John 13:18

Followeth to ver. 31. the second part of the Chapter, wherein Christ discovereth Judas treachery, and that he was the Traitour. The words may be taken up in four steps of progresse in this discovery. 1. Christ in general intimateth that there were some unsound among them, and guardeth this businesse, and the intimation thereof, with necessary cautions and instructions, ver. 18, 19, 20. 2. Being pressed to it, and they not laying hold on the former intimation, he intimates more distinctly, that there was one among them so rotten hearted, as to betray him; whereat they are amazed, ver. 21, 22. 3. John being set on work by Peter, to enquire concerning this traitour, Christ by a signe doth discover Judas to him, ver. 23, 24, 25, 26. 4. This discovery producing woful effects in Judas, Christ discovers more of his minde concerning his treachery, to himselfe, when he is going out to effectuate it, ver. 27, 28, 29, 30.

In this ver. 1. Christ proceeds to this general discovery (whereof some hint had been given before, ver. 10.) by way of exception to the former doctrine. As he had formerly made an exception in pronouncing them clean, ver. 10. so here he declares that he expected not from all of them, that they should be blessed in practicing humility and mutual condescendence, ver. 17. But some one or other of them would be so far from serving his fellow disciples, that he would rise against his Master. 2. He gives the ground of this exception, and why he did thus pronounce of any of them; Namely, that he knew whom he had chosen, The meaning whereof is not so much that he knew what every one whom he had chosen to the Apostleship would prove, and Judas among the rest; (though that be also true) But he knew who they were whom, beside election to the Apostleship, (wherein Judas shared also, Chap. 6.70.) he had chosen to eternal life, and whom not; And consequently, knew who would prove faithful or false to him. 3. If any should enquire, wherefore did he choose such a man to be an Apostle, who he knew would prove a traitour? He answers, that hereby was fulfilled a prediction in Ps. 41.9. that one of his familiars and domesticks should ingrately recompence his kindness, as if a beast fed by his Master, should kick against him. And this is the first caution and instruction subjoyned to this intimation, that they should not stumble at the businesse. As for this connexion of the prediction with the event, compare what is said on Chap. 12.38. Only here it would be considered, that this is not a simple prediction relating only to Christ and Judas, but was in part accomplished in Ahithophels treachery against David, who in his sufferings of this kinde was a type of Christs sufferings from Judas, in whom that was chiefly accomplished. And albeit so much only be cited as is clearly applicable to Christ; that of a friend in whom I trusted, being more proper to David, seeing Christ never hoped for any good of Judas. (And so we ought to be wary in expounding Scripture-types) Yet even that may in some sense be true of Christ, who entrusted Judas not only with the bag, but with the Ministry and Apostleship it selfe, as well as the rest. Doctrine 1. Christ is very tender of his weak followers, and loath to grieve them, by bringing forth what may displease or stumble them; Therefore doth he at first prepare their mindes for these sad newes, with such general intimations and cautions. 2. It is not sufficient that men hear truths, unless they make application thereof to themselves in particular; for, Christs exception supposeth an application of what he said, on their parts. 3. When truths are spoken in a general auditory, men are very ready to misapply them; for, therefore is a guard and exception needful. In this case, (to say nothing of the state of mens persons, whereby they may know much what they have right unto) we would consider. 1. Want of fear in application of what is comfortable, is a sad evidence of wrong application. 2. What ever mens right be to what is comfortable, yet they cannot comfortably apply it, unless they stand in real and sensible need of what is offered, for their encouragement and furtherance in good; or do in sincerity lay hold on the offer, to quicken them in their sense of need. 3. Albeit they may have right to apply comforts, who sometime will fall a sleep upon them; yet the application is never comfortable, but when some fruits thereof appear. So also threatnings are not savingly applyed, but when they stir up to diligence. 