendency to see in Him only a thaumaturge (worker of miracles); and He is so much the more painfully affected since He has just passed two days in Samaria, in contact with an altogether opposite spirit. There, it was as the Saviour of souls that He was welcomed. Here, it is bodily cures which are immediately asked of Him. He seems to be fit for nothing but to heal. And He is obliged to confesssuch is the true meaning of His word that if He refuses to play this part, there is reason to fear that no one will believe, or rather, according to the slightly ironical turn of expression of which He makes use ( ), that it is not to be feared that any one will believe.
There is likewise the expression of a painful feeling in the accumulation of the two nearly synonymous terms and , signs and wonders.The first designates the miracle as related to the fact of the invisible world which it manifests; the second characterizes it as related to external nature, whose laws it sets at defiance. The latter term, therefore, brings out with more force the sensible character of the supernatural manifestation. The meaning, therefore, is: You must have signs; and you are not satisfied unless these signs have the character of wonders. Some have found in , ye see, an allusion to the request which is addressed to Him to go personally to the sick person, which proves, it is said, that the father wishes to see the healing with his own eyes. But in that case ought to stand at the beginning; and the meaning is forced.
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
The official was responding as most of the Galileans did. Jesus used the plural "you" indicating that this man’s unbelief was typical of most of his countrymen. Jesus’ mention of "signs" (Gr. semeia) pointed to the significance of His miracles. This is the only place in John’s Gospel where "wonders" occurs. This word (Gr. terata) stresses the wonder or awe that miracles produce in those who witness them. Jesus’ use of the word suggests that the people wanted to see miracles just so they could marvel at them.
Jesus implied that the man did not believe in Him. He did, of course, believe that Jesus could heal His son, but he had not yet come to believe that He could heal from a distance. Jesus viewed that second level of belief as the significant one. The official may well have thought, What do you mean I do not believe on you? The man probably felt rebuked by Jesus’ comment, but Jesus’ aim was to bring him to deeper faith in Himself.