22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples to the land of Judea, and there he did tarry with them, and was baptizing; 23 and John was also baptizing in Aenon, nigh to Salem, because there were many waters there, and they were coming and were being baptized— 24 for John was not yet cast into the prison— 25 there arose then a question from the disciples of John with 'some' Jews about purifying, 26 and they came unto John, and said to him, 'Rabbi, he who was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou didst testify, lo, this one is baptizing, and all are coming unto him.' 27 John answered and said, 'A man is not able to receive anything, if it may not have been given him from the heaven; 28 ye yourselves do testify to me that I said, I am not the Christ, but, that I am having been sent before him; 29 he who is having the bride is bridegroom, and the friend of the bridegroom, who is standing and hearing him, with joy doth rejoice because of the voice of the bridegroom; this, then, my joy hath been fulfilled. 30 'Him it behoveth to increase, and me to become less;
31 he who from above is coming is above all; he who is from the earth, from the earth he is, and from the earth he speaketh; he who from the heaven is coming is above all. 32 'And what he hath seen and heard this he doth testify, and his testimony none receiveth; 33 he who is receiving his testimony did seal that God is true; 34 for he whom God sent, the sayings of God he speaketh; for not by measure doth God give the Spirit; 35 the Father doth love the Son, and all things hath given into his hand; 36 he who is believing in the Son, hath life age-during; and he who is not believing the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God doth remain upon him.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 3:22-36
Commentary on John 3:22-36
(Read John 3:22-36)
John was fully satisfied with the place and work assigned him; but Jesus came on a more important work. He also knew that Jesus would increase in honour and influence, for of his government and peace there would be no end, while he himself would be less followed. John knew that Jesus came from heaven as the Son of God, while he was a sinful, mortal man, who could only speak about the more plain subjects of religion. The words of Jesus were the words of God; he had the Spirit, not by measure, as the prophets, but in all fulness. Everlasting life could only be had by faith in Him, and might be thus obtained; whereas all those, who believe not in the Son of God, cannot partake of salvation, but the wrath of God for ever rests upon them.