Then Jesus said unto them,.... Not directly answering to their questions, but suggests to them their ignorance and stupidity, amidst so much light, that was about them:yet a little while is the light with you: meaning either himself, the light of the world, Joh 8:12, who was to be but a very little while longer with them, a few days more, and he was to go away from them by death, and be seen and heard no more by them: or the Gospel, which, though that was to continue somewhat longer, it being, after Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension, to be preached to the Jews, both in Judea, and in other parts of the world; yet that would be but for a little while, as the event has shown; for the Jews rejecting the Gospel, and putting it away from them, the apostles, as they were ordered, turned to the Gentiles, Ac 13:46;walk while ye have the light: that is, as it is explained in Joh 12:36, "believe ye in the light": which the Persic version adds here, and leaves out there: and the sense is, believe in the Messiah, and in his Gospel; embrace him and that, and walk on in him, and worthy of him and of his Gospel, as children of the light:lest darkness come upon you; suddenly, at an unawares; either a greater degree of the darkness of ignorance and unbelief; even a judicial blindness and stupidity, which did seize on that people, and continues upon them to this day; or the darkness of afflictions, calamities, and distress, and which have come upon them to the uttermost, to the destruction of their temple, city, and nation; or else a worse darkness, even blackness of darkness, outer darkness in hell, where are weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.
Bible Commentary
John 12:35
John 12:35
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
The Daily Devotional
One devotional. Every morning.
The full reading, the passage behind it, and where to go deeper — in your inbox before the day starts. No ads, ever.
We'll send one email to confirm it's really you. Unsubscribe in one tap, any time.
Continue tomorrow
Turn Bible study into a daily habit
Read today's devotional, save your progress, and receive a gentle daily reminder.
Recommended reading
More for John 12:35
Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.
Other commentaries
John 12 — OverviewJohn 12 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleIt was a melancholy account which we had in the close of the foregoing
chapter of the dishonour done to our Lord Jesus, when the scribes and
Pharisees proclaimed him a traitor to their church, and put upon him…John 12 — OverviewJohn 12 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeJohn 12:1, Jesus excuses Mary anointing his feet; John 12:9, The people flock to see Lazarus; John 12:10, The chief priests consult to kill him; John 12:12, Christ rides into Jerusalem; John 12:20, Greeks desire to see…John 12 — OverviewJohn 12 · Little Bible — for children and parentsSix days before Passover, Jesus returns to Bethany. Mary pours expensive perfume on Jesus' feet in love. The next day, crowds wave palm branches as Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey — the King has come! Some Greeks ask…John 12:27-36John 12:27-36 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleHonour is here done to Christ by his Father in a voice from heaven,
occasioned by the following part of his discourse, and which gave
occasion to a further conference with the people. In these verses we
have,…John 12:35John 12:35 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeYet: John 7:33, John 9:4, John 16:16; Hebrews 3:7-8
Walk: John 12:36, John 12:46, John 1:5-9, John 8:12, John 9:5; Isaiah 2:5, Isaiah 42:6-7; Romans 13:12-14; Ephesians 5:8, Ephesians 5:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8; 1…John 12:35John 12:35 · Little Bible — for children and parentsJesus gave a loving warning: respond now, while you still can. Darkness is not just sad — it is dangerous. You lose your way. Light is a gift — don't ignore it.
Memory phrase: Walk in the light now.
Talk about it:…
commentaryRecommended resourceExplore this resource connected to the verse you are reading.commentaryRecommended resourceExplore this resource connected to the verse you are reading.devotionThe Grain of WheatIf you feel like you've been buried, remember: you might just be planted. The seed has to break for the harvest to grow. Trust the Gardener.DiscipleDecksermonA Preservative Against Unsettled Notions, and Want of Principles, in Regard to Righteousness and Christian Perfection Being a More Particular Answer to Doctor Trapp's Four Sermons Upon the Same TextA Preservative Against Unsettled Notions, and Want of Principles, in Regard to Righteousness and Christian Perfection Ecclesiastes 7:16 — “Be not righteous...George WhitefieldsermonThe Cross and the World -- Part II, if I be lifted up...George H. MorrisonsermonThe Cross and the World -- Part III, if I be lifted up...George H. MorrisonsermonThe Anointing at BethanyJesus Was Calm on His Way to the Cross We are now approaching the last days of the earthly life of Jesus in our study of Matthew's Gospel, and our lesson...George H. MorrisonsermonUndeveloped LivesWaste in Nature In the summer, when the world is at its fairest, one thing that impresses us very strongly is what I might call the prodigality of nature.George H. Morrison