John 18:37

“Pilate therefore said unto him, etc.] Upon this free and full declaration of Christ, concerning his kingly office, and the nature of his kingdom: art thou a king then? or thou art a king then: for, from his having a kingdom, it might be very justly inferred that he was a king: Jesus answered, thou sayest that I am a king; and which was very rightly said; and Christ by these words owns and confesses, that he was one: adding, to this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. The end of Christ’s being born, which was of a virgin, in a very miraculous manner, and of his coming into the world, which was by the assumption of human nature,…”

“Art thou a king then?--There was no sarcasm or disdain in this question (as THOLUCK, ALFORD, and others, allege), else our Lord's answer would have been different. Putting emphasis upon "thou," his question betrays a mixture of surprise and uneasiness, partly at the possibility of there being, after all, something dangerous under the claim, and partly from a certain awe which our Lord's demeanor probably struck into him. Thou sayest that I am a king--It is even so. To this end was I--"have I been." born and for this cause came I--am I come. into the world, that I may bear witness to the truth--His birth expresses His manhood; His coming into the world, His existence before assuming humanity:…”

“Art thou a king then? - Dost thou admit the charge in any sense, or dost thou lay claim to a kingdom of any kind? Thou sayest ... - This is a form of expression denoting affirmation. It is equivalent to yes. That I am a king - This does not mean simply that Pilate affirmed that he was a king; it does not appear that he had done this; but it means, “Thou affirmest the truth; thou declarest what is correct, for I am a king.” I am a king in a certain sense, and do not deny it. To this end ... - Compare John 3:11-12, etc. Jesus does not here affirm that he was born to reign, or that this was the design of his coming; but it was to bear witness to and to exhibit the truth. By this he showed what…”

“Thou sayest - The truth. To this end was I born - Speaking of his human origin: his Divine was above Pilate's comprehension. Yet it is intimated in the following words, I came into the world, that I might witness to the truth - Which was both declared to the Jews, and in the process of his passion to the princes of the Gentiles also. Every one that is of the truth - That is, a lover of it, heareth my voice - A universal maxim. Every sincere lover of truth will hear him, so as to understand and practise what he saith. John 18:38”

“Thou: Mat 26:64, Mat 27:11; Mar 14:62, Mar 15:2; Luk 23:3; Ti1 6:13 that I should: Joh 8:14, Joh 14:6; Isa 55:4; Rev 1:4, Rev 3:14 Every: Joh 7:17, Joh 8:47, Joh 10:26, Joh 10:27; Pe1 1:22; Jo1 3:14, Jo1 3:19, Jo1 4:6, Jo1 5:20 John 18:38”