John 3:20

20 For every one that does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light that his works may not be shewn as they are;

John 3:20 Meaning and Commentary

John 3:20

For every one that doth evil, hateth the light
Every man, the series of whose life and conversation is evil, hates Christ and his Gospel, cause they make manifest his evil deeds, convict him of them, and rebuke him for them:

neither cometh to the light;
to hear Christ preach, or preached; to attend on the Gospel ministration and means of grace:

lest his deeds should be reproved;
or discovered, and made manifest, and he be brought to shame, and laid under blame, and advised to part with them, which he cares not to do; see ( Ephesians 5:11-13 ) .

John 3:20 In-Context

18 He that believes on him is not judged: but he that believes not has been already judged, because he has not believed on the name of the only-begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the judgment, that light is come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light; for their works were evil.

20 For every one that does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light that his works may not be shewn as they are;

21 but he that practises the truth comes to the light, that his works may be manifested that they have been wrought in God.

22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he abode with them and baptised.

Footnotes

• [a]. Elenko: to show the true character of anything, so as to convict, and hence reprove by showing a man's fault. It is used in chs. 8.46, 'convinces;' 16.8, 'bring demonstration;' Eph. 5.11,13, 'reprove' and 'expose.'