4. Ordinarily, the hearts of good and bad are so froward, that they are best at applying what they have least right unto; Saints when they are humbled, can lay hold on threatnings, but cannot hear of promises; the wicked make no doubt of promises, but take no notice of threatnings; and Saints are most apt to grasp at promises when they are most secure. Doctrine 4. So general is the corruption of men, and their societies, that comfortable things can hardly be spoken to the choicest and fewest number of them, but there will be some to be excepted against, as having no right thereunto; for, when Christ is propounding to his very twelve Apostles, a promise of happinesse upon the practice of humility, there needs an exception, I speak not of you all. 5. Ministers are not faithful, nor do they declare the whole counsel of God, unless with general promises, they publish also needful cautions, that none do stumble upon, or abuse them; for so much doth Christs practice, in excepting Judas, teach. And albeit they cannot do as Christ did in pointing at the man; Yet they must set down Scripture cautions and limits to the promises, and the Scripture qualifications of these who have right thereunto. 6. Whatever may be the excellencies of men, and especially of Christs servants, in respect of their gifts and success; Yet true happiness belongs to none but to the chosen and Elect ones; for, albeit the Apostleship had very eminent effects, yet they are only happy in obedience, whom he hath chosen. See Luk. 10.17, 18, 19, 20. 7. Men may be chosen to very eminent employments, who yet are not chosen to eternal life; for, by this exception, Judas is secluded from among these whom he hath chosen. So that we have need not to do at so much on what is adorning, but to seek what is saving. 8. Whatever be the means whereby men are kept faithful, and carried on to happiness; Yet the fountain of all this slows from the Lords electing them to these means, and to the end following thereupon; Therefore, the Apostles walking in the wayes of happiness, is attribute not so much to their grace, as to his election, the fountain of their grace, I know whom I have chosen, and who therefore will be happy in doing these things. And this is held out, partly, that all the good we have, we may trace it up to this fountain; and partly, that having made our calling and election sure, we may be comforted under the sense of great inward weaknesse. Hence it is that glorification is subjoyned to election and justification, Rom. 8.28, 29. and election is laid as a ground of security against final defection in trying times, Matth. 24.24. 2 Tim. 2.18, 19. 9. Christ is the authour of Election, as God equal with the Father, and he knoweth the number of his chosen ones, and who they are; for, I know whom I have chosen. See 2 Tim. 2.19. 10. Christ is not ignorant what any of his followers will prove, and that from the beginning; for, Judas did not deceive him, I know whom I have chosen. 11. There is much of Christ to be seen in the old Testament, by a discerning eye; and much acted in types which hath its full accomplishment in him: for, the scriptures, speaking of Davids suffering in the type from Ahithophel, is fulfilled in Judas treachery against Christ. 12. In all the lots that befall Christ and his followers, we are to guard against stumbling at them, by considering a soveraigne providence of God in all of them; for, Christ here guards the disciples mindes in this matter, by letting them see that God foresaw it long before, and did foretell that which was now fulfilled. 13. Christ is most tender of fulfilling all Scriptures, that so we may be encouraged to rest our confidence on what he saith in them; Therefore doth he admit of a Judas into his fellowship, and permits him to betray him, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, and there might be no cause of questioning the truth thereof. So Joh. 10.16. albeit he had affection to the Gentiles, yet for the truth of God, he confined himselfe to the ministry of the circumcision. Rom. 15.8.14. Christ and his followers do suffer not only from open enemies, which were in many respects an case; But they are also persecuted by false bosome friends and familiars; for so found David the type, and Christ the substance, he that eateth bread with me, hath lifted up his heel against me. See Psal. 55.12, 13, 14. 15. It is the great treachery, and horrid ingratitude of enemies, that no favours nor familiarity will draw them from their enmity, but rather emboldens them thereunto; for albeit he eat bread with him, and his bread too, (as it is Psal. 41.9.) yet want only and ingrately, he hath lift up his heel against me. 16. Whatever be the carriage of enemies, yet it is the duty of Christs followers to heap coals on their heads, by doing them all the good they can in their stations; for, herein Christ hath left an example, who albeit he knew what Judas was, yet let him eat bread with him. See Psalm 35.12, 13, 14, 15. Rom. 12.20.