36. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world--He does not say
"not over," but "not of this world"--that is, in its origin and
nature; therefore "no such kingdom as need give thee or thy master
the least alarm."
if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I
should not be delivered to the Jews--"A very convincing argument; for
if His servants did not fight to prevent their King from being delivered
up to His enemies, much less would they use force for the establishment
of His kingdom" [WEBSTER and
WILKINSON].
but now--but the fact is.
is my kingdom not from hence--Our Lord only says whence His kingdom
is not--first simply affirming it, next giving proof of it, then
reaffirming it. This was all that Pilate had to do with. The positive
nature of His kingdom He would not obtrude upon one who was as little
able to comprehend it, as entitled officially to information about it.
(It is worthy of notice that the "MY," which occurs four times in
this one verse--thrice of His kingdom, and once of His
servants--is put in the emphatic form).
JFB.
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