Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 7:46
The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
46. Never man spake like this man ] The reading is doubtful; some of the best MSS. have Never man so spake. Possibly Christ said a good deal more than is recorded by S. John.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 46. Never man spake like this man.] Though these officers had gone on the errand of their masters, they had not entered into their spirit. They were sent to apprehend a seditious man, and a false prophet. They came where Jesus taught; they found him to be a different person to the description they received from their masters, and therefore did not attempt to touch or molest him. No doubt they expected when they told their employers the truth, that they would have commended them, and acknowledged their own mistake: but these simple people were not in the secret of their masters’ malice. They heard, they felt, that no man ever spoke with so much grace, power, majesty, and eloquence. They had never heard a discourse so affecting and persuasive. So Jesus still speaks to all who are simple of heart. He speaks pardon – he speaks holiness – he speaks salvation to all who have ears to hear. No man ever did or can speak as he does. He teaches THE TRUTH, the whole TRUTH, and nothing but the TRUTH.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
With so much authority, evidence of truth, &c. Yet they did not cordially believe in Christ; being under the power of carnal and worldly affection, which only supernatural special grace could subdue. These were some of those, in whom the prophecy of Christ, Isa 11:4, was to be fulfilledHe shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. The word of the Lord doth often restrain, astonish, and amaze those on whom it hath no powerful effect to eternal life and salvation. So it was with these poor officers.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
46. Never man spake like thismanNoble testimony of unsophisticated men! Doubtless they werestrangers to the profound intent of Christ’s teaching, but there wasthat in it which by its mysterious grandeur and transparent purityand grace, held them spellbound. No doubt it was of God that theyshould so feel, that their arm might be paralyzed, as Christ’s hourwas not yet come; but even in human teaching there has sometimes beenfelt such a divine power, that men who came to kill them (forexample, ROWLAND HISS)have confessed to all that they were unmanned.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The officers answered,…. Very honestly and uprightly, making use of no shifts and excuses; as that they could not find him, or could not come at him, because of the multitude about him, or that they were afraid of the people, lest they should rise upon them, and stone them, and rescue Jesus; which would have carried a show of probability, and have brought them off; but they tell the naked truth,
never man spake like this man; not Moses, the spokesman of the people of Israel; nor David, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet Psalmist of Israel; nor Solomon, the wisest of men; nor that sublime and evangelical prophet Isaiah; nor any of the other prophets; nor John Baptist his forerunner, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: never man spoke words for matter like him; such gracious words, or words, and doctrines of grace, which so fully express the grace of God, and are so grateful to men; such as free justification by his righteousness, full pardon by his blood, peace and reconciliation by his sacrifice, the liberty captives from the bondage of sin, Satan, and the law, and spiritual and eternal salvation by him: never man spoke such words of truth, as he who is full of truth, and truth itself did: or such words of wisdom, who is the wisdom of God, on whom the spirit of wisdom rested, and in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; nor such wholesome and salutary words, which nourish up unto eternal life. Nor did ever any speak words for form and manner, as he did; words so apt and pertinent, with such propriety, beauty, and gracefulness, with such majesty and authority, and with such power and efficacy; which at once charmed the ear, affected the heart; carried evidence and conviction with them, enlightened the understanding, and fastened attention to them; which was the case with these men, so that they had not power to execute their commission. He delivered such excellent things, and in such a charming manner, they could not find in their hearts to use any violence towards him; or be the means of bringing him into any trouble or danger. The Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions read, “never man spake as this man speaks”.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Never man so spake ( ). Police officers are not usually carried away by public speech. They had fallen under the power of Jesus “as the Galilean peasants had been impressed” (Bernard) in verses 28f. It was the words of Jesus that had so gripped these officers, not his works (15:24). It was most disconcerting to the Sanhedrin.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Like this man. Some of the best texts omit.
