Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
for God giveth not the Spirit by measure—Here, again, the sharpest conceivable line of distinction is drawn between Christ and all human-inspired teachers: "They have the Spirit in a limited degree; but God giveth not [to Him] the Spirit by measure." It means the entire fulness of divine life and divine power. The present tense "giveth," very aptly points out the permanent communication of the Spirit by the Father to the Son, so that a constant flow and reflow of living power is to be understood (Compare John 1:15) [OLSHAUSEN].
He that, etc.—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, even when divinely commissioned and speaking by the power of the Holy Ghost. And who does not perceive it? The words of prophets and apostles are undeniable and most precious truth; but in the words of Christ we hear a voice as from the excellent Glory, the Eternal Word making Himself heard in our own flesh.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing John 3:34:
Exodus 29:4-9
Isaiah 11:2
Isaiah 42:1
Isaiah 51:16
Isaiah 61:1
Zechariah 3:9
Zechariah 4:11-12
Matthew 1:16
Matthew 3:12
Matthew 25:4
Luke 3:18
Acts 1:2
Romans 8:9
1 Corinthians 2:15
Colossians 1:19
Hebrews 1:1
Hebrews 2:4
1 John 2:20
1 John 4:13
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