Quotes & Notes on:     John 18:36   

• John Wesley's Notes:
  My kingdom is not of this world-Is not an external, but a spiritual kingdom; that I might not be delivered to the Jews -Which Pilate had already attempted to do, Joh 18:31, and afterward actually did, Joh 19:16.
   

• Reginald Fuller's Preaching the Lectionary:

   To be posted.
   

• Massey H. Shepherd, Jr., Interpreter's Commentary:

   To be posted.
  
   

• Donald Guthrie, The New Bible Commentary (Revised 1970):

   To be posted.
   

• David Guzik, Study Guide for Mark:
  To be posted.
   

• Catechism of the Catholic Church:
  To be posted.
   

• The Fourfold Gospel:

   My kingdom is not of this world. Jesus answers Pilate's question indirectly. He had done something to incur the enmity of the rulers, and that was to have authority with and exercise influence over the people (Joh 12:19). They objected to his kingly claims (Mt 21:15,16; Lu 19:38,39), but Jesus shows Pilate that these kingly claims, however distasteful to the Jews, were no offense to or menace against the authority of Rome. Further than this, Jesus did not define his kingdom, for Pilate had no concern in it beyond this. It was sufficient to inform him that it made no use of physical power even for purposes of defense. Such a kingdom could cause no trouble to Rome, and the bare fact stated by Jesus proved that it was indeed such a kingdom.
   

• Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

  * Jesus. 1Ti 6:13
  * My kingdom is. Joh 6:15; 8:15; Ps 45:3-7; Isa 9:6,7; Da 2:44; 7:14; Zec 9:9; Lu 12:14 Lu 17:20,21; Ro 14:17; Col 1:12-14
  * then. Joh 18:11
   

• Robertson's Word Pictures:
  My kingdom (hê basileia hê emê). Christ claims to be king to Pilate, but of a peculiar kingdom. For "world" (kosmou) see Joh 17:13-18. My servants (hoi hupêretai hoi emoi). For the word see verse Joh 18:3 where it means the temple police or guards (literally, under-rowers). In the LXX always (Pr 14:35; Isa 32:5; Da 3:46) officers of a king as here. Christ then had only a small band of despised followers who could not fight against Caesar. Was he alluding also to legions of angels on his side? (Mt 26:56). Would fight (êgônizonto an). Imperfect middle of agônizomai common verb (only here in John, but see 1Co 9:25) from agôn (contest) with an, a conclusion of the second-class condition (assumed as untrue). Christians should never forget the profound truth stated here by Jesus. That I should not be delivered (hina mê paradothô). Negative final clause with hina mê and first aorist passive subjunctive of paradidômi (see verses Joh 18:28,36). Jesus expects Pilate to surrender to the Jews. But now (nun de). In contrast to the condition already stated as in Joh 8:40; 9:41; 15:22,24.
   

• William Burkitt's Notes:

  (No comment on this verse).
   

• Family Bible Notes:

  Not of this world; not an earthly kingdom. The kingdom of Jesus Christ is a spiritual kingdom. He reigns by truth and love over the hearts and lives of men. the friends of truth obey his voice, and find in doing it great reward. 2Co 4:2; Ps 19:11.
   

• 1599 Geneva Bible Notes:
  Christ affirms his spiritual kingdom, but rejects a worldly one.
   

• People's New Testament Commentary:

  My kingdom is not of this world. It would be hard for Pilate to form any conception of a kingdom not of this world, a kingdom of which the subjects did not fight with carnal weapons to defend its king, or to extend its borders. He was a soldier and the representative of a monarch whose power rested on the sword. But such a kingdom was Christ's. It was not of this world, did not spring from it, was heavenly in its origin, and hence his servants would not fight that he should not be delivered to the Jews. (1) Christ's kingdom is supernatural, not of human origin. It is in the world, but not worldly. (2) It is maintained, not by carnal weapons, but by spiritual and moral means.
   

• Albert Barnes' Commentary:

   My kingdom, &c. The charge on which Jesus was arraigned was that of laying claim to the office of a king. He here substantially admits that he did claim to be a king, but not in the sense in which the Jews understood it. They charged him with attempting to set up an earthly kingdom, and of exciting sedition against Caesar. In reply to this, Jesus says that his kingdom is not of this world--that is, it is not of the same nature as earthly kingdoms. It was not originated for the same purpose, or conducted on the same plan. He immediately adds a circumstance in which they differ. The kingdoms of the world are defended by arms; they maintain armies and engage in wars. If the kingdom of Jesus had been of this kind, he would have excited the multitudes that followed him to prepare for battle. He would have armed the hosts that attended him to Jerusalem. He would not have been alone and unarmed in the garden of Gethsemane. But though he was a king, yet his dominion was over the heart, subduing evil passions and corrupt desires, and bringing the soul to the love of peace and unity.
  
  Not from hence. That is, not from this world.
  
  {x} "answered" 1Ti 6:13
  {y} "My kingdom" Ps 45:3,6; Isa 9:6,7; Da 2:44; 7:14; Zec 9:9; Lu 12:14 Joh 6:15; Ro 14:17; Col 1:13
   

• Jamieson-Faussett Brown:

  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world--He does not say "not over," but "not of this world"--that is, in its origin and nature; therefore "no such kingdom as need give thee or thy master the least alarm."
  
  if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews--"A very convincing argument; for if His servants did not fight to prevent their King from being delivered up to His enemies, much less would they use force for the establishment of His kingdom" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON].
  
  but now--but the fact is.
  
  is my kingdom not from hence--Our Lord only says whence His kingdom is not--first simply affirming it, next giving proof of it, then reaffirming it. This was all that Pilate had to do with. The positive nature of His kingdom He would not obtrude upon one who was as little able to comprehend it, as entitled officially to information about it. (It is worthy of notice that the "MY," which occurs four times in this one verse--thrice of His kingdom, and once of His servants--is put in the emphatic form).
   

• Spurgeon Devotional Commentary:

   Thus our Lord witnessed a good confession, and showed Pilate that his claims were spiritual, and that he was no rival of Caesar.
   

• Adam Clarke's Commentary:

    My kingdom is not of this world] It is purely spiritual and Divine. If it had been of a secular nature, then my servants would have contended-they would have opposed force with force, as the kingdoms of this world do in their wars; but as my kingdom as not of this world, therefore no resistance has been made. Eusebius relates, Hist. Eccles. lib. iii. c. 20, that "The relatives of our Lord were brought before Domitian, and interrogated whether they were of the family of David; and what sort the kingdom of Christ was, and where it would appear? They answered, that this kingdom was neither of this world, nor of an earthly nature; that it was altogether heavenly and angelical; and that it would not take place till the end of the world."
   

• Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:

   (No comment on this verse).