Deceived [] . Rev., led astray. See on ver. 12.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “The officers answered,” (apekrithesan hoi huperetai) “The attendant officers replied,” to these rabid, murder-hungry, Christ-rejecters, with empty-handed chagrin, a bit embarrassed.
2) “Never man spake like this man.” (oudepote elalesen houton anthropous hos houtos lalei ho anthropos) “Never to this time ever spoke a man in the manner that this man speaks,” never in our experience did we ever hear a man speak as this man, Luk 4:22, Mat 7:28-29. And His deeds had spoken louder than His words, a thing that could not be favorably said of the Pharisees, who “said,” but “did not,” Joh 4:36; Mat 23:3; Jas 4:17.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
46. Never man spoke like this man. Those officers acknowledge that they are subdued and vanquished by the word of Christ, and yet they do not on that account repent or give due honor to the word. If it be true, that never man spoke like this man, why did not the Divine power, which they were compelled to feel, touch their hearts in such a manner as to cause them to devote themselves wholly to God? But it was necessary that the prediction of Isaiah should thus be accomplished:
he will prostrate the wicked by the breath of his mouth, (Isa 11:4.)
Nay more, we shall afterwards see how those who were attempting to put him to death, overwhelmed by the voice of Christ alone, and as if they had been struck down with mallets, fell backwards, (Joh 18:6.) Let us, therefore, learn that the doctrine of Christ possesses such power as even to terrify the wicked; but as this tends to their destruction, let us take care that we be softened, instead of being broken. Even in the present day, we see many persons who too much resemble those officers, who are reluctantly drawn into admiration of the doctrine of the Gospel, and yet are so far from yielding to Christ, that they still remain in the enemy’s camp. There are others even worse, who, for the sake of obtaining favor with the wicked, employ all the opprobrious terms which they can find for basely slandering that doctrine, which, notwithstanding, they acknowledge to be from God, because they are convinced of it in their hearts. (203)
(203) “ Laquelle toutesfois ils confessent estre de Dieu, d’autant qu’ils en sont conveincus en leurs coeurs.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(46) Never man spake like this man.Some of the oldest MSS., including the Vatican, have a shorter text, Never man spake thus; but the longer reading is to be preferred. The very officers acknowledged His power, and tell the professed teachers, whose opinions and words were the rule of all Jewish life, that never man spake as He whom they sought to take! It is probable that in the section immediately preceding (Joh. 7:32-34), St. John gives us only a rsum of what Jesus had said, and that words which have not come down to us were among those which produced so profound an impression on the officers.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
46. Spake like this The chagrin of the rulers at his not being brought must have been aggravated by the reason assigned. It was the effect of the speaking of Jesus upon the people (Joh 7:32) which first alarmed them, and produced the sending of officers for his apprehension; but how much more cause of alarm have they when their very instruments are spell-bound by his utterances! And then, again the example of the people both influenced the opinions of the officers and frightened them from apprehending Jesus.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
Ver. 46. Never man spake like this man ] It is good to come to the world, though with ill intent; they that come to see fashions only, as Moses came to the bush, may be called as he was. They that come but to sleep, may be taken napping, as Father Latimer saith. They that come to catch, may be caught, as these in the text. The serpent that comes forth to sting, may be charmed ere he go back. When Henry Zutphen was preacher at Breme, the holy Catholics could not be idle, but sent their chaplains to every sermon, to trap him in his words. But God (whose footpaths are in the midst of the flood) would have his marvellous power to be seen in them, for he converted many of them; insomuch, that the greater number of them that were sent to hearken, did openly witness his doctrine to be God’s truth, against which no man can contend, and such as in all their life before they had not heard, persuading them likewise that they, forsaking all impiety, should follow the word of God, and believe the same, if they would be saved. But the chief priests, canons, and monks were so indurate and hardened, with Pharaoh, that they became the worse for these admonitions.
