=52, 53. The Judeans.= Not the believers of ver. 30. The opponents of Christ reply to words which were not addressed to them.--=Abraham is dead.= * * * * --=Art thou greater than our father Abraham?= * * * =Whom makest thou thyself?= Their argument is, as Chrysostom interprets it: “They who have heard the word of God are dead, and shall they who have heard thee not die?” Their perplexity was real, for the unspiritual never comprehend either spiritual natures or spiritual teaching. They are literalists, and understand Jesus to speak of natural death. They are dull and will not comprehend his declaration that he is the Messiah in hope of whom Abraham and the prophets had lived. Compare with their question here that of the Samaritan woman (ch. 4:12), “Art thou greater than our father Jacob?” but contrast their spirit with hers. She is in doubt; they are scornful. See also Christ’s declaration in Matt. 12:42, “Behold, a greater than Solomon is here.” 54 Jesus answered, If[353] I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father[354] that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: [353] ch. 5:31, 41. [354] ch. 17:1. 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he[355] saw _it_, and was glad. [355] Gen. 22:13, 14; Heb. 11:13. =54-56. If I glorify myself my glory is nothing.= To _honor_ or _glorify_ (δοξάζω) is to attribute honor, generally by words. Christ’s reply to the question, _Whom makest thou thyself?_ is that he makes nothing of himself; he leaves others to interpret his character from his life and teachings. And this is singularly true; Christ is to each soul what its spiritual sight is able to discern in him. He does not declare himself.--=It is my Father that glorifieth me.= He leaves his reputation in the hands of his Father, an example to his followers when belied and misrepresented. See on ver. 18.--=Ye have never learned him, but I know him.= There is a double contrast in the two verbs (γινώσκω and οἶδα), the one signifying acquired, the other direct intuitive knowledge; and in the tenses, the one signifying a past act, _never have known_, the other a perpetually present possession, _I always know_. The sense may be expressed: _Ye have never acquired any knowledge of God, but I am always in fellowship with him._--=I should be a liar like unto you.= To boast of one’s spiritual experience is to glorify one’s self; such glory is nothing. To deny it, under pretence of humility, is to become a liar. There may be hypocrisy in disavowing the sense of God’s presence and love, as well as in falsely pretending to it. The true method is that of Christ, who showed it by his life, not by his professions.--=Your father Abraham exulted that he might see my day= (_i. e._, that it was