John 3:11

11 Most assuredly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don't receive our witness.

John 3:11 Meaning and Commentary

John 3:11

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that we do know,
&c.] Meaning either himself, and John the Baptist his forerunner, who preached the same doctrine of regeneration, internal sanctification, and evangelical repentance, as well as outward reformation, as necessary to entrance into the kingdom of heaven, or the Gospel dispensation, he declared was just at hand; or his disciples with himself, who were now with him, and whom he had called to preach the same truths he himself did; or the prophets of the Old Testament, who agreed with him in these things; or the Father that was with him, and never left him alone, and the Holy Spirit that was upon him, by whom he was anointed to preach these things, and who spoke them in him; or else he may use the plural number of himself alone, as being one in authority, and speaking with it, as he sometimes did, ( Mark 4:30 ) , and the rather this seems to be the sense, since he immediately, in the next verse, speaks in the singular number, "if I have told you earthly things" Now Christ must needs thoroughly, and certainly know what he spoke, since he was not only the omniscient God, but, as Mediator, had all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in him, and the spirit of wisdom and knowledge rested on him:

and testify that we have seen;
and therefore ought to have been received as a credible witness, as he was a faithful one; since "seeing" and "knowing" are qualifications in a witness, ( Leviticus 5:1 ) ; and though these were eminently in Christ, the generality of the Jews gave no credit to his testimony:

and ye received not our witness;
which was an aggravation of their sin and unbelief; see ( John 3:32 ) .

John 3:11 In-Context

9 Nicodemus answered him, "How can these things be?"

10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and don't understand these things?

11 Most assuredly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don't receive our witness.

12 If I told you earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

13 No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.