Never man spake ] For he spake with grace, Psa 45:2 , and with gravity,Mat 7:29Mat 7:29 . E cuius ore nil temere excidit, saith Scaliger, of Virgil, may we much more of Christ; they were all oracles that he uttered, honey drops that fell from him. Of Christ it might better be said than ever it was of Marcus Crassus, the Roman orator, Caeteros a Crasso semper omnes, illo autem die etiam ipsum a sese superatum. Cic. de Orat. lib. i.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Joh 7:46 . The servants frankly reply: . The testimony is notable, because the officers of a court are apt to be entirely mechanical and leave all responsibility for their actions with their superiors. Also it is remarkable that the same result should have found place with them all; for in view of the divided state of public feeling, probably five or six at least would be sent.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
never. Greek. oudepote
like = thus, as. Some texts omit this last clause, but not Syriac. See note 3, p. 1511. Compare Joh 4:29.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Joh 7:46. , as) A characteristic of truth, convincing even ordinary unlearned men, rather than their masters. [Not seldom the more untutored come to feel the effectual power of Christs word more readily than the most sagacious.-V. g.]
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 7:46
Joh 7:46
The officers answered, Never man so spake.-When they returned without him, they gave his teaching as the reason of failure to arrest him.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Never: Joh 7:26, Mat 7:29, Luk 4:22
Reciprocal: 1Sa 19:20 – when they Psa 45:2 – grace Pro 8:8 – there Pro 16:21 – the sweetness Son 8:1 – I would Isa 50:4 – God Mat 7:28 – the people Mat 22:33 – they Mat 23:13 – for ye shut Mar 1:22 – they were Mar 11:18 – astonished Mar 12:37 – And the Luk 2:47 – General Luk 19:48 – were very attentive to hear him Joh 4:41 – because Joh 7:15 – marvelled Joh 7:32 – sent Joh 8:7 – and said Joh 10:20 – why Act 6:10 – able Act 13:12 – being Rom 2:19 – art confident
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
THE WORDS OF JESUS
Never man spake like this Man.
Joh 7:46
It often happens that people appreciate a work of art, and appreciate it rightly, but cannot altogether say why. Much the same, I think, is the case with the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am one of those who think that sufficient attention has not always been fixed upon the language of Jesus Christ. Theologians and other thinkers debate about His supernatural works, His miracles, but to my thinking the words of Jesus are more marvellous than His works. We know so little about the relation of spirit to body, of our own spirits to our own bodies, and the spirit of one man to the spirit and body of another, that I should be loth to lay down dogmatically that this or that fact was impossible; but it is to me absolutely inconceivable that any one, if he were a man, however lofty, however powerful, however holy, should assert the claims which Jesus Christ asserted for Himself, that he should claim, for example, to be the judge of all the living and the dead. It will be my object to examine, as well as one sermon will permit, the words of Jesus Christ, in order to show how true it is that Never man spake like this Man.
I. Words of authority.It will be best to begin with the ordinary conversation of everyday life. We say I hope, or I think, or I am afraid, or I expect. But there is not one of these expressions which Jesus Christ, if He were living now, could possibly have used. The words which are so often current upon our lips, such as perhaps, or probably, or I dare say, are never heard from His, whether about earthly things or about heavenly. He speaks with absolute assurance. He may or may not choose to impart His knowledge, but He never says I do not know. To take an example. It is related that one of His disciples asked Him, Lord, are there few that be saved? He does not say I do not know, but He says it is not their business to know, and they must try to win their own salvation. I do not forget that to this universal amplitude of knowledge there seems to be one exception. In regard to the final Day of Judgment our Lord, at least as Mark reports Him, used the words, Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. And if so, then I can only say that that one solitary exception to the law of His universal knowledge does but serve to throw into relief His paramount claim in other instances. I sometimes think the best way to realise how unique is the teaching of Jesus Christ is to set it beside the teaching of some one high, holy, and pure among men. Now this is the language which Socrates addressed to his judges in the prospect of his execution: The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our way, I to die and you to live. Which is better, God only knows. Now listen to the words of Jesus Christ: I go to My Father and ye see Me no more. Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit. I ascend unto My Father and your Father; and to My God and your God.
