John 3:31

“He that cometh from above, etc.] Meaning Christ; not that he brought his human nature with him from heaven, or that that is of a celestial nature; but he came from heaven in his divine person, not by change of place, he being God immense and infinite, but by assumption of human nature; which he took upon him, in order to do in it his Father’s will, and the work of our salvation. Is above all; above John, before whom he was preferred, for he was before him; above the prophets of the Old Testament, and even above Moses, the chief of them; yea, above all the angels in heaven, being God over all, blessed for ever: wherefore all glory is to be given him; no honour is to be envied him, or…”

“He that, &c.--Here is the reason why He must increase while all human teachers must decrease. The Master "cometh from above"--descending from His proper element, the region of those "heavenly things" which He came to reveal, and so, although mingling with men and things on the earth, is not "of the earth," either in Person or Word. The servants, on the contrary, springing of earth, are of the earth, and their testimony, even though divine in authority, partakes necessarily of their own earthiness. (So strongly did the Baptist feel this contrast that the last clause just repeats the first). It is impossible for a sharper line of distinction to be drawn between Christ and all human teachers,…”

“He that cometh from above - The Messiah, represented as coming down from heaven. See John 3:13; John 6:33; John 8:23. It has been doubted whether the remainder of this chapter contains the words of “John the Baptist” or of “the evangelist.” The former is the more probable opinion, but it is difficult to decide it, and it is of very little consequence. Is above all - In nature, rank, and authority. “Is superior to all prophets” Hebrews 1:1-2; “to all angels” Hebrews 1:4-14, “and is over all the universe as its sovereign Lord,” Romans 9:5; Ephesians 1:21-22; Colossians 1:15-19; 1 Corinthians 15:25. He that is of the earth - He who has no higher nature than the human nature. The prophets,…”

“It is not improbable, that what is added, to the end of the chapter, are the words of the evangelist, not the Baptist. He that is of the earth - A mere man; of earthly original, has a spirit and speech answerable to it. John 3:32”

“3:31 Jesus had come from above, so he was uniquely able to reveal the Father (1:18; 3:13).”

“that cometh: Joh 3:13, Joh 6:33, Joh 8:23; Eph 1:20, Eph 1:21, Eph 4:8-10 is above: Joh 1:15, Joh 1:27, Joh 1:30, Joh 5:21-25; Mat 28:18; Act 10:36; Rom 9:5; Eph 1:21; Phi 2:9-11; Pe1 3:22; Rev 19:16 he that is: Joh 3:12; Co1 15:47, Co1 15:48; Heb 9:1, Heb 9:9, Heb 9:10 he that cometh: Joh 6:33, Joh 6:51, Joh 16:27, Joh 16:28 John 3:32”