Albert Barnes Commentary John 3:26

"And they came unto John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou hast borne witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him." — John 3:26 (ASV)

Came unto John. They came to him with their complaint; envious and jealous of Jesus' success, and evidently irritated by the discussion, as if their master was about to lose his popularity.

Rabbi. Master. See Barnes on Matthew 23:7.

Acknowledging him as their master and teacher.

That was with thee. Who was baptized by you.

Thou barest witness. See John 1:29-35.

All men come to him. This was the source of their difficulty. It was that Jesus was gaining popularity, that the people flocked to him, and that they feared John would be forsaken and his followers diminished in numbers and influence.

Thus, many love their sect more than they do Christ and would be more rejoiced that a person became a Presbyterian, a Methodist, or a Baptist, than that they became a sincere and humble Christian. This is not the spirit of the gospel.

True piety teaches us to rejoice that sinners turn to Christ and become holy, whether they follow us or not. See Mark 9:38-39. Let Jesus be exalted, and let people turn to him, is the language of religion, whatever denomination they may feel it their duty to follow.