John 2:25

25 and because he didn't need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.

John 2:25 Meaning and Commentary

John 2:25

And needed not that any should testify of man
Of this or the other man, that he was a good or a bad man; he needed no proofs to be made, or testimonies bore, or evidence given of men's characters and actions; he was of quick understanding, and could distinguish at once between a wicked man and a good man; and so had the characteristic which the Jews require of the Messiah; for they rejected Bar Cozba from being the Messiah, and slew him, because he could not smell, referring to ( Isaiah 11:3 ) , or discern a bad man from a good man F14; but this Jesus could do, without any external evidence:

for he knew what was in man;
which none but the spirit of a man can know; his inward thoughts, the secrets of the heart; thus Christ knew the thoughts of the Scribes and Pharisees, ( Matthew 9:4 ) , being a discerner of the thoughts, and intents of the heart, ( Hebrews 4:12 ) . This Apollonius Tyaneus, the ape of Christ, ascribed to himself F15; but is what is peculiar to God; and Christ being God, knows all that is in man; that there is no good in him naturally, nothing but what comes from his Father, is imparted by himself, or implanted by his Spirit; he knows the wickedness there is in man, that his heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, and full of all manner of iniquities; he knows in what condition all the and faculties of the souls of men are; what their affections are set upon, on earthly or heavenly things; whether there is any light in their understandings, or not; whether their wills are subdued and resigned to the will of God, or not; whether their minds and consciences are defiled, or their hearts are sprinkled from an evil conscience; in short, whether the internal good work of grace is begun upon their souls, or not; and he knows the secret springs of all actions, good and bad; all which prove his true and proper deity, and show him to be a suitable Saviour of sinners, and qualify him to be the Judge of the whole earth.


FOOTNOTES:

F14 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 93. 2.
F15 Philostrat. Vit. Apollonii, l. 1. c. 13.

John 2:25 In-Context

23 Now when he was in Yerushalayim at the Pesach, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did.
24 But Yeshua didn't trust himself to them, because he knew everyone,
25 and because he didn't need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.