John 12:8

8 for ye shall evermore have poor men with you, but ye shall not evermore have me. [+forsooth ye shall ever have poor with you, soothly ye shall not ever have me.]

John 12:8 Meaning and Commentary

John 12:8

For the poor always ye have with you
And so would not want opportunities of showing a regard to them, which Christ always recommended; nor does he here in the least discourage an industrious and affectionate concern for them: the words seem to be a sort of prophecy, that there would be always poor persons in the churches of Christ, to be taken care of and provided for; (See Gill on Matthew 26:11); and yet the Jews suppose cases, in which the collectors of alms may have no poor to distribute to, and direct what they shall do in such cases ^F12:

but me ye have not always;
meaning, with respect to his corporeal presence, which would be quickly withdrawn from them, when there would be no more an opportunity of showing him personal respect, in such a way.

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 13. 1. & Bava Metzia, fol. 38. 1. & Bava Bathra, fol. 8. 2.

John 12:8 In-Context

6 But he said this thing, not for it pertained to him of needy men, but for he was a thief, and had the purses, and bare those things that were sent.

7 Therefore Jesus said, Suffer ye her, that into the day of my burying she keep that;

8 for ye shall evermore have poor men with you, but ye shall not evermore have me. [+forsooth ye shall ever have poor with you, soothly ye shall not ever have me.]

9 Therefore much people of the Jews knew, that Jesus was there; and they came, not only for Jesus, but to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from death [whom he raised from dead].

10 But the princes of priests thought [for] to slay Lazarus,