John 11:42 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

I know that thou always willest those things which I will; and I will nothing but what thou willest, and hast sent me to do in the world; so as in these things it is impossible but that thou shouldest always be ready to grant what I ask of thee; nay, there is no need of my asking. I only give thee thanks for the people's sake, who here stand by; who believe thee to be the true God, and to have an Almighty power; but will not as yet believe that I am thy Son, by thee sent into the world, and that I do the works which I do in thee and from thee. We read of many miracles wrought by Christ without any prayer first put up to his Father, Matthew 2:3; Matthew 8:6 Mark 5:41, Mark 9:25 Luke 7:14, using only an authoritative word; nor need he have used any here, but only for the further conviction of the people that he was sent of God, that God whom they owned as their God: he prayeth and giveth thanks to God before them all.

John 11:42

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.