John 12:34

“The people answered him, etc.] Not the Greeks, but the Jews, and these not such as were friends to Christ, but cavillers at him: we have heard out of the law; not the five books of Moses, but the Prophets, and Hagiographa; even all the books of the Old Testament are called the law; (see Gill on “<431034>John 10:34”); that Christ abideth for ever; referring to those places which speak of the perpetuity of his priesthood and the everlasting duration of his kingdom, (<19B004>Psalm 110:4 45:6 72:17 89:36,37 <270244>Daniel 2:44 7:13,14), in which last text express mention is made of the son of man, and that and the first may be more especially respected; from whence it appears, that these…”

“We have heard out of the law--the scriptures of the Old Testament (referring to such places as Psa 89:28-29; Psa 110:4; Dan 2:44; Dan 7:13-14). that Christ--the Christ "endureth for ever." and how sayest thou, The Son of Man must be lifted up, &c.--How can that consist with this "uplifting?" They saw very well both that He was holding Himself up as the Christ and a Christ to die a violent death; and as that ran counter to all their ideas of the Messianic prophecies, they were glad to get this seeming advantage to justify their unyielding attitude.”

“We have heard out of the law - Out of the Old Testament; or rather we have been so taught by those who have interpreted the law to us. That Christ - That the Messiah. Abideth for ever - Will remain forever, or will live forever. The doctrine of many of them certainly was that the Messiah would not die; that he would reign as a prince forever over the people. This opinion was founded on such passages of Scripture as these: Psalms 110:4, “Thou art a priest forever;” Daniel 2:44; Daniel 8:13-14. In the interpretation of these passages they had overlooked such places as Isaiah 53:1-12; nor did they understand how the fact that he would reign for ever could be reconciled with the idea of his…”

“How sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? - How can these things be reconciled? Very easily. He first dies, and then abideth for ever. Who is this Son of man? - Is he the Christ? Psa 110:4. John 12:35”

“12:34 Popular Judaism believed that the Messiah would live forever and triumph over his foes. Jesus’ point of view seemed incomprehensible. • who is this Son of Man, anyway? The Jews did not understand what sort of Messiah planned to die.”

“the law: Joh 10:34, Joh 15:25; Rom 3:19, Rom 5:18 Christ: Sa2 7:13; Psa 72:7, Psa 72:17-19, Psa 89:36, Psa 89:37, Psa 110:4; Isa 9:7, Isa 53:8; Eze 37:24, Eze 37:25; Dan 2:44, Dan 7:14, Dan 7:27; Mic 4:7 who: Joh 3:14-16, Joh 5:25-27, Joh 8:53-58; Mat 16:13, Mat 21:10, Mat 22:42-45 John 12:35”