George Hutcheson
64 But there are some of you that beleeve not. For Jesus knew from the beginning, who they were that beleeved not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Christ, having cleared his doctrine, doth point out the true cause of their ignorance and mistakes, and of their stumblings at his doctrine; to wit, their unbeliefe; (which because it was a peremptory censure, therefore John brings the ground of it from the depth of Christs divine fore knowledge,) ver. 64. and withall, he brings to their remembrance what he had said, ver. 44. intimating he had spoken it with an eye to their corrupt dispositions, and to let them see that it was nothing in him, but want of grace in them, that made this distance and stumbling.
From ver. 64. learn, 1. Who ever they be that stumble at Christs word as unsavoury, the true cause thereof is in themselves, whatever they pretend; Therefore doth Christ retort that imputation cast upon his Word, ver. 60. as flowing from the distemper of their own heart. 2. Such as do not understand Christs doctrine spiritually, nor do finde it spirit and life in operation, they have their own unbeliefe to blame for it; Therefore doth he assigne that as the cause of all their distemper, there are of you that beleeve not. This darkens the understanding, and deads the heart also. See Heb. 4.2, 3. 3. Christ would have his servants very tender and careful, that in discovering of faults among hearers, they do not discourage any who are innocent, nor any who have a desire to be healed: So much doth his own practice teach, in that though they were many who were wrong here, yet he propounds the reproofe very gently, there are some of you, &c. not only to intimate that some were free, but to guard against the deterring of all, by a general rebuke. 4. Christs reproofes, and admonitions from his Word, should be looked upon as flowing from good grounds and certain knowledge, beyond any that the creature hath, or can attain unto; Therefore doth John vindicate this seeming hard censure of Christs, from the imputation of rashnesse; by shewing, that Jesus knew from the beginning, &c. 5. As all unbeleevers are in a dangerous condition; So traitours, and enemies to Christ and his doctrine under pretence of friendship, are among the first and worst of unbeleevers; Therefore albeit Judas was an unbeleever also, yet he is set his alone here Jesus knew who they were who beleeved not, and who should betray him 6. As there are many of these who do heare the Gospel, who neither do nor will beleeve on Christ, and some who will turne treacherous enemies; So Christ is not surprized thereby, but doth perfectly foreknow what men will prove; for, he knew from the beginning all this as being God, to whom all things are known from everlasting. 7. As there may be, and of-times are, very corrupt men in Christs company, and among the visible societies of his people; So it is his will that men be admitted to continue therein, so long as they professe external subjection, without making enquiry into their spiritual estate: Therefore Christ, when he judgeth these men, giveth a reason of it from his divine knowledge, to warn all meer creatures, that they presume not to prie into these secrets: And albeit he knew them well enough, yet he never rejected them, till first they bewrayed themselves.
From ver. 63. learn, 1. Christ hath very grave and important reasons for what he saith, though we oft-times do not see them; So much doth he make known concerning his former doctrine, though they had little considered it, He said, Therefore said I unto you, &c. 2 Albeit hearers be oft-times so stupid and blinded with selfe-love, that they never lay doctrine to heart, unlesse it be said, Thou art the man, (as we see even in David.) Yet it is the duty of all so to hear, as they make particular application of what is heard, for, so much doth Christ point at, while he tells that what he spake in general, was with an eye to them. 3. It is a truth to be much and frequently studied, that men are naturally impotent of themselves to come to Christ, and that they have rather cause to mourn under the sense of this, when they close not with Christs doctrine, then to quarrel him: Therefore doth Christ repeat this doctrine over again. 4. Such as do not flee to Christ, and embrace him in the sense of their misery, are a ready prey for all evil courses; Therefore doth Christ lead them up to this, as the cause of all their distempers. 5. Such as get power and strength to come to Christ, do not receive it according to any merit in them, but by free gift; Therefore is that drawing, ver. 44. explained from the cause thereof, except it were given him of my Father; Wherein is held out, that both power to come, and their very actual coming, is Gods free gift. See Eph. 2.8. Phil. 1.29. and 2.13. Rom. 7.18, 19.
