John 17:13-19 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

These things I speak in the world That is, before I leave the world; that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves I offer this prayer in behalf of my apostles, with this intention; that being heard for them, they may receive all the endowments necessary to qualify them for converting the world, and be filled with my joy, the great joy I have in being the means of saving mankind. I have given them thy word, &c. I have omitted nothing that on my part was necessary to fit them for converting the world, and partaking of my joy. And Though they are indeed the greatest friends and benefactors of the human race, yet the world hath hated them And will be sure to persecute them with the utmost violence; because they are not of the world Are neither influenced by the principles, nor conformed to the spirit or conduct, of carnal men; even as I am not of the world In which respects they resemble me. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world As if he had said, Although these persecutions, which shall befall them, are another great reason why I offer up this prayer for them; nevertheless, my meaning is not that, on account of these difficulties, thou shouldest immediately remove them out of the world by death; but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil which is in the world, or rather, from the evil one, as απο του πονηρου properly signifies, that is, from the influence of his subtlety and power; from being taken in the snares he will lay for them, deceived by his wiles, or led into sin by his temptations. They are not of the world, &c. This sentiment he repeats, as reflecting with great pleasure on their being separated from the world, both in their dispositions and actions; and on their resembling himself in this respect; and hence he was the more solicitous that, after his departure, they might be preserved blameless, and therefore prays as in the following words, Sanctify them through thy truth Consecrate them to their office, and perfect them in holiness, by the instrumentality of thy truth, accompanied by thy grace. Thy word is truth Thy gospel, which they are to preach, is the great system of sanctifying truth, whereby real holiness is ever to be promoted: and may these my apostles experience more and more of its vital energy on their own souls, to qualify them more fully for the office of dispensing it to others. As thou hast sent me into the world To be the messenger of this grace; even so have I sent them Namely, on the same errand, to publish and proclaim what they have learned of me. And for their sakes As well as for the salvation of all that do or shall believe in me; I sanctify myself I set myself apart, as an offering holy to thee. Or, I devote myself as a victim to be sacrificed; that they also might be sanctified through the truth That, taught by my example, and animated by my dying love, they may be fully fitted for, and wholly devoted to, their important work. To sanctify, signifies, in general, to set apart to some appropriate use; and is used with peculiar propriety with reference to a sacrifice, which seems to be the sense in which our Lord applies it to himself in this verse.