John 11:5

5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

John 11:5 Meaning and Commentary

John 11:5

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
] Not only with an everlasting love, a love of complacency and delight, an unchangeable one, and which never varies, nor will ever end, with which he loves all his people alike; but with a very great human affection, and which was very singular and peculiar to them: these were the intimate friends, and familiar acquaintance of Christ, whom he often visited, at whose house he frequently was when in those parts; they were very hospitable to him; they kindly received him into their houses, and generously entertained him, and which he returned in love to them: hence Nonnus paraphrases the words,

``Jesus loved the women, (filoxeinouv) , "who were lovers of hospitality", by the law of kindness.''

John 11:5 In-Context

3 The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

4 But when Jesus heard [it], he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it.

5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

6 When therefore he heard, He is sick, he remained two days then in the place where he was.

7 Then after this he says to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

Footnotes

• [a]. Agapao, as ch. 3.35.