II. Words of infallibility.There are no expressions which are, and ought to be, commoner upon our lips than such as suggest our own imperfections or limitations, such as I will try, I will do my best, I have forgotten, I made a mistake. There is not one of these expressions which Jesus Christ ever used or could have used in His human life. It is in His relation to His disciples that I seem especially to notice the uniqueness of His language. He lived with them, as you know, an intimate, daily companionship. Yet He never says, What do you think? In the circumstances, what do you recommend me to do? And, strangest of all, He never said to His disciples, Let us kneel down and pray together. This He did not say, but what He did say strikes me as even more wonderful. Let me remind you of such words as these: Which of you convinceth Me of sin? Is there any one who could advance a claim like that? Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. All, notice; not some. He is the one absolute Comforter and Saviour of all men in all vicissitudes of their human lives. Or, again, Before Him shall be gathered all nations. He claims to be the final Judge of all men, to discriminate with absolute precision between all men and all nations of men at the last judgment. He asserted from the first a world-wide, imperishable mission. His conception of His mission He never revoked, never qualified, never changed, and yet, in the prosecution of His mission, He seemed to be indifferent to the common signs and tokens of success. He did not count up His disciples, He did not advertise Himself, He shrank from publicity. The Son of Man had not where to lay His head; but for all that He did not entertain so much as a momentary doubt that His mission would be ultimately accomplished. Is there anything more tragic in history than the life of the traitor Judas, false friend, plotting in secret, as he thought, the death of his Master, and all the while that Master could read his heart, could see the plague spot of sin spreading over it? Jesus knew from the beginning who should betray Him.
III. Words that endure.He Who spoke as never man spake predicted that His words should never pass away. The science, the philosophy, the religion of the Roman Empire in His day, they are gone, and they will never come again. His words alone have never been superseded. The world needs no new religion. It needs only to lay hold of His revelation of the Father Who loves His children with a love to which all earthly love is as shadow to sunshine.
Bishop Welldon.
(SECOND OUTLINE)
CHRISTS TEACHING
The speaker was quite right, although he knew not how deep and profound a truth he was uttering. Let us see the significance of these words as applied to Christ.
I. The matter of His teaching.Originality was its distinctive feature. Christ HimselfHis Person, His work, and His missionwas the theme of His teaching. It was characterised by sublimity and simplicity, profundity and perspicuity.
II. The manner of His teaching.There was no reasoning, popularly so-called, but there was the highest wisdom in all He said. Nor was there the eloquence of human oratory. He spoke with authority. Mark the touching solemnity of His lamentation over Jerusalem, His severe denunciation of hypocrisy, and His passionate tenderness for the sorrowful.
III. The method of His teaching.His words were brief, emphatic, suggestive, parabolic. Now turn to the present position of Christ and His teaching.
(a) He is the central figure of human history.
(b) His teaching confessedly the most potent factor in human progress.
Truly never man spake like this Man.
Archdeacon W. F. Taylor.
Illustration
The words of the Lord are as living now as on the very day they were uttered. They indicate their unequalled grandeur in thisthat, uttered by a Galilan carpenter eighteen centuries ago, they are universal in their application to all time and place. Never man spake as this Man.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
6
The brief but significant answer was, never man spake like this man. Spake is from LALEO, and it has such a wide range of meanings that the definitions will not be quoted in full. The word includes the act of speaking with authority, information, impressiveness, and on all of the subjects pertaining to human conduct. It is no wonder, then, that these officers said what they did.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 7:46. The officers answered, Never did a man so speak. A new testimony to Jesus, borne by men who, awed by the majesty of His words, instead of attempting a deed of violence, declare to their very masters that He is more than man.