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Selected Verse: John 4:1 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Joh 4:1 |
King James |
When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
CHRIST AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA--THE SAMARITANS OF SYCHAR. (John 4:1-42)
the Lord knew--not by report, but in the sense of Joh 2:25, for which reason He is here styled "the Lord." |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
The Lord knew - When Jesus knew. how he knew this we are not informed; whether by that power of omniscience by which he knew all things, or whether some person had informed him of it.
How the Pharisees had heard - The Pharisees, here, seem to denote either the members of the Sanhedrin or those who were in authority. They claimed the authority to regulate the rites and ceremonies of religion, and hence they supposed they had a right to inquire into the conduct of both John and our Lord. They had on a former occasion sent to inquire of John to know by what authority he had introduced such a rite into the religion of the Jewish people. See the notes at Joh 1:25.
More disciples than John - Though many of the Pharisees came to his baptism Matt. 3, yet those who were in authority were displeased with the success of John, Joh 1:25. The reasons of this were, probably, the severity and justness of his reproofs Mat 3:7, and the fact that by drawing many after him he weakened their authority and influence. As they were displeased with John, so they were with Jesus, who was doing the same thing on a larger scale - not only making disciples, but baptizing also without their authority, and drawing away the people after him. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Therefore
Pointing back to Joh 3:22, and the controversy which arose about the two baptisms.
The Lord
See on Mat 21:3.
Knew (ἔγνω)
Or perceived. See on Joh 2:24.
Pharisees
John never alludes to the Sadducees by name. The Pharisees represented the opposition to Jesus, the most powerful and dangerous of the Jewish sects.
Made and baptized
Both verbs are in the present tense. The narrator puts himself at the scene of the story: is making and baptizing. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| The Lord knew - Though none informed him of it. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Jesus made and baptized, etc. - These seem to be quoted as the very words which were brought to the Pharisees; and, from our Lord's conduct after this information, we may take it for granted that they were so irritated that they were determined to seek an occasion to take away his life; in consequence of which, leaving Judea, he withdrew into Galilee. |
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.