I pray for them
This is to be understood of Christ, not as God; for as such he is
the object of prayer; nor need he pray to any other; nor is there
any superior to him under that consideration to pray unto; but as
man and Mediator: nor is his praying any argument against his
deity; nor proof of inferiority to his Father with respect to his
divine nature; since it is not in that, but in his human, nature,
that he prayed; though this may be ascribed to his whole person
as Godman; hence he had the greatest qualifications and abilities
for this work, and his prayers were always heard: praying, as
attributed to Christ, must be restrained to his state of
humiliation; prayer is never spoken of Christ but whilst he was
here on earth; his intercession in heaven is never expressed by
prayer; and the saints when they come thither, will have done
praying, Christ whilst on earth, was an excellent pattern of
prayer; of private and solitary prayer; of social prayer; for and
with his disciples; of frequent and fervent prayer; of submission
to the will of God in prayer; and of praying even for enemies:
the persons he is here said to pray for are his apostles; which
shows their danger and their wants, his care over them, and
concern for them, and his love unto them:
I pray not for the world;
the inhabitants of it, the carnal unbelieving part of the world,
which lie in sin, and will be condemned; as he died not for them,
so he prayed not for them; for whom he is the propitiation, he is
an advocate; and for whom he died, he makes intercession; and for
no other in a spiritual saving way:
but for them which thou hast given me;
out of the world, as distinct from them, to be saved with an
everlasting salvation by him; and to be preserved safe to his
kingdom and glory; for these he prays, for the conversion of
them, the application of pardon to them, their final perseverance
and eternal glory:
for they are thine;
not merely by creation, and as the care of his providence, but by
eternal election, and special grace in calling; which is a reason
why Christ prayed for them, and an argument why the Father
should, and would regard his prayers.