43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee , and He found Philip . And Jesus said to him, " Follow Me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida , of the city of Andrew and Peter . 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote -Jesus of Nazareth , the son of Joseph ." 46 Nathanael said to him, " Can any good thing come out of Nazareth ?" Philip said to him, "Come and see ." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, "Behold , an Israelite indeed , in whom there is no deceit !" 48 Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree , I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered Him, " Rabbi , You are the Son of God ; You are the King of Israel ." 50 Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree , do you believe ? You will see greater things than these ." 51 And He said to him, "Truly , truly , I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 1:43-51
Commentary on John 1:43-51
(Read John 1:43-51)
See the nature of true Christianity, it is following Jesus; devoting ourselves to him, and treading in his steps. Observe the objection Nathanael made. All who desire to profit by the word of God, must beware of prejudices against places, or denominations of men. They should examine for themselves, and they will sometimes find good where they looked for none. Many people are kept from the ways of religion by the unreasonable prejudices they conceive. The best way to remove false notions of religion, is to make trial of it. In Nathanael there was no guile. His profession was not hypocritical. He was not a dissembler, nor dishonest; he was a sound character, a really upright, godly man. Christ knows what men are indeed. Does He know us? Let us desire to know him. Let us seek and pray to be Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile; truly Christians, approved of Christ himself. Some things weak, imperfect, and sinful, are found in all, but hypocrisy belongs not to a believer's character. Jesus witnessed what passed when Nathanael was under the fig-tree. Probably he was then in fervent prayer, seeking direction as to the Hope and Consolation of Israel, where no human eye observed him. This showed him that our Lord knew the secrets of his heart. Through Christ we commune with, and benefit by the holy angels; and things in heaven and things on earth are reconciled and united together.