John 12:47

47 And if any man heareth my words, and keepeth them not, I deem him not [And if any man shall hear my words, and shall not keep, I deem not him]; for I came not, that I deem the world, but that I make the world safe.

John 12:47 Meaning and Commentary

John 12:47

And if any man hear my words and believe not
Men may hear the Gospel of Christ, and not understand it; and they may understand it literally and grammatically, though not spiritually and experimentally, and not believe it; not so much as give credit or an assent to the truth of it, but reject and deny it; for though faith comes by hearing to some, it does not come to all: some receive no profit by hearing it, because it is not mixed with faith by them. The Alexandrian copy, and all the Oriental versions, and also Nonnus, read the last clause thus, "and keep [them] not"; or does not observe them, is negligent of them, and shows no regard, and yields not the obedience of faith to them; the sense is the same.

I judge him not;
I do not accuse him to the Father, nor do I condemn him, nor shall I take vengeance on him for so doing; meaning, that he should do none of these things now, though hereafter he will be a swift witness against him, and will convict and condemn him, and pass sentence on him, and execute it:

for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Christ, at his first coming, came not under the character of a judge, but a Saviour; wherefore suitable to his character, and the end of his coming, he would not accuse, condemn, or judge any man, even the greatest unbelievers in him, and despisers of him, but would leave them to another day, when righteous judgment shall take place.

John 12:47 In-Context

45 He that seeth me, seeth him that sent me.
46 I light came into the world, that each that believeth in me, dwell not in darknesses.
47 And if any man heareth my words, and keepeth them not, I deem him not [And if any man shall hear my words, and shall not keep, I deem not him]; for I came not, that I deem the world, but that I make the world safe.
48 He that despiseth me, and taketh not my words, hath him that shall judge him; that word that I have spoken, [that] shall deem him in the last day [the word that I have spoken, that shall deem him in the last day].
49 For I have not spoken of myself, but that Father that sent me, [he] gave to me a commandment, what I shall say, and what I shall speak.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.