Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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John
Book: John
Chapter: 21
Overview:
Christ appears to his disciples.
(1-14) His discourse with
Peter.
(15-19) Christ's declaration concerning
John.
(20-24) The
conclusion.
(25)
1-14 Christ makes himself known to his people, usually in his
ordinances; but sometimes
By his
Spirit he visits them when
employed in their business. It is good for the disciples of
Christ to be together in common
Conversation, and common
business. The
Hour for their entering upon action was not come.
They would help to maintain themselves, and not be burdensome to
any.
Christ's time of making himself known to his people, is
when they are most at a loss. He knows the temporal wants of his
people, and has promised them not only
Grace sufficient, but
Food convenient. Divine
Providence extends itself to things most
minute, and those are happy who acknowledge
God in all their
ways. Those who are humble, diligent, and patient, though their
labours may be crossed, shall be crowned; they sometimes live to
see their affairs take a happy turn, after many struggles. And
there is nothing lost
By observing
Christ's orders; it is
casting the
Net On the right side of the ship.
Jesus manifests
himself to his people
By doing that for them which none else can
do, and things which they looked not for. He would take care
that those who left all for him, should not want any good thing.
And latter favours are to bring to mind former favours, that
eaten
Bread may not be forgotten. He whom
Jesus loved was the
first that said, It is the
Lord.
John had cleaved most closely
to his Master in his sufferings, and knew him soonest.
Peter was
the most zealous, and reached
Christ the first. How variously
God dispenses his
Gifts, and what difference there may be
between some believers and others in the way of their honouring
Christ, yet they all may be accepted of him! Others continue in
the ship, drag the
Net, and bring the
Fish to shore, and such
persons ought not to be blamed as worldly; for they, in their
places, are as truly serving
Christ as the others. The
Lord
Jesus had provision ready for them. We need not be curious in
inquiring whence this came; but we may be comforted at
Christ's
care for his disciples. Although there were
So many, and such
great fishes, yet they lost none, nor damaged their
Net. The
Net
of the
Gospel has enclosed multitudes, yet it is as strong as
ever to bring souls to
God.
15-19 Our
Lord addressed
Peter By his original name, as if he
had forfeited that of
Peter through his denying him. He now
answered, Thou knowest that I
Love thee; but without professing
to
Love Jesus more than others. We must not be surprised to have
our sincerity called into question, when we ourselves have done
that which makes it doubtful. Every remembrance of past sins,
even pardoned sins, renews the sorrow of a true penitent.
Conscious of integrity,
Peter solemnly appealed to
Christ, as
knowing all things, even the secrets of his
Heart. It is
Well
when our falls and mistakes make us more humble and watchful.
The sincerity of our
Love to
God must be brought to the test;
and it behooves us to inquire with
Earnest, preserving
Prayer to
the
Heart-searching
God, to examine and prove us, whether we are
able to stand this test.
No one can be qualified to feed the
Sheep and lambs of
Christ, who does not
Love the good
Shepherd
more than any earthly advantage or object. It is the great
concern of every good
Man, whatever
Death he dies, to
Glorify
God in it; for what is our chief
End but this, to die to the
Lord, at the
Word of the
Lord?
20-24 Sufferings, pains, and
Death, will appear formidable even
to the experienced
Christian; but in the
Hope to
Glorify God, to
leave a sinful world, and to be present with his
Lord, he
becomes ready to obey the
Redeemer's
Call, and to follow Him
through
Death to
Glory. It is the will of
Christ that his
disciples should mind their own duty, and not be curious about
future events, either as to themselves or others. Many things we
are apt to be anxious about, which are nothing to us. Other
people's affairs are nothing to us, to intermeddle in; we must
quietly work, and mind our own business. Many curious questions
are
Put about the counsels of
God, and the state of the unseen
world, as to which we may say, What is this to us? And if we
attend to the duty of following
Christ, we shall find neither
Heart nor time to meddle with that which does not belong to us.
How little are any unwritten traditions to be relied upon! Let
the
Scripture be its own interpreter, and explain itself; as it
is, in a great
Measure, its own evidence, and proves itself, for
it is
Light. See the easy setting right such mistakes
By the
Word of
Christ.
Scripture language is the safest
Channel for
Scripture Truth; the words which the
Holy Ghost teaches, 1Co
2:13. Those who cannot agree in the same terms of art, and the
application of them, may yet agree in the same
Scripture terms,
and to
Love one another.
25 Only a small part of the actions of
Jesus had been written.
But let us
Bless God for all that is in the Scriptures, and be
thankful that there is
So much in
So small a space. Enough is
recorded to direct our
Faith, and regulate our practice; more
would have been unnecessary. Much of what is written is
overlooked, much forgotten, and much made the matter of doubtful
disputes. We may, however, look forward to the joy we shall
receive in
Heaven, from a more complete knowledge of all
Jesus
did and said, as
Well as of the conduct of his
Providence and
Grace in his dealings with each of us. May this be our
happiness. These are written that ye might believe that
Jesus is
the
Christ, the
Son of God; and that believing ye might have
Life through his name, ch. 20:31.