John 1:13

“Which were born not of blood, etc.] Or bloods, in the plural number. The birth, here spoken of, is regeneration, expressed by a being born again, or from above; by a being quickened by the Spirit and grace of God; by Christ being formed in men; and by a partaking of the divine nature; and by being made new creatures, as all that believe in the name of Christ are; and which is the evidence of their being the sons of God: and now this is owing not to blood, or bloods; not to the blood of circumcision; or of the passover, which the Jews had an high opinion of, and ascribe life and salvation to, and to which notion this may be opposed: so their commentators f29 on (<261606>Ezekiel 16:6) where…”

“Which were born--a sonship therefore not of mere title and privilege, but of nature, the soul being made conscious of the vital capacities, perceptions, and emotions of a child of God, before unknown. not of blood, &c.--not of superior human descent, not of human generation at all, not of man in any manner of way. By this elaborate threefold denial of the human source of this sonship, immense force is given to what follows, but of God--Right royal gift, and He who confers must be absolutely divine. For who would not worship Him who can bring him into the family, and evoke within him the very life, of the sons of God?”

“Which were born - This doubtless refers to the “new birth,” or to the great change in the sinner’s mind called regeneration or conversion. It means that they did not become the children of God in virtue of their natural birth, or because they were the children of “Jews,” or because they were descended from pious parents. The term “to be born” is often used to denote this change. Compare John 3:3-8; 1 John 2:29. It illustrates clearly and beautifully this great change. The natural birth introduces us to life. The new birth is the beginning of spiritual life. Before, the sinner is “dead” in sins Ephesians 2:1; now he begins truly to live. And as the natural birth is the beginning of life, so…”

“Who were born - Who became the sons of God, not of blood - Not by descent from Abraham, nor by the will of the flesh - By natural generation, nor by the will of man - Adopting them, but of God - By his Spirit. John 1:14”

“1:13 a birth that comes from God: People can escape the darkness only by God’s grace (8:12; 12:35-36, 44-46).”

“were: Joh 3:3, Joh 3:5; Jam 1:18; Pe1 1:3, Pe1 1:23, Pe1 2:2; Jo1 3:9, Jo1 4:7, Jo1 5:1, Jo1 5:4, Jo1 5:18 not: Joh 8:33-41; Mat 3:9; Rom 9:7-9 nor of the will of the: Gen 25:22, Gen 25:28, Gen 27:4, Gen 27:33; Rom 9:10-16 nor of the will of man: Psa 110:3; Rom 9:1-5, Rom 10:1-3; Co1 3:6; Phi 2:13; Jam 1:18 of God: Joh 3:6-8; Tit 3:5; Jo1 2:28, Jo1 2:29 John 1:14”