John 3:12

John 3:12

10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?

11 ^aMost assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and ^byou do not receive Our witness.

12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

13 ^aNo one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man¹ who is in heaven.

14 ^aAnd as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so ^bmust the Son of Man be lifted up,

15 that whoever ^abelieves in Him should not perish but ^bhave eternal life.

Commentaries:

Barnes' Notes

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If I have told you earthly things - Things which occur on earth. Not sensual or worldly things, for Jesus had said nothing of these; but he had told him of operations of the Spirit which had occurred "on earth," whose effects were visible, and which "might" be, therefore, believed. These were the plainest and most obvious of the doctrines of religion.

How shall ye believe - How will you believe. Is there any probability that you will understand them?

Heavenly things - Things pertaining to the government of God and his doings in the heavens; things which are removed from human view, and which cannot be subjected to human sight; the more profound and inscrutable things pertaining to the redemption of men. Hence, learn:

1.The height and depth of the doctrines of religion. There is much that we cannot yet understand,

2.The feebleness of our understandings and the corruptions of our hearts are the real causes why doctrines of religion are so little understood by us.

3.There is before us a vast eternity, and there are profound wonders of God' s government, to be the study of the righteous, and to be seen and admired by them forever and ever.

**Other Barnes' Notes entries containing John 3:12:**

John 3:13
John 8:38
John 18:37
2 Corinthians 5:1

<< John 3:11

John 3:13 >>

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