John 1:17

King James Version (KJV)

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

The law was given by Moses - Moses received the law from God, and through him it was given to the Jews, Acts 7:38.

But grace and truth - Which he had already mentioned, and which were to be the subject of the book which he was now writing, came to all mankind through Jesus Christ, who is the mediator of the new covenant, as Moses was of the old: Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:15; Galatians 3:19. See a fine discourse on this text by Mr. Claude, "Essay on the Composition of a Sermon," vol. i. p. 119, etc. edit. Lond. 1788.

The law of Moses, however excellent in itself, was little in comparison of the Gospel: as it proceeded from the justice and holiness of God, and was intended to convict men of sin, that the way of the Gospel might be the better prepared, it was a law of rigour, condemnation, and death: Romans 4:15; 2 Corinthians 3:7, 2 Corinthians 3:8. It was a law of shadows, types, and figures: Hebrews 10:1, and incapable of expiating sin by its sacrifices: Romans 8:3; Hebrews 7:18, Hebrews 7:19; Hebrews 10:1, Hebrews 10:11. But Christ has brought that grace which is opposed to condemnation: Romans 5:15, Romans 5:20, Romans 5:21; Romans 8:1; Galatians 3:10; and he is himself the spirit and substance of all those shadows: Colossians 2:19; Hebrews 10:1.

Jesus Christ - Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, or anointed prophet, priest, and king, sent from heaven. To what has already been said on the important name Jesus, (See Matthew 1:21; (note), and the places there referred to), I shall add the following explanation, chiefly taken from Professor Schultens, who has given a better view of the ideal meaning of the root ישע yasha, than any other divine or critic.

He observes that this root, in its true force, meaning, and majesty, both in Hebrew and Arabic, includes the ideas of amplitude, expansion, and space, and should be translated, he was spacious-open-ample; and, particularly, he possessed a spacious or extensive degree or rank: and is applied,

To a person possessing abundance of riches.

To one possessing abundant power.

To one possessing abundant or extensive knowledge.

To one possessing abundance of happiness, beatitude, and glory.

Hence we may learn the true meaning of Zechariah 9:9; : Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion - behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is Just, and having Salvation: - הושיע - he is possessed of all power to enrich, strengthen, teach, enlarge, and raise to glory and happiness, them who trust in him. Man by nature is in want and poverty: in abjectness and weakness: in darkness and ignorance: in straits and captivity: in wretchedness and infamy. His Redeemer is called ישועה Jesus - he who looses, enlarges, and endows with salvation.

He enriches man's poverty:

strengthens his weakness:

teaches his ignorance:

brings him out of straits and difficulties: and

raises him to happiness, beatitude, and glory.

And the aggregate of these is Salvation. Hence that saying, His name shall be called Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. See Schultens Origines Hebraeae, p. 15.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

The law was given - The Old Testament economy. The institutions under which the Jews lived.

By Moses - By Moses, as the servant of God. He was the great legislator of the Jews, by whom, under God, their polity was formed. The law worketh wrath Romans 4:15; it was attended with many burdensome rites and ceremonies Acts 15:10; it was preparatory to another state of things. The gospel succeeded that and took its place, and thus showed the greatness of the gospel economy, as well as its grace and truth.

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ - A system of religion full of favors, and the “true” system, was revealed by him. The old system was one of “law,” and “shadows,” and “burdensome rites;” “this” was full of mercy to mankind, and was true in all things. We may learn from these verses:

1.that all our mercies come from Jesus Christ.

2.“All true believers receive from Christ‘s fulness; the best and greatest saints cannot live without him, the meanest and weakest may live by him. This excludes proud boasting that we have nothing but ‹we have received it,‘ and silenceth perplexing fears that we want nothing but ‹we may receive it.‘”

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

As to the order of time and entrance on his work, Christ came after John, but in every other way he was before him. The expression clearly shows that Jesus had existence before he appeared on earth as man. All fulness dwells in him, from which alone fallen sinners have, and shall receive, by faith, all that renders them wise, strong, holy, useful, and happy. Our receivings by Christ are all summed up in this one word, grace; we have received "even grace," a gift so great, so rich, so invaluable; the good will of God towards us, and the good work of God in us. The law of God is holy, just, and good; and we should make the proper use of it. But we cannot derive from it pardon, righteousness, or strength. It teaches us to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, but it cannot supply the place of that doctrine. As no mercy comes from God to sinners but through Jesus Christ, no man can come to the Father but by him; no man can know God, except as he is made known in the only begotten and beloved Son.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

17. The law. That is, the system of revealed religion under which the Jews lived in OT times, divinely ordained but gradually perverted by human tradition (see on Mark 7:9-13). In the days of Christ the term “law” included not only the Decalogue but all that Moses and the prophets had written (Luke 24:27, 44)â€”as interpreted by the rabbis. In and of itself, as originally given by God, “the law” was good (cf. Rom. 3:1, 2). It was designed to lead men to salvation through faith in the coming Messiah (John 5:39, 45-47; Luke 24:25-27, 44). The fact that “some did not believe” (Rom. 3:3), but sought salvation “by the works of the law” (ch. 9:32) rather than by faith, and as a result failed to enter into the spiritual rest God intended for them (Heb. 3:18, 19; 4:2), does not mean that the system itself as ordained by God was faulty. All that God does is “perfect” (Deut. 32:4). Many there were in OT times who “obtained a good report through faith” (Heb. 11:39). In fact, there never has been any other way to obtain a “good report” than “through faith.”

Concerning the manner in which human tradition had perverted the plan of salvation by emphasizing the forms of religion rather than its spiritual and moral objectives see on Mark 7:1-13. For Christ’s exposition of the true spirit of the law as applied to the problems of daily living see on Matt. 5:17-22. For a discussion of the word “law” itself see on Gal. 3:24. Concerning the means of salvation in OT times see on Eze. 16:60.

By Moses. Literally, “through Moses.” “The law” did not originate with Moses, but with God. Moses was simply the agent through whom the revealed will of God was imparted to men (see Deut. 5:22 to 6:1; Heb. 1:1).

But. This word has been supplied by the translators. It implies a stronger contrast between “law” and “grace” than John apparently intended. John does not mean to imply that the system revealed through Moses was bad, as compared with that now revealed through Christ, but that, good as Moses’ system was, that of Christ’s is better (see Heb. 7:22; 8:6; 9:23; 10:34).

Grace and truth. See on vs. 14, 16. These divine attributes were inherent in the system of revealed religion in OT times (see Ex. 34:6, 7), but had, for practical purposes, been lost under a thick layer of human tradition. The contrast between “law” and “grace” is not so much a contrast between the system of religion in OT times, which looked forward to a coming Messiah, and that revealed by Christ (cf. Heb. 1:1, 2), as between the perverted interpretation placed upon the revealed grace and truth of God by the official exponents of the law, the rabbis (cf. Rom. 6:14, 15; Gal. 5:4), and the truth as revealed through Jesus Christ.

By affirming that “truth” comes through Christ, John identifies Him as the reality toward whom pointed all OT types and ceremonies, which were no more than a shadow of better things to come. Type met antitype in Christ (Col. 2:16, 17). In no sense does John imply that the OT system was false or in error.

By Jesus Christ. It was Christ who had spoken through Moses and the prophets (1 Peter 1:9, 10; PP 366). Now He appeared in person to reaffirm the great eternal truths revealed to these holy men of old, and to restore them to their original luster, untarnished by human tradition (see on Matt. 5:17-19). He came to reveal the Father in His true character (cf. Ex. 34:6, 7), to prevail upon men to practice justice and mercy and to be humble before God (Micah 6:6-8). He who “spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets” now spoke to men through His own Son (Heb. 1:1, 2).

Here, for the first time, John refers to our Lord by the historical name, Jesus Christ (see on Matt. 1:1). The eternal “Word” has become incarnate, a man among men, and John henceforth speaks of Him as such.

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Ellen G. White
God's Amazing Grace, 304.1

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17. AG 304.1

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Cross References

the law