---

This is part of Christ's answer to the charge of ver. 48. The latter portion of the charge was answered in vers. 49, 50; the former, "Thou art a Samaritan," answered here. The Samaritans held the Sadducee's doctrine of annihilation. Christ proves that He is not a Samaritan, but He proves far more.

I. A DUTY OF THE PRESENT. "If a man keep," etc.

1. The "Word" of Christ is a comprehensive term for the substance of His teaching: repentance; trust in the saving grace of God in Christ; response to the love of God; the practice of holiness, philanthropy, etc.

2. Keeping His Word implies that it is —

(1)  A revelation to be retained in the mind.

(2)  A stay and comfort for the heart.

(3)  A rule of conduct for the life.

3. "If a man" makes the statement universally applicable. Therefore its efficacy is essential, not accidental or arbitrary.

II. A DOCTRINE OF THE FUTURE. "He shall never," etc. One interpretation is that certain persons mortal by nature are to be made immortal. The meaning to be preferred is that to such the earthly experience of dying will not be the same as to the unrighteous, that for them there is and will be the realization of a deathless life. Look at this —

1. As a revelation. It is of the first magnitude. The Rig Veda — oldest of Hindoo sacred books — does not even hint this. Moses is silent, at least oracular. There gradually grew up in Judaism a hope of it. In Christ's time Jewish opinion was divided. Christ speaks clearly, authoritatively. The words are best taken simply, and mean that what makes death truly death will be removed. The sting of death, and consequent separation from God will no longer exist. As this involves a continuity of experience from the present to the heavenly state, it is obvious that the believer is conceived of as at once entering into eternal life with the first act of faith that unites him to Christ. The life thus begun and continued is one life, and must signify, therefore, more than mere duration, viz., a spiritual relation and condition.

2. As a conditional promise. "If a man keep," etc., discovers —

(1) The basis of this life — a "Word," or Christ Himself as the Word, i.e., a spiritual, intelligible entity (Is not this mortal life built upon and out of ideas?). "My Words, they are spirit and life." The Divine life of the spirit of man is —

(a)  Word created.

(b)  Word sustained and continued.

(c)  Word enlarged and glorified.

(2) That it is a contingent and not an absolute possession. "Keep." With what earnestness ought we to lay hold on this life, and so guard and cultivate it that we shall never lose it! He that keeps Christ's word will be kept by it.

(A. F. Muir, M. A.)

---

---

KJV: Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

WEB: Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death."