Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 17:20

"Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word;" — John 17:20 (ASV)

Neither pray I for these alone.

These saved ones.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Our Lord knew that the little circle around him would grow into a multitude that no man can number, out of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues; so he prayed for all whom his Father had given him.

But for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Thank God that he will bless our word as well as his own Word!

When our word is based upon his Word, when we only expound what Christ has given us to say, then men shall believe on him through our word.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe in me through their word;

There is a great company of people who are not at present believers, but who shall yet believe on Christ through the testimony of those who are already believers on him. O God, call out many such through our word I pray.

But for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

In the mirror of His foresight, Christ saw us, my brothers, and He saw all the myriads, yet unborn, who are to be gathered to His cross and to bow before His feet. And He prayed for them all: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.

But for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

And so his blessed arm encircled not only the converts gathered to him by his own personal ministry, but also those who would, in later days, be converted under his servants' ministry; and it always seems to me to have been great condescension on his part to have said, I pray for them also which shall believe on me through their word;.

We would have expected that he would have said, "through my word;" and, indeed, it is his Word that leads sinners to repent and to believe. Yet Christ puts this honour upon those who speak his Word out of the fullness of their hearts. They have by experience made it their own, so he calls it theirs, and gives them this honourable position as the messengers of the gospel of salvation.

Neither pray I for these alone,—

For these who are already saved by